*A reward RTW in progress...need help with 2nd
Apr 30, 2005 | 5:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SW, JB, Spirit; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 112
*A reward RTW in progress...need help with 2nd RTW
Long time reader, first time poster. Be kind and point out errors.
I am currently on a reward *A RTW that was gained through the UA RTW promotion (out of DC). To avoid cross-posting, I will provide details of my quick runs to obtain reward status, and the frustrations of working out my itinerary with repeated UA agents on other forums. Also, I'll describe individual aircrafts and trip reports in other forums.
Itinerary (note: parentheses denote layovers only). Date convention followed is MM/DD/YY
1/10/05 ORD-(DEN-LAX)-HNL // 1/12 HNL-(NRT-ICN)-SPN // ...own means on CO 1/16 SPN-GUM // 8/2 GUM-KIX // 8/5 KIX-HKG // 8/10 HKG-SIN // 8/11 SIN-KUL // ...plan to travel KUL-MES own means in this period, or possibly Myanmar // 10/10 KUL-BKK // 10/25 BKK-MCT // 10/31 DXB // 11/3 DXB-(FRA)-CAI // 11/21 CAI-VIE // 11/22 VIE-CDG // 11/24 CDG-LHR // 11/30 LHR-(MAN)-ORD
I am happy to discuss many aspects of my trip, but have a little time, as you can tell from the long GUM layover I'm currently on.
My problem follows: A friend and I have planned a 2nd trip through the South Pacific, starting soon after I finish my current RTW, with the following parameters. About 3.5 months total. Definite stops: Australia for 6 weeks (any entry and departure point OK), New Zealand 3 weeks, about 1 month total for the following islands: Fiji, Tonga, W. Samoa, Rarotonga, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Easter Island. Now, we can probably take ferries or regional flights through French Polynesia, and will probably have to buy a separate r/t fare for PPT-Easter Island, but all of the other locales are serviced by NZ, so we figured some type of Airpasse or RTW fare would be cheapest.
Further constraining factors: For factors beyond my control, I need to return to GUM in 2006 at least between 08/01-12/15. I would prefer to be there earlier, as I have work lined up, and extra money helps. Further constraint, my friend doesn't want to start the RTW trip until around 2/7/06. Finally, talking with a NZ rep, I am told that NZ only services the S Pacific islands mentioned (and other major carriers also follow these dates) between Oct 31-May 15 each year. Therefore, since I need to be in GUM btw Aug-Dec, we'd have to do the trip either after I finish in GUM (post 12/15/06) or btw 12/1/05 (when I finish this RTW) and 5/15/06 (end date for travel on NZ or major carriers for S. Pac.).
Main restraint on me is $$$. So, basically, I want to minimize costs. I am open to opinions on how to further proceed, but my main limiting factor is GUM, which is very expensive to get in/out of.
The best idea I can come up with follows. Please suggest improvements. One option is to not take last leg of current RTW and take a Great Escapade RTW fare from London, with stops like: LON-LAX-PPT-(own r/t PPT-IPC)-RAR-AKL-APW-TBU-AKL-NAN-AKL-SYD-HKG-(own r/t HKG-GUM)-SIN-DEL-LON
I realize that fare is not a *A fare, but 2/3 carriers (SQ/NZ) are *A, so perhaps y'all know about rules. I placed the routing as such (re: AKL) because I assume I'd have to do that routing to do all the islands mentioned, since as far as I can tell, the only island-hoppers on NZ are AKL-NAN-RAR-PPT-LAX and AKL-TBU-APW-LAX. Please tell me if my routing is illegal...and we aren't even talking about miles yet, as I haven't crunched all the numbers.
Also, I really don't care how or where I get to GUM from, it's just that on that ticket, HKG was the cheapest place I could find to get to GUM. TPE is cheaper r/t, as well as MNL, but if I can't get to either, HKG is fine. Suggestions would be appreciated.
However, to take that fare, I'd start and end in LON, so I'd be stranded thereafters, and have to take into account getting back to US (probably ORD, LAX, or HNL...won't know unfortunately until much later, with trip in progress). Furthermore, if I stick to my friend's convictions, and leave closer to 2/7/06, I'll have to either finish current RTW as is, wait out 2 months in ORD (or wherever I find short-term employment) and fly over to LON (probably r/t and embed Great Escapade ticket)...or I'll have to wait out several weeks in Europe, which can be expensive.
