SAA on RTW
 

Does anyone know if Star are ready to include SAA in RTW tickets after April 10? Could I book a RTW including SAA now for travel after April 10?

I dont think so yet, unless it is a routing that other *A airlines operate. Otherwise, if you need to ticket in a hurry, you could book a dummy routing and then change once SA joins *A.

Not under current rules. LX yes. SA no.

yes, for rtw tickets isued and valid from april-10-2006

with an understanding and knowledgeable agent, you can already now, before ticketing on april-10, make reservations on the SAA segments you are interested in.

I'd be careful about that - trying to confirm a nasty snippet heard today from a Star carrier rep.

no offence ... but if you haven't confirmed it why post it ... since you haven't disclosed the nature of your unconfirmed 'nasty snippet' your post only creates confusion

No offence taken!
Merely trying to caution against such a bold statement made in the post I was responding to, when there is clearly no such guarantee that what that poster said is going to happen. If the OP went ahead and blindly followed the advice from that poster, locking in other arrangements like meetings/hotels etc, then where would he be if it turned out not to be fact?
Agreed - I could have worded it differently, but am purely trying to promote caution.
Cheers.

Thanks Al B for the caution.

Frankly I'd listen to an "uncomfirmed rumour" from Al B over most "confirmed facts" from lots of other sources! :) This comes from years of experience....

In this instance I also have heard wind of the "nasty snippet" and it is indeed nasty if true and Al B's note advising caution is indeed warranted I believe.

Bottom line anyway is since SA are not officially part of Star yet, and the rules are not out regarding applicability of SA flights to the RTW fare I am not certain any agent should be booking sectors, no matter how likely it may seem to fall in place in a few weeks. After all, how do they know that any specific flight they book might not be on the first list of banned flight numbers? I also suspect Star Alliance might not be too pleased with a technical breach of the ticketing rules of booking non Star Alliance flights.....

Just my 2 cents. Stay tuned. I have a feeling more will be forthcoming in the next few days...

Do you expect that all will be clear by April 10 and I will be able to book SAA flights in a RTW itinerary starting on April 11? By that I mean book on April 11 not fly until sometime later.

I am not doubting his experience - and I respect AI B's knowledge as he has demonstrated with excellent posts time and again - I just question the value of putting a very unclear post in the thread - as it stands 'those in the know' ( which appears to be two of you ) are fine but the rest of us are left wondering what exactly he means - it could be anything - ranging from something as minor as "reservations for SA flights must be created on/after 10 April" to something as major as "SA government has belatedly decided to veto SAs Star membership" in the absence of any clear info we are left to speculate with no real idea of what is being hinted at and I find that intensely frustrating .

first: LX (swiss) is not (yet) a StarAlliance member, but already qualifies officially and legally for star-rtw-fares/-trips. This shows that membership is not a 'sine qua no' for qualifying as a rtw-carrier.

second: if an official StarAlliance-carrier-agent books you (on SAA) you can feel safe if it is not an obvious to everyone mistake (which this is clearly not, see the swiss example above).

Well, if an "official Star Alliance carrier-agent" which I assume means a ticketing agent at A Star member airline books SA into a PNR then one would presume that airline would be liable if any issues arise later.

I suspect LX's "early" arrival into the RTW fares is at the behest of (new) mother LH. To me this is a far different situation than SA which is its own operating entity. Just because LX got in early means nothing for any other carrier IMHO. As of right now the Star rules do not permit SA flights to be booked (and this is the real crux of the issue). What do I expect come April 10 or whenevrr SA is supposed to join? I would EXPECT things to follow and new rules to be updated. However I have heard something similar to what Al B is suggesting - the gist of which suggests one should hold off booking SA sectors until the actual rules are updating, and any agent (a general, or member airline agent) shouldn't be booking SA sectors anyway since they're still not in the rules as at this point.

I *do* understand Kiwiandrews point regarding things being ambigious but really as I said above, what ISN'T ambigious is that the current Star Alliance RTW ticketing rules do not include SA. Until they do, SA shouldnt be booked IMHO. If some agent decides to jump ahead and go for it, well on their own heads be it I guess...

I can add a little more to this thread now.

I walked into a local fright centre for my brother who suddenly asked me about doing a RTW involving some places, and I gave him a gestimate on the cost and mileage but said look it's over there let's ask. Now after I got over the shock of a half decent agent who knew what the hell I was talking about first up when I said "Star Alliance round the world ticket, poisslby a 29,000 mile fare and can we have the TLV-YYZ nonstop.." :) I decided on the way out to ask if she'd heard anything about SA and RTW tickets... she informed me they had heard there were "some issues" with SA and the Star ALliance RTW tickets but couldn't tell anything specific until April 1 (that was her comment for when new updated rules would appear.. take it as you see fit). The clear implication was that they had heard the same sorts of rumours that seem to be floating around regarding SA and RTW tickets (to wit, don't book till you see the applacibility in black and white)....

so the word appears to be spreading on this... true or not.

Now... I am still trying to get oiver running into an agent with half a clue!!!

SAA not in *A RTW program yet
 

I just checked by calling UA intl rates this morning April 10th. Wash Post shows full page add by SAA saying they are part of *A. But UA rates says - not part of RTW fare routing yet. The agent advised there were SA govt issues with the RTW fares and SAA participating.

Will have to just wait because according to *A - they will not rate an SAA itin using *A RTW fares. They suggested using UA/SA RTW fare - but that's a very limited routing indeed. :eek: