Around the world ticket question
Oct 18, 2011 | 4:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Around the world ticket question
Hi all,
First time poster!
I'm looking to getting a RTW ticket from Star Alliance. My question is as follows, any thoughts would be very appreciated.
My options are to book a ticket originating in the US (NYC) or in Europe (WAW).
Option 1:
NYC-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-NYC
Options 2:
WAW-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-NYC-WAW
There is a significant price difference between the two, so I was wondering if I pick option 2, pay for the tickets, do the whole trip and then just decide not to take the last leg of NYC-WAW, do I get charged anything or just am reported as no show and RTW ticket is completed?
Also any insights into how miles are treated on RTW would be great (for example I am thinking economy vs. business class tickets and business class miles multiplyer effect)
K
First time poster!
I'm looking to getting a RTW ticket from Star Alliance. My question is as follows, any thoughts would be very appreciated.
My options are to book a ticket originating in the US (NYC) or in Europe (WAW).
Option 1:
NYC-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-NYC
Options 2:
WAW-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-NYC-WAW
There is a significant price difference between the two, so I was wondering if I pick option 2, pay for the tickets, do the whole trip and then just decide not to take the last leg of NYC-WAW, do I get charged anything or just am reported as no show and RTW ticket is completed?
Also any insights into how miles are treated on RTW would be great (for example I am thinking economy vs. business class tickets and business class miles multiplyer effect)
K
Oct 18, 2011 | 8:17 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
It is just like any other trip; if you throw away a segment all the others remaining are canceled.
The *A RTW fares should be a few thousand cheaper ex-WAW than ex-NYC from what I'm seeing (i.e. http://www.wandr.me/RTW_Fares.aspx/ByProduct/CRWSTAR2); I'd be surprised if you're really seeing the opposite.
And the booking classes for the RTW on the various carriers are thus:
RTW BOOKING CLASSES BY CARRIER
The *A RTW fares should be a few thousand cheaper ex-WAW than ex-NYC from what I'm seeing (i.e. http://www.wandr.me/RTW_Fares.aspx/ByProduct/CRWSTAR2); I'd be surprised if you're really seeing the opposite.
And the booking classes for the RTW on the various carriers are thus:
RTW BOOKING CLASSES BY CARRIER
Code:
CXR FIRST BUSINESS ECONOMY A3 C NOTE 1 D NOTE 9 M AC C NOTE 1 Z NOTE 2 M BD C NOTE 1 D NOTE 3 M CA A NOTE 4 D NOTE 5 M F WITHIN CN C WITHIN CN M NOTE 6 NOTE 7 CO D NOTE 3 Z NOTE 2 M JJ A NOTE 4 D NOTE 3 M JK C NOTE 1 D NOTE 9 M JP C NOTE 1 D NOTE 3 M KF J NOTE 10 Z NOTE 11 M NOTE 18 LH A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 M LO D NOTE 3 Z NOTE 2 M LX A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 M NH A NOTE 8 D NOTE 9 B F WITHIN JP Y WITHIN JP Y WITHIN JP NZ C NOTE 12 D NOTE 13 M NOTE 19 MS A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 M OS C NOTE 1 D NOTE 9 M OU C D NOTE 3 M OZ A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 X M Y WITHIN KR Y WITHIN KR Y WITHIN KR SA A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 M SK J NOTE 10 Z NOTE 11 M NOTE 18 SN C D NOTE 3 M SQ A NOTE 14 D NOTE 3 M TG A NOTE 8 D NOTE 3 M TK F NOTE 15 D NOTE 3 M TP C NOTE 1 D NOTE 9 M UA A NOTE 4 D NOTE 5 M US A NOTE 16 Z NOTE 17 M ---- NOTE 1 IF C NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y. NOTE 2 IF Z NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B NOTE 3 IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y. EXCEPTION FOR TG ON DIRECT SERVICES TO/FROM USA IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK U -OZ MANDATORY BUSINESS CLASS SURCHARGE ON ROUTE ICN-SFO/LAX. SEE PARAGRAPH SURCHARGES. NOTE 4 IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK C. IF A