Mar 13, 2019, 3:57 am
Last edit by: pandaperth
Chronological Summary of Changes to the Oneworld Explorer Rule Sheet
(click on the dates to go to the relevant posts in this thread)
2023-Oct-05 Changes to the Premium Economy surcharge table
2023-May-01 Rule 4(e) change, regarding second visit to Asia
2022-Aug-31 Comair removed from the list of BA affiliated Airlines
2022-Apr-21 S7 removed from the list of airlines
2021-Jul-01 Minor change
2021-Apr-01 AS joins the alliance
2020-May-01 LATAM (LA & JJ) leaves the alliance
2020-Apr-01 Royal Air Maroc (AT) joins the alliance
2019-Mar-15 Minor change
2019-Feb-11 Rule 4(j) Wording, in part, changed from:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
To:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked in conjunction with a QF operated and marketed online connection or stopover flight at LAX
Rule 15 Following paragraph removed
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate.
Other, minor, changes
2019-Jan-08 Minor change (to the list of AA-affiliated airlines)
2018-Jun-06 Rule 16 - VOLUNTARY CHANGES / REROUTING / PENALTIES
Highlighted words removed
16(a)2d. If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated.
2018-Mar-05 Rule 4(j) Words added:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
2017-Oct-30 Rule 5 Reservations and Ticketing: changed wording
From:
Reservations for the first overwater flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
To:
Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
Air berlin removed (it has ceased operating)
2017-Sep-05 No change (see the linked post)
2017-Aug-01 Rule 4(e) Major change regarding second visits to certain continents
Old Version:
New Version:
(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
Two permitted in North America.
Two permitted in Asia when one is for travel between the Southwest Pacific and Europe/Middle East.
Two permitted in Europe/Middle East.
If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa. AA Premium Economy booking classes added
2017-Feb-01 Rule 4(f) has the following words added:
No more than 4 international transfers from the one country permitted
2016-Dec-01 Rule 0 Removal of these words
3 Continent Fare is only offered for travel originating in Asia, Europe/Middle East and North America
(because southern hemisphere 3- continent itineraries became possible when JJ commenced its GRU-JNB service)
Rule 4(g) addition of these words:
The first crossing between TC areas must be flown, not surfaced
Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*not more than 2 of which may be between the UK and ALBANIA, ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, MIDDLE EAST, MOROCCO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA west of the Urals, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE.
2016-Aug-04 Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*segments between Europe and Middle East are not permitted if travel includes Africa and the itinerary utilises the backtracking provisions in Para 4(e) 3.1.3.or 3.2.3.
(So no more complicated rules regarding second visits to Europe/Middle East)
2016-Apr-22 Rule 4(e) Major change to the 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East rule
New wording is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...iddle-east.png Rule 8Stopovers.
Removal of the highlighted words:
2. Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
Rule 15 Sales Restrictions
Removal of the highlighted words:
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate. The resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale.
Exception: Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within Europe.
2016-Apr-01 Minor change to booking classes
2015-Dec-01 Minor change to list of affiliate airlines and to the cancellation fee
2015-Nov-01 US Airways removed from list of airlines (its merger with AA was complete)
2015-Sep-01Rule 4(k) ATL added to list of east coast cities
Rule 26 Change to group booking codes
2015-Jun-01 Rule 4(k) TPA added to list of east coast cities
2015-Feb-01 Minor change to the list of affiliated carriers
Rule 16 Voluntary Changes
Removal of “Date/Time/Carrier” changes. Phrase now used is “changes to ticketed points”
2014-Nov-01 Rule 4(j) change to the list of affiliated airlines
2014-Oct-01 Rule 5 Highlighted words added
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a lower Class, in the applicable booking code for that lower Class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
2014-Aug-01 Minor changes only
2014-Jul-01 IONE3 fares added
Other minor changes
2014-May-01 UL joins Oneworld
2014-Apr-01 JJ and US join Oneworld
2013-Dec-01 Allows DONEn travellers to fly in first class on QR’s Middle East flights
2013-Oct-30 QR joins Oneworld
Complicated new rule for 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East in conjunction with travel to/from/via Africa
2013-Oct-01 LAN Colombia joins Oneworld
2013-Jul-01 Minor changes
Removed the ability to purchase extra intra-continent flight segments
2013-Mar-01 Changes subsequently discovered
Continents transited to be counted
Rule 8. The highlighted words dropped
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
2013-Jan-31 MH joins Oneworld
2012-Nov Rule 0 The highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE/ MIDDLE EAST THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS
2011-May-02 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2011-Apr-01 Rule 4(e)(3) Tanzania removed from the list of African countries where 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East allowed
2011-Feb-02 QF codeshare flight on JQ allowed
Albania and Turkey added to the list of countries to/from which only two flights allowed from/to UK
2010-Nov-01 Highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SWP AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/ OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS.