Also, dates out of the question on this type of ticket (due to higher rates) for starting are Dec 10-23 or Jan 1-14. And since I have to be in GUM until 12/15/06, and RTW tix are only good for 12 months, I'd have to either travel btw 12/24-31/05 or after 01/15/06.
So, I've presented a lot of details, and I'm sorry if my thought process is muddled and verbose, but please consider what I've written and present me with the cheapest way to do the desired itinerary (doesn't even have to by a RTW ticket...just want cheapest option, even if S Pacific Airpasse), with the main constraining factors:
Trip starting after 12/1/05 (preferably closer to December than February)
Travel through S. Pacific islands before 5/15/06 or after 12/15/06
Need to be in GUM at least 8/1/06-12/15/06, but preferably by 6/1/06
Want to finish whole trip in US...don't know destination, but either ORD, LAX, or HNL most likely
Cheapest possible option (taking into account not just ticket prices, but lag-time...therefore, most economy of time).
If I could, I'd like to fly 12/5/05 ORD-GUM, then do S. Pacific, Australia, NZ 2/7/06-5/15/06, then go back to GUM until 12/15/06, finishing by flying from GUM to HNL. I just don't see this as a viable option, as ticket pricing seems prohibitive.
Sorry to bother everyone with a taxing query. BTW, take into account taxes (this last RTW "reward" ticket cost just shy of $600 in taxes). I'd love to keep the entire cost under $3000, but I'm realistic b/c of how GUM limits things. However, I definitely can't go over $4000, and even over $3000 is definitely more than I'd like to spend. Doesn't have to be a RTW ticket, but I'd prefer *A carriers or CO.
Very sincere thanx in advance to the entire community. I've learned a lot and grown addicted to airline travel. FT helped a lot in planning my first RTW (the one I'm on), and I hope to contribute further throughout the years, if I can add to the community. A great forum y'all have here!!!
Marquis790
I am currently on a reward *A RTW that was gained through the UA RTW promotion (out of DC). To avoid cross-posting, I will provide details of my quick runs to obtain reward status, and the frustrations of working out my itinerary with repeated UA agents on other forums. Also, I'll describe individual aircrafts and trip reports in other forums.
Itinerary (note: parentheses denote layovers only). Date convention followed is MM/DD/YY
1/10/05 ORD-(DEN-LAX)-HNL // 1/12 HNL-(NRT-ICN)-SPN // ...own means on CO 1/16 SPN-GUM // 8/2 GUM-KIX // 8/5 KIX-HKG // 8/10 HKG-SIN // 8/11 SIN-KUL // ...plan to travel KUL-MES own means in this period, or possibly Myanmar // 10/10 KUL-BKK // 10/25 BKK-MCT // 10/31 DXB // 11/3 DXB-(FRA)-CAI // 11/21 CAI-VIE // 11/22 VIE-CDG // 11/24 CDG-LHR // 11/30 LHR-(MAN)-ORD
I am happy to discuss many aspects of my trip, but have a little time, as you can tell from the long GUM layover I'm currently on.
My problem follows: A friend and I have planned a 2nd trip through the South Pacific, starting soon after I finish my current RTW, with the following parameters. About 3.5 months total. Definite stops: Australia for 6 weeks (any entry and departure point OK), New Zealand 3 weeks, about 1 month total for the following islands: Fiji, Tonga, W. Samoa, Rarotonga, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Easter Island. Now, we can probably take ferries or regional flights through French Polynesia, and will probably have to buy a separate r/t fare for PPT-Easter Island, but all of the other locales are serviced by NZ, so we figured some type of Airpasse or RTW fare would be cheapest.
Further constraining factors: For factors beyond my control, I need to return to GUM in 2006 at least between 08/01-12/15. I would prefer to be there earlier, as I have work lined up, and extra money helps. Further constraint, my friend doesn't want to start the RTW trip until around 2/7/06. Finally, talking with a NZ rep, I am told that NZ only services the S Pacific islands mentioned (and other major carriers also follow these dates) between Oct 31-May 15 each year. Therefore, since I need to be in GUM btw Aug-Dec, we'd have to do the trip either after I finish in GUM (post 12/15/06) or btw 12/1/05 (when I finish this RTW) and 5/15/06 (end date for travel on NZ or major carriers for S. Pac.).