NOT OFFERED BOOK C AND IF C NOT AVAILIBLE BOOK Y. NOTE 5 IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B. IF D NOT OFFERED BOOK A AND IF A NOT AVAILIBLE BOOK B PROVIDED THAT ONLY FIRST AND ECONOMY CABIN OFFERED ON THE FLIGHT. NOTE 6 IF F NOT AVAILABLE BOOK C. IF C NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y. NOTE 7 IF C NOT AVAILABLE BOOK F IF F NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B NOTE 8 IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK C NOTE 9 IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B NOTE 10 IF J NOT AVAILABLE BOOK D IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y NOTE 11 IF Z NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y NOTE 12 IF C NOT AVAILABLE BOOK U IF U NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y NOTE 13 IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK E IF E NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B NOTE 14 IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK J NOTE 15 IF F NOT AVAILABLE BOOK C NOTE 16 IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK D IF D NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y NOTE 17 IF Z NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B IF Z NOT OFFERED BOOK A AND IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK B PROVIDED THAT ONLY FIRST AND ECONOMY CABIN OFFERED ON THE FLIGHT NOTE 18 FOR ECONOMY EXTRA BOOK S SEE S CLASS SURCHARGE IN PARAGRAPH SURCHARGES. NOTE 19 FOR UPGRADE TO PACIFIC PREMIUM ECONOMY BOOK O. SEE NZ O CLASS SURCHARGE IN PARAGRAPH SURCHARGES. NOTE 20 IF A NOT AVAILABLE BOOK D. NOTE 21 IF J NOT AVAILABLE BOOK Y. ----
Oct 18, 2011 | 8:55 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
hey. thanks for the answer.
a RTW starting in warsaw and ending in warsaw is WAY cheaper than one starting in NYC and ending in NYC. did it today on the star alliance RTW tool.
im still confused by your answer, so let me give you my examples.
my choice is
Option 1: NYC-WAW-India-Thailand-Hong Kong-Singapore-Australia-Fiji-NYC
or
Option 2: WAW-India-Thailand-Hong Kong-Singapore-Australia-Fiji-NYC-WAW
Note: I already have a ticket that I booked earlier for NYC-WAW-NYC, to get my NYC-WAW leg for option two, and am ok losing the WAW-NYC return.
so my question is, if i were to buy option 2 and then when I arrive in NYC decide that I just wont be taking the last flight of my RTW ticket, will Star Alliance charge me anything for canceling that last leg? I have zero experience in this, but I could imagine two outcomes
1. no charge at all, i didnt fly, end of story, RTW ticket completed
2. Star Alliance going back and charging me extra for all of my prior flights as my RTW wasnt completed in full as book and i didnt back to the same country of origin (i.e., i didnt physically start and end in that country, obviously i would pay for the whole RTW ticket)
thanks!!
a RTW starting in warsaw and ending in warsaw is WAY cheaper than one starting in NYC and ending in NYC. did it today on the star alliance RTW tool.
im still confused by your answer, so let me give you my examples.
my choice is
Option 1: NYC-WAW-India-Thailand-Hong Kong-Singapore-Australia-Fiji-NYC
or
Option 2: WAW-India-Thailand-Hong Kong-Singapore-Australia-Fiji-NYC-WAW
Note: I already have a ticket that I booked earlier for NYC-WAW-NYC, to get my NYC-WAW leg for option two, and am ok losing the WAW-NYC return.
so my question is, if i were to buy option 2 and then when I arrive in NYC decide that I just wont be taking the last flight of my RTW ticket, will Star Alliance charge me anything for canceling that last leg? I have zero experience in this, but I could imagine two outcomes
1. no charge at all, i didnt fly, end of story, RTW ticket completed
2. Star Alliance going back and charging me extra for all of my prior flights as my RTW wasnt completed in full as book and i didnt back to the same country of origin (i.e., i didnt physically start and end in that country, obviously i would pay for the whole RTW ticket)
thanks!!