Premium Economy supplements increased
2009-Nov-30 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2009-Aug-04 Rule 4(c) Origin-Destination surface segment allowed between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
Rule 8. Highlighted words added
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin
(click on the dates to go to the relevant posts in this thread)
2023-Oct-05 Changes to the Premium Economy surcharge table
2023-May-01 Rule 4(e) change, regarding second visit to Asia
2022-Aug-31 Comair removed from the list of BA affiliated Airlines
2022-Apr-21 S7 removed from the list of airlines
2021-Jul-01 Minor change
2021-Apr-01 AS joins the alliance
2020-May-01 LATAM (LA & JJ) leaves the alliance
2020-Apr-01 Royal Air Maroc (AT) joins the alliance
2019-Mar-15 Minor change
2019-Feb-11 Rule 4(j) Wording, in part, changed from:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
To:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked in conjunction with a QF operated and marketed online connection or stopover flight at LAX
Rule 15 Following paragraph removed
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate.
Other, minor, changes
2019-Jan-08 Minor change (to the list of AA-affiliated airlines)
2018-Jun-06 Rule 16 - VOLUNTARY CHANGES / REROUTING / PENALTIES
Highlighted words removed
16(a)2d. If the rerouting results in an increase to the number of continents or extra flight segments previously charged, the ticket shall be recalculated.
2018-Mar-05 Rule 4(j) Words added:
QF operated services within USA (eg LAX-JFK vv) not permitted unless booked as a through flight segment between Australia & USA (eg SYD-JFK vv)
2017-Oct-30 Rule 5 Reservations and Ticketing: changed wording
From:
Reservations for the first overwater flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
To:
Reservations for the first international flight and all preceding flights must be made prior to departure.
Air berlin removed (it has ceased operating)
2017-Sep-05 No change (see the linked post)
2017-Aug-01 Rule 4(e) Major change regarding second visits to certain continents
Old Version:
New Version:
(e) Only one intercontinental departure and one intercontinental arrival permitted in each continent except as follows:
Two permitted in North America.
Two permitted in Asia when one is for travel between the Southwest Pacific and Europe/Middle East.
Two permitted in Europe/Middle East.
If travel is to/from Europe in both directions, itinerary may not include Mauritius/South Africa. AA Premium Economy booking classes added
2017-Feb-01 Rule 4(f) has the following words added:
No more than 4 international transfers from the one country permitted
2016-Dec-01 Rule 0 Removal of these words
3 Continent Fare is only offered for travel originating in Asia, Europe/Middle East and North America
(because southern hemisphere 3- continent itineraries became possible when JJ commenced its GRU-JNB service)
Rule 4(g) addition of these words:
The first crossing between TC areas must be flown, not surfaced
Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*not more than 2 of which may be between the UK and ALBANIA, ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, MIDDLE EAST, MOROCCO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA west of the Urals, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE.
2016-Aug-04 Rule 4(h) Removal of these words:
*segments between Europe and Middle East are not permitted if travel includes Africa and the itinerary utilises the backtracking provisions in Para 4(e) 3.1.3.or 3.2.3.
(So no more complicated rules regarding second visits to Europe/Middle East)
2016-Apr-22 Rule 4(e) Major change to the 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East rule
New wording is:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/membe...iddle-east.png Rule 8Stopovers.
Removal of the highlighted words:
2. Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
Rule 15 Sales Restrictions
Removal of the highlighted words:
When travel originates in a country for which a specific local currency fares is published and the ticket is sold in another country, the fare will be that published for the country of origin converted to the currency of the country of sale at the bank selling rate. The resultant fare must not be lower than from the country of sale.
Exception: Not applicable when BOTH travel originates and sales are made within Europe.
2016-Apr-01 Minor change to booking classes
2015-Dec-01 Minor change to list of affiliate airlines and to the cancellation fee
2015-Nov-01 US Airways removed from list of airlines (its merger with AA was complete)
2015-Sep-01Rule 4(k) ATL added to list of east coast cities
Rule 26 Change to group booking codes
2015-Jun-01 Rule 4(k) TPA added to list of east coast cities
2015-Feb-01 Minor change to the list of affiliated carriers
Rule 16 Voluntary Changes
Removal of “Date/Time/Carrier” changes. Phrase now used is “changes to ticketed points”
2014-Nov-01 Rule 4(j) change to the list of affiliated airlines
2014-Oct-01 Rule 5 Highlighted words added
NOTE: For flights where First or Business Class is not offered or available, passengers may travel in a lower Class, in the applicable booking code for that lower Class.