Main restraint on me is $$$. So, basically, I want to minimize costs. I am open to opinions on how to further proceed, but my main limiting factor is GUM, which is very expensive to get in/out of.
The best idea I can come up with follows. Please suggest improvements. One option is to not take last leg of current RTW and take a Great Escapade RTW fare from London, with stops like: LON-LAX-PPT-(own r/t PPT-IPC)-RAR-AKL-APW-TBU-AKL-NAN-AKL-SYD-HKG-(own r/t HKG-GUM)-SIN-DEL-LON
I realize that fare is not a *A fare, but 2/3 carriers (SQ/NZ) are *A, so perhaps y'all know about rules. I placed the routing as such (re: AKL) because I assume I'd have to do that routing to do all the islands mentioned, since as far as I can tell, the only island-hoppers on NZ are AKL-NAN-RAR-PPT-LAX and AKL-TBU-APW-LAX. Please tell me if my routing is illegal...and we aren't even talking about miles yet, as I haven't crunched all the numbers.
Also, I really don't care how or where I get to GUM from, it's just that on that ticket, HKG was the cheapest place I could find to get to GUM. TPE is cheaper r/t, as well as MNL, but if I can't get to either, HKG is fine. Suggestions would be appreciated.
However, to take that fare, I'd start and end in LON, so I'd be stranded thereafters, and have to take into account getting back to US (probably ORD, LAX, or HNL...won't know unfortunately until much later, with trip in progress). Furthermore, if I stick to my friend's convictions, and leave closer to 2/7/06, I'll have to either finish current RTW as is, wait out 2 months in ORD (or wherever I find short-term employment) and fly over to LON (probably r/t and embed Great Escapade ticket)...or I'll have to wait out several weeks in Europe, which can be expensive.
Also, dates out of the question on this type of ticket (due to higher rates) for starting are Dec 10-23 or Jan 1-14. And since I have to be in GUM until 12/15/06, and RTW tix are only good for 12 months, I'd have to either travel btw 12/24-31/05 or after 01/15/06.
So, I've presented a lot of details, and I'm sorry if my thought process is muddled and verbose, but please consider what I've written and present me with the cheapest way to do the desired itinerary (doesn't even have to by a RTW ticket...just want cheapest option, even if S Pacific Airpasse), with the main constraining factors:
Trip starting after 12/1/05 (preferably closer to December than February)
Travel through S. Pacific islands before 5/15/06 or after 12/15/06
Need to be in GUM at least 8/1/06-12/15/06, but preferably by 6/1/06
Want to finish whole trip in US...don't know destination, but either ORD, LAX, or HNL most likely
Cheapest possible option (taking into account not just ticket prices, but lag-time...therefore, most economy of time).
If I could, I'd like to fly 12/5/05 ORD-GUM, then do S. Pacific, Australia, NZ 2/7/06-5/15/06, then go back to GUM until 12/15/06, finishing by flying from GUM to HNL. I just don't see this as a viable option, as ticket pricing seems prohibitive.
Sorry to bother everyone with a taxing query. BTW, take into account taxes (this last RTW "reward" ticket cost just shy of $600 in taxes). I'd love to keep the entire cost under $3000, but I'm realistic b/c of how GUM limits things. However, I definitely can't go over $4000, and even over $3000 is definitely more than I'd like to spend. Doesn't have to be a RTW ticket, but I'd prefer *A carriers or CO.
Very sincere thanx in advance to the entire community. I've learned a lot and grown addicted to airline travel. FT helped a lot in planning my first RTW (the one I'm on), and I hope to contribute further throughout the years, if I can add to the community. A great forum y'all have here!!!
Marquis790
Last edited by Marquis790; Apr 30, 2005 at 6:13 am Reason: Clarification
Apr 30, 2005 | 6:11 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
A Circle Pac fare would probably fit your needs - you can get from west coast NthAm to GUM via KIX (xxx-KIX with UA or AC & KIX-GUM with NH).
With the circle pac, you can do your one required North Pac to GUM, back through KIX to SEL to SYD and then through the South Pac and on to HNL easily enough. If you have dates set in early enough, you might be able to get a cheap CO deal for a HNL-GUM-HNL return or use some CO points to get a reward. From HNL it's back to the mainland.
Not sure where that NZ not serving the South Pac year round comes from - they fly to PPT RAR NAN TBU APW year round. There may be some backtracking involved but the distances aren't all too great.
