Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Global Airline Alliances > Star Alliance
Reload this Page >

How strict are the RTW limits?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

How strict are the RTW limits?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 8, 2006 | 8:54 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
20 Countries Visited
2M
50 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,215
How strict are the RTW limits?

How strict is *A about the 29,000 mile limit on a CRWSTAR1? Is there any slop allowed?
mahasamatman is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2006 | 10:35 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Used to be some flexibility but a few years ago they seem to have decided no more exceptions.

Hence the need to use the many tricks described on this board such as
- starting and ending the ticket on opposite sides of the same country, the gap between end and start points doesn't count. For example SYD-America-Europe-Asia-PER liberates the 2,000 miles PER-SYD (for which you have to buy a separate ticket of course.)
- using one-stop journeys on the same flight number, so they count the direct mileage from start point to end point rather than the two segments. For example GRU-ORD-SFO on UA842 counts as 6,470 rather than 7,068 (5222+1846) miles

Last edited by harryhv; Dec 8, 2006 at 10:43 pm
harryhv is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 12:06 am
  #3  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
Originally Posted by harryhv
- using one-stop journeys on the same flight number, so they count the direct mileage from start point to end point rather than the two segments. For example GRU-ORD-SFO on UA842 counts as 6,470 rather than 7,068 (5222+1846) miles
This doesn't seem to be applied consistently I've had some through flights count as start to end mileage (as if nonstop) and others (notably NZ1/2) counting as the sum of mileage for the 2 segments.

If you are close you may want to try ticketing with another airline. Each airline has their own mileage calculation so maybe different airline will be just under the limit.

Using city codes on the coupons instead of airport codes can sometimes help. Eg SIN-TYO-HKG is 64 miles shorter than SIN-NRT-HKG (according to great circle mapper).
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 5:32 am
  #4  
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Posts: 3,344
Originally Posted by harryhv
For example GRU-ORD-SFO on UA842 counts as 6,470 rather than 7,068 (5222+1846) miles
Not according to the *ARTWMC. GRU-SFO via ORD, UA842/UA842, is charged at 7065. Similarly, SIN-SFO via HKG, SQ2/SQ2, costs 8509 miles -- i.e., exactly the sum of the two sectors, 1594 + 6915.

cheers,

Henry
henry999 is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 5:35 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,814
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
How strict is *A about the 29,000 mile limit on a CRWSTAR1? Is there any slop allowed?
None at all. You must stay within 29,000. Not a mile over.

As others suggested, the only way is to play around co-terminals, direct flights or calculations using different airlines, but you must stay within 29,000. The airlines who does your ticketing determines the mileage calculation.
TerryK is online now  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 11:38 am
  #6  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
Originally Posted by henry999
Not according to the *ARTWMC. GRU-SFO via ORD, UA842/UA842, is charged at 7065. Similarly, SIN-SFO via HKG, SQ2/SQ2, costs 8509 miles -- i.e., exactly the sum of the two sectors, 1594 + 6915.

cheers,

Henry
The *A tool has always shown the summed mileage. However I have been able in the past to get some flights with nonstop mileage (and some not ).
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 4:39 pm
  #7  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SQ, QF, EK, VA
Posts: 92
I read somewhere there is a possibility of buying more miles. I.e. You can buy an extra 1000 miles for $X. Is this true?
globalFF is offline  
Old Dec 9, 2006 | 7:10 pm
  #8  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
Nope. You can buy up to the next mileage level - eg pay more to go from 29k limit to 34k, or 34 to 39.

Perhaps you are confusing *A RTW with OW RTW (where you can buy extra flights within a continent subject to some restrictions).
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Dec 10, 2006 | 3:25 am
  #9  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SQ, QF, EK, VA
Posts: 92
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
Nope. You can buy up to the next mileage level - eg pay more to go from 29k limit to 34k, or 34 to 39.

Perhaps you are confusing *A RTW with OW RTW (where you can buy extra flights within a continent subject to some restrictions).
Thanks for the clarification.
globalFF is offline  
Old Dec 11, 2006 | 4:36 pm
  #10  
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
20 Countries Visited
2M
50 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,215
What do you think of this one?
SFO-PVG-SIN-SYD-JNB-FRA-ORD
GCM claims 29,000 on the nose. *A RTW tool says 28,979. Then, we just need to get from ORD to SFO.

Replacing the end of the trip with JNB-GRU-IAD-JFK comes in at 28,836 (though I hate leaving those 164 miles on the table) and lets us fly p.s. back home. It would also give us three continents I've never been to (leaving only Antarctica).

Last edited by mahasamatman; Dec 14, 2006 at 5:18 pm Reason: Typo
mahasamatman is offline  
Old Dec 11, 2006 | 5:02 pm
  #11  
50 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Posts: 3,344
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
What do you think of this one?
SFO-PVG-SIN-SYD-JNB-FRA-ORD
Who in *A flies SYD-JNB?

cheers,

Henry
henry999 is offline  
Old Dec 11, 2006 | 5:39 pm
  #12  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,446
QF flies SYD-JNB which SA codeshares. Is the codeshare on the *A RTW excluded list?
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Dec 12, 2006 | 4:05 am
  #13  
40 Countries Visited
2M
60 Nights
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: FRA
Programs: AC SE 1MM, UA PP, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 3,129
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
QF flies SYD-JNB which SA codeshares. Is the codeshare on the *A RTW excluded list?
Nope, SA 7770/7701 JNB-SYD-JNB are allowed.
ACflyerDE is offline  
Old Dec 12, 2006 | 12:33 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
Originally Posted by ACflyerDE
Nope, SA 7770/7701 JNB-SYD-JNB are allowed.
Doesn't do much for your mileage earn though !
Al B is offline  
Old Dec 13, 2006 | 3:46 am
  #15  
40 Countries Visited
2M
60 Nights
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: FRA
Programs: AC SE 1MM, UA PP, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 3,129
Originally Posted by Al B
Doesn't do much for your mileage earn though !
That of course depends on your program, it certainly works for SA's Voyager members as well as US' DM members (until 2/28/07).
ACflyerDE is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.