Where the applicable booking class for the lower class is not available,
Passengers travelling on First Class Fares may book Y class
Passengers travelling on DONE* Business Class Fares may book B class
2014-Aug-01 Minor changes only
2014-Jul-01 IONE3 fares added
Other minor changes
2014-May-01 UL joins Oneworld
2014-Apr-01 JJ and US join Oneworld
2013-Dec-01 Allows DONEn travellers to fly in first class on QR’s Middle East flights
2013-Oct-30 QR joins Oneworld
Complicated new rule for 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East in conjunction with travel to/from/via Africa
2013-Oct-01 LAN Colombia joins Oneworld
2013-Jul-01 Minor changes
Removed the ability to purchase extra intra-continent flight segments
2013-Mar-01 Changes subsequently discovered
Continents transited to be counted
Rule 8. The highlighted words dropped
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin.
2013-Jan-31 MH joins Oneworld
2012-Nov Rule 0 The highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE/ MIDDLE EAST THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS
2011-May-02 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2011-Apr-01 Rule 4(e)(3) Tanzania removed from the list of African countries where 2nd visit to Europe/Middle East allowed
2011-Feb-02 QF codeshare flight on JQ allowed
Albania and Turkey added to the list of countries to/from which only two flights allowed from/to UK
2010-Nov-01 Highlighted words added
TRAVEL BETWEEN SWP AND EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST ON A SINGLE FLIGHT NUMBER/ OR BY SURFACE IS CONSIDERED TRAVELLING SWP-ASIA-EUROPE THROUGH THREE CONTINENTS.
Premium Economy supplements increased
2009-Nov-30 Rule 4(l) Change to the list of Australian trans-continental flights allowed
2009-Aug-04 Rule 4(c) Origin-Destination surface segment allowed between Maldives and Sri Lanka/India
Rule 8. Highlighted words added
Maximum two stopovers permitted in the continent of origin of which a maximum of one stopover is permitted in each direction in the country of origin
Changes to xONEx Rule Sheet
Feb 13, 2014, 2:35 am
#136
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
BTW these surcharges are unchanged from the 30-Oct-2013 version of the rules - none of us noticed that SE Asia was there!
Feb 13, 2014, 3:24 am
#138
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Great map Himeno
One error: Turkey is not part of the Middle East, at least as far as the xONEx rules are concerned
When I tried to test whether Iran was in the Middle East I got the error message:
Tried it with THR, SYS and MHD - the three cities in Iran that QR flies to (Tehran, Shiraz and Mashad)
I thought there were no UN, or other, restrictions on individuals travelling to/from Iran
One error: Turkey is not part of the Middle East, at least as far as the xONEx rules are concerned
- Rule 2(h) lists Turkey separately from the Middle East
- The online tool will not let you start in Turkey and end in the Middle East
When I tried to test whether Iran was in the Middle East I got the error message:
252: This city is invalid for the oneworld Explorer itinerary. Remove this city from your itinerary.
I thought there were no UN, or other, restrictions on individuals travelling to/from Iran
Feb 13, 2014, 3:42 am
#139
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
I had been trying to just make up a map to show the Europe/Mideast zones, but I couldn't find a blank map showing the required area, so ended up just doing everything.
When I tried to test whether Iran was in the Middle East I got the error message:
Tried it with THR, SYS and MHD - the three cities in Iran that QR flies to (Tehran, Shiraz and Mashad)
I thought there were no UN, or other, restrictions on individuals travelling to/from Iran
Tried it with THR, SYS and MHD - the three cities in Iran that QR flies to (Tehran, Shiraz and Mashad)
I thought there were no UN, or other, restrictions on individuals travelling to/from Iran
Thought it was odd, considering that Iran was one of the 'new' countries listed to join the oneworld map when QR joined.I listed it as middle east since nothing in the rules mentions it isn't and it is traditionally part of the mideast.
Feb 13, 2014, 11:13 am
#140
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,639
Grandfathering?
Do any of the changes include words like "applicable to tickets purchased after xx/xx/xx"?
I don't think I've ever taken advantage of grandfathering but was under the impression that the rules in effect the day the ticket was sold remain in effect until it is used, the exceptions being that carriers that leave OW can no longer be used (despite being named in the valid-on line) while new members also can not be used.
I don't think I've ever taken advantage of grandfathering but was under the impression that the rules in effect the day the ticket was sold remain in effect until it is used, the exceptions being that carriers that leave OW can no longer be used (despite being named in the valid-on line) while new members also can not be used.
Feb 13, 2014, 4:13 pm
#141
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
Do any of the changes include words like "applicable to tickets purchased after xx/xx/xx"?