Oct 19, 2011 | 3:15 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,992
I cant believe the price of a RTW ticket these days!! Over 3k from WAW!!!
My partner and I were considering this for next year, as part of our honneymoon...I'm now thinking of just buying a round trip ticket to Asia, and then using the low cost airlines from there......!
My partner and I were considering this for next year, as part of our honneymoon...I'm now thinking of just buying a round trip ticket to Asia, and then using the low cost airlines from there......!
Oct 19, 2011 | 5:34 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
so my question is, if i were to buy option 2 and then when I arrive in NYC decide that I just wont be taking the last flight of my RTW ticket, will Star Alliance charge me anything for canceling that last leg? I have zero experience in this, but I could imagine two outcomes
Depending on how long the trip is you might choose to schedule that last segment way out in time and use it to complete a second trip to Europe at some later date, but that would require a bit more coordination.
Oct 19, 2011 | 5:40 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M FQTV
Posts: 2,323
You should be fine with not using the last part of your ticket. The other thing you can do is make a reservation for that leg for basically the last possible date and use it to start your next RTW next year. So if you start your trip in February 2012 and do the majority of your travel in, say, March, then make the last leg (NYC-WAW) for Jan or Feb 2013 and you're good to go for your next RTW trip (assuming RTW pricing is similar next year).
Your question about earning depends on what class you fly and what you want to do with the miles. Try the stickies in this forum that compare *G and *Silver status and perks for the various airlines. If you travel in biz, Miles and More will give you 200% without status. They are one of the top programs for earning in biz. but they charge high taxes for award tickets and *G requires 100,000 miles. Agean, Air Canada, and Asiana require the least amount of miles for *G. If you fly domestic US, you are probably better off with CO/UA since if you get *G (50,000) you will get a fair number of perks including the possibility of domestic complementary upgrades. In any case, see the sticky about which program is right for you if you are just starting out.
Your question about earning depends on what class you fly and what you want to do with the miles. Try the stickies in this forum that compare *G and *Silver status and perks for the various airlines. If you travel in biz, Miles and More will give you 200% without status. They are one of the top programs for earning in biz. but they charge high taxes for award tickets and *G requires 100,000 miles. Agean, Air Canada, and Asiana require the least amount of miles for *G. If you fly domestic US, you are probably better off with CO/UA since if you get *G (50,000) you will get a fair number of perks including the possibility of domestic complementary upgrades. In any case, see the sticky about which program is right for you if you are just starting out.
Oct 19, 2011 | 7:08 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Thanks a lot! I can definitely use the NYC-waw leg later, good to hear that I could cancel if I needed to. The price difference is mind blowing - especially for business class rtw. I will check the miles as you said.
Any other reasons (except comfort and more miles accrued) to choose RTw biz vs economy?
Also I already have Amex plat and priority pass - so lounges would be available anyways
And I have been long time miles and more member so I will prb just stick with them - is the G class the one that counts for status?
Any other reasons (except comfort and more miles accrued) to choose RTw biz vs economy?
Also I already have Amex plat and priority pass - so lounges would be available anyways
And I have been long time miles and more member so I will prb just stick with them - is the G class the one that counts for status?
Oct 22, 2011 | 8:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: AC SE, SPG Lifetime Plat, ACMM
Posts: 3,535
Any changes to the RTW flights ( except the first one) do not cost anything. So book the ticket and change the last leg at your leisure. BTW--if you do NOT use the last leg the issuing carrier has the right to calculate your trip as if you did one way flights and charge you the difference, if any. I don't know if any airline enforces this rule.
Oct 22, 2011 | 11:44 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: United 1K 3MM
Posts: 393
Any changes to the RTW flights ( except the first one) do not cost anything. So book the ticket and change the last leg at your leisure. BTW--if you do NOT use the last leg the issuing carrier has the right to calculate your trip as if you did one way flights and charge you the difference, if any. I don't know if any airline enforces this rule.