With the circle pac, you can do your one required North Pac to GUM, back through KIX to SEL to SYD and then through the South Pac and on to HNL easily enough. If you have dates set in early enough, you might be able to get a cheap CO deal for a HNL-GUM-HNL return or use some CO points to get a reward. From HNL it's back to the mainland.
Not sure where that NZ not serving the South Pac year round comes from - they fly to PPT RAR NAN TBU APW year round. There may be some backtracking involved but the distances aren't all too great.
Apr 30, 2005 | 6:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SW, JB, Spirit; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 112
I thought of a Circle Pacific fare, but the time limits are 6mo, correct? While I only have to be in GUM btw 8/1 through 12/15, I'd prefer to be in GUM all of 2006 that is not spent on the South Pacific trip. However, I'm willing to compromise for price. I had also thought, based on talking with a NZ representative, that only NZ codeshares fly the islands I mentioned from May 15-Oct 31, and NZ itself flies Oct 31-May 15. It'd be great if the rep was incorrect. I ran into this problem when trying to book that type of fare, and also found problems with UA btw LAX-PPT for dates after May 15 as well. If I'm mistaken, it clears up a big problem! Therefore, the main limiting factor would be GUM. I've calculated 3.5 months "needed" for S. Pac, incl AUS/NZ... The minimum I need for GUM is 4.5 months. Already, totals to 8 months...more than Circle Pacific allows, no?
Good to hear the backtracking through AKL is ok...will just eat up miles.
Also, isn't PPT east of HNL?
My bad... did you mean start Circle Pacific, say LAX Dec 05, then go to GUM via KIX then S Pacific and finish in HNL before 6 months up? Then separate CO r/t HNL-GUM? I could do this, just concerned on prices. I've lived in both HNL and GUM before, and in my experience, very rare to get a r/t under $1000, even on CO. However, that is an option I'd love, as I haven't taken their island-hopper btw HNL-GUM yet.
I'll work up the pricing, but think all would be over $4000. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.
Thanx again
Good to hear the backtracking through AKL is ok...will just eat up miles.
Also, isn't PPT east of HNL?
My bad... did you mean start Circle Pacific, say LAX Dec 05, then go to GUM via KIX then S Pacific and finish in HNL before 6 months up? Then separate CO r/t HNL-GUM? I could do this, just concerned on prices. I've lived in both HNL and GUM before, and in my experience, very rare to get a r/t under $1000, even on CO. However, that is an option I'd love, as I haven't taken their island-hopper btw HNL-GUM yet.
I'll work up the pricing, but think all would be over $4000. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.
Thanx again
Last edited by Marquis790; Apr 30, 2005 at 6:31 am Reason: Clarification
Apr 30, 2005 | 3:58 pm
#4
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
Welcome to FT Marquis790 
The rep is incorrect. NZ flies to the islands year round on own metal. Perhaps the rep was confused about timetable. As with most (all?) airlines there are 2 major annual timetables northern summer and northern winter.
UA doesnt fly between LAX and PPT, that is a codeshare on NZ. Travelling between the islands wont always need to backtrack to AKL. There are flights between eg NAN and RAR, RAR and PPT, APW and TBU. For more info see NZ route map. Note a lot of these flights are only a few days a week, so here is link to NZ schedule
The rep is incorrect. NZ flies to the islands year round on own metal. Perhaps the rep was confused about timetable. As with most (all?) airlines there are 2 major annual timetables northern summer and northern winter.
UA doesnt fly between LAX and PPT, that is a codeshare on NZ. Travelling between the islands wont always need to backtrack to AKL. There are flights between eg NAN and RAR, RAR and PPT, APW and TBU. For more info see NZ route map. Note a lot of these flights are only a few days a week, so here is link to NZ schedule
Last edited by Kiwi Flyer; Apr 30, 2005 at 4:01 pm
Apr 30, 2005 | 10:29 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SW, JB, Spirit; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 112
Thanx again for the welcome and replies. Good to hear the NZ rep was wrong. That makes a lot of planning easier. Now, my only question seems to be which of 2 options are cheaper:
1. Fly ORD-LAX/SFO/other jumping off point -> Circle Pacific fare to layover GUM Dec 2005 until Feb 07, 06 (when my friend can get to Australia), continue thru Aus/NZ/S Pacific to PPT, then end in HNL (can anyone tell me if airlines consider PPT-HNL a valid routing for a CirPac fare that is traveling Eastward, since PPT is East of HNL?) -> buy a r/t HNL-GUM
or 2. when ready to start trip, buy r/t ORD-LON and nest a Great Escapade RTW ticket starting after 01/15/06 (890GBP), traveling LON-LAX-PPT and S. Pacific-AKL-SYD-HKG (and nest a separate HKG-GUM ticket, fulfilling GUM obligation until 12/15/06), then continue Great Escapade HKG-SIN-(optionally DEL)-LON -> return on original ORD-LON r/t?
