RTW: Transpacific surface?
May 19, 2003 | 5:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA/VS Gold, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 628
RTW: Transpacific surface?
I'm looking at booking a Star RTW ex-CAI to complement my Oneworld Explorer trip that's going on at the same time. My bookings would work together perfectly if Star allowed a surface on the transpacific leg (ORD-HKG). It seems to me that the fare rule is a bit ambiguous on that one. Any ideas?
May 19, 2003 | 6:02 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you find someone who ticket this for you, be happy, but it does not apply to the flight application rule:
Travel must include only one Trans Atlantic (between area 1 and area 2) crossing and only one Trans Pacific (between area 1 and area 3) crossing.
Travel must include only one Trans Atlantic (between area 1 and area 2) crossing and only one Trans Pacific (between area 1 and area 3) crossing.
May 19, 2003 | 7:48 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,796
The key here is that it's being ticketed ex-CAI. Assuming it will be ticketed in CAI, no problem. For a service fee of perhaps $50 (no receipt of course for such a service) it will not be a problem getting it ticketed. Of course, the amount of the service fee is subject to negotiation.
May 19, 2003 | 2:27 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA/VS Gold, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 628
So, I want a CRWSTAR1 like this: CAI-xFRA-HEL-xCPH-LHR-CPH-EWR/DCA-BDA-DCA/HKG-SIN-FRA-CAI. Apart from the questionable transpacific surface, can anyone see a problem with this?
May 19, 2003 | 4:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
You're fine - the surface sector should be permitted.
The *RTW specifically states:
"intermediate surface sectors are permitted at the passengers own expense."
The official IATA definition of a surface sector is:
"A sector between two intermediate points of a fare component where travel is via other than air transportation. In the case of a mileage fare, the ticketed point mileage between the origin and the destination of the surface sector is included in the TPM calculation of the through fare component."
Further - rule 2.8.2B states:
"Fare construction surface sectors are allowed in any itinerary at the passengers request and in accordance with rule 2.6.3.3"
And rule 2.3.1 clarifies it to the n-th degree:
"TPMS and MPMS must be used according to the global direction of the fare being applied.
Sectors travelled by surface within a through fare component must be included. The TPM to be used is the most direct published routing between the origin and destination points of the surface sector. If a TPM is not published for the surface sector, the lowest combination of TPM's over another point may be used".
As there is a TPM and direct route published on the surface trans-pac segment in your posting, then this establishes your trans-pac crossing by definition and you have complied with the specific routing required in the *RTW rules.
Of course you can make it easier on yourself - as the miles count anyway, add a sector into the itinerary, but cancel it out before travel, making sure with the carrier that was ticketed you need the rest of the itinerary, as well as making sure with the next carrier the HKG and onward segment still shows in their system!
The *RTW specifically states:
"intermediate surface sectors are permitted at the passengers own expense."
The official IATA definition of a surface sector is:
"A sector between two intermediate points of a fare component where travel is via other than air transportation. In the case of a mileage fare, the ticketed point mileage between the origin and the destination of the surface sector is included in the TPM calculation of the through fare component."
Further - rule 2.8.2B states:
"Fare construction surface sectors are allowed in any itinerary at the passengers request and in accordance with rule 2.6.3.3"
And rule 2.3.1 clarifies it to the n-th degree:
"TPMS and MPMS must be used according to the global direction of the fare being applied.
Sectors travelled by surface within a through fare component must be included. The TPM to be used is the most direct published routing between the origin and destination points of the surface sector. If a TPM is not published for the surface sector, the lowest combination of TPM's over another point may be used".
As there is a TPM and direct route published on the surface trans-pac segment in your posting, then this establishes your trans-pac crossing by definition and you have complied with the specific routing required in the *RTW rules.
Of course you can make it easier on yourself - as the miles count anyway, add a sector into the itinerary, but cancel it out before travel, making sure with the carrier that was ticketed you need the rest of the itinerary, as well as making sure with the next carrier the HKG and onward segment still shows in their system!