I don't think I've ever taken advantage of grandfathering but was under the impression that the rules in effect the day the ticket was sold remain in effect until it is used, the exceptions being that carriers that leave OW can no longer be used (despite being named in the valid-on line) while new members also can not be used.
I don't think I've ever taken advantage of grandfathering but was under the impression that the rules in effect the day the ticket was sold remain in effect until it is used, the exceptions being that carriers that leave OW can no longer be used (despite being named in the valid-on line) while new members also can not be used.
Apr 1, 2014, 7:16 am
#142
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New Version - 1-April-2014 JJ and US joining
There is a new version of the rule sheet - because of JJ and US joining the alliance
No other changes that I can see.
In rule 3:
JJ's booking classes are A, J and H (instead of the usual A, D and L)
Business Class passengers can travel in First on US flights in TC1
(compare to AA flights, where the exception is allowed only for services within the USA)
No other changes that I can see.
In rule 3:
JJ's booking classes are A, J and H (instead of the usual A, D and L)
Business Class passengers can travel in First on US flights in TC1
(compare to AA flights, where the exception is allowed only for services within the USA)
Apr 1, 2014, 3:25 pm
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
This has no impact: US AIrways does not have any first class service within TC1, but, like AA, it has loads of flights where business class is mis-sold as first.
May 3, 2014, 9:27 pm
#144
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
New Version - 1-May-2014 - UL joining
There is a new version of the rule sheet dated 1-May-2014 - because of UL joining the alliance
The only other change that I can see is a minor change to the list of AA affiliate airlines in sub-clause 2(j)
The only other change that I can see is a minor change to the list of AA affiliate airlines in sub-clause 2(j)
May 4, 2014, 12:22 am
#146
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
especially given that Sydney International Airlines (aka Qantas international) will shortly no longer fly from Perth at all
(except for twice weekly summer season PER-AKL flights)
Though to be honest, if I was flying to the Middle East/Europe from Perth, I think I will fly QR - if only because it is Qantas that insists on SWP-Europe/Middle East being "via Asia", so why should I reward them.
May 4, 2014, 1:38 am
#147
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
Being Perth-based, that could be a really good addition
especially given that Sydney International Airlines (aka Qantas international) will shortly no longer fly from Perth at all
(except for twice weekly summer season PER-AKL flights)
Though to be honest, if I was flying to the Middle East/Europe from Perth, I think I will fly QR - if only because it is Qantas that insists on SWP-Europe/Middle East being "via Asia", so why should I reward them.
especially given that Sydney International Airlines (aka Qantas international) will shortly no longer fly from Perth at all
(except for twice weekly summer season PER-AKL flights)
Though to be honest, if I was flying to the Middle East/Europe from Perth, I think I will fly QR - if only because it is Qantas that insists on SWP-Europe/Middle East being "via Asia", so why should I reward them.
BA still flies SWP-Europe/Middle East via Asia.
If BA pulls out of Australia and they still have that "via Asia" rule, without QF restoring any Asia-EU flights, then...
May 4, 2014, 1:49 am
#148
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
At the time I was querying why the on-line tool was charging for Asia even when I was trying to have a surface segment from SWP to Europe/Middle East. This was a few years before QF changed its flights to Europe to be via DXB. (the end result of my query was that the words "or by surface" got added to the rule
)To address your point - my understanding is that the rule has been "if you touch it you pay for it". So BA's Europe-SWP (i.e LHR-SYD) flights do touch Asia and so you pay for Asia. But QR's DOH-PER is non-stop (as are its DOH-MEL flight and QF's DXB-SYD/MEL flights). IMHO, there is no justification for being charged for Asia on those flights.
May 4, 2014, 3:34 am
#149
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
A few years ago someone in oneworld told me it was at QF's insistence.
At the time I was querying why the on-line tool was charging for Asia even when I was trying to have a surface segment from SWP to Europe/Middle East. This was a few years before QF changed its flights to Europe to be via DXB. (the end result of my query was that the words "or by surface" got added to the rule)
At the time I was querying why the on-line tool was charging for Asia even when I was trying to have a surface segment from SWP to Europe/Middle East. This was a few years before QF changed its flights to Europe to be via DXB. (the end result of my query was that the words "or by surface" got added to the rule
)
May 5, 2014, 2:19 am
#150
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
To address your point - my understanding is that the rule has been "if you touch it you pay for it". So BA's Europe-SWP (i.e LHR-SYD) flights do touch Asia and so you pay for Asia. But QR's DOH-PER is non-stop (as are its DOH-MEL flight and QF's DXB-SYD/MEL flights). IMHO, there is no justification for being charged for Asia on those flights.