With the first option, I'd be able to spend a little more time in GUM, which is a bonus, so I'd be willing to spend a little more for that option. I'll also price on my own, but I'd appreciate opinions.
Also, re:NZ routes through S. Pacific, since I want to go to every island that NZ travels (time permitting, also NOU and Norfolk), and I'd be traveling entirely eastward, from West to East, it is NAN-TBU-APW-RAR-PPT... since NZ has direct flights btw AKL-NAN-RAR-PPT and AKL-TBU-APW, I was just assuming that to travel through all islands I'd have to go AKL-NAN-AKL-TBU-APW-AKL-RAR-PPT. However, I've never flown these islands or RTW tickets before now, so please correct me if I'm wrong and a more direct routing is possible on either a Circle Pacific or RTW-style ticket.
And thanks to all for weeding through an initially LONG email!
1. Fly ORD-LAX/SFO/other jumping off point -> Circle Pacific fare to layover GUM Dec 2005 until Feb 07, 06 (when my friend can get to Australia), continue thru Aus/NZ/S Pacific to PPT, then end in HNL (can anyone tell me if airlines consider PPT-HNL a valid routing for a CirPac fare that is traveling Eastward, since PPT is East of HNL?) -> buy a r/t HNL-GUM
or 2. when ready to start trip, buy r/t ORD-LON and nest a Great Escapade RTW ticket starting after 01/15/06 (890GBP), traveling LON-LAX-PPT and S. Pacific-AKL-SYD-HKG (and nest a separate HKG-GUM ticket, fulfilling GUM obligation until 12/15/06), then continue Great Escapade HKG-SIN-(optionally DEL)-LON -> return on original ORD-LON r/t?
With the first option, I'd be able to spend a little more time in GUM, which is a bonus, so I'd be willing to spend a little more for that option. I'll also price on my own, but I'd appreciate opinions.
Also, re:NZ routes through S. Pacific, since I want to go to every island that NZ travels (time permitting, also NOU and Norfolk), and I'd be traveling entirely eastward, from West to East, it is NAN-TBU-APW-RAR-PPT... since NZ has direct flights btw AKL-NAN-RAR-PPT and AKL-TBU-APW, I was just assuming that to travel through all islands I'd have to go AKL-NAN-AKL-TBU-APW-AKL-RAR-PPT. However, I've never flown these islands or RTW tickets before now, so please correct me if I'm wrong and a more direct routing is possible on either a Circle Pacific or RTW-style ticket.
And thanks to all for weeding through an initially LONG email!
Last edited by Marquis790; Apr 30, 2005 at 10:35 pm Reason: added detail
Apr 30, 2005 | 11:58 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA, AA, DL, SW, JB, Spirit; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 112
BKK-MCT leg TG routing Q. Thru KHI?
I wrote my itinerary earlier from my tickets, which included layovers as well as stopovers. However, upon further review, is it true that the only TG flight btw BKK-MCT transits KHI? I found reference for TG507 and it seems it includes a 1hr stop at KHI. This isn't shown on my tickets. Can someone clarify? Will I have a direct flight or the KHI stop?
Sincerely,
Marquis790
Sincerely,
Marquis790
May 1, 2005 | 1:18 pm
#7
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
Sorry I cant help you on circle pacific rules.
NZ does also fly to NOU and NLK (Norfolk Island), both from AKL, but watch out for AirCalin codeshare to NOU as I suspect this may not be allowed.
As mentioned previously, most of these routes are only operated on a few days each week so take the timetable into account when planning itin.
NZ does also fly to NOU and NLK (Norfolk Island), both from AKL, but watch out for AirCalin codeshare to NOU as I suspect this may not be allowed.
As mentioned previously, most of these routes are only operated on a few days each week so take the timetable into account when planning itin.