Planning a RTW via Qantas One World

[irv]

Decision has been made (well almost depending on superannuation returns) to reduce the work load and do some serious travelling in 2018. I know that seems a way off, but planning travel takes time, especially if it the biggest trip you will ever take. First port of call will be Europe via Asia, from my research I understand there are deals out of Asia which are much cheaper to Europe than from AUS, my initial thoughts are via Singapore, would this be correct or are there historically cheaper departure points. This is my first time planning a trip like this, any advice appreciated.

Regards

 

[tania73]

BKK is usually cheaper - especially on QR. I am sure a lot of people here glad to help - there is also a specific thread 140/280 Oneworld thread I have attached link here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228-204.html

 

[irv]

BKK is usually cheaper - especially on QR. I am sure a lot of people here glad to help - there is also a specific thread 140/280 Oneworld thread I have attached link here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....m/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228-204.html

Thanks for the thread

 

[Danger]

Early start. Good move.

It appears as though you're looking to pay for your trip rather than use points.

The first thing to consider, in my opinion, is to decide on how many stops you want. Oneworld offers two round the world products, a oneworld Explorer and a Global Explorer. You can check out the differences here. The former is very popular and allows up to 16 stops visiting three, four, five or six continents in Economy, Business or First. (From the southern hemisphere a minimum of a four continent fare is required.) So if you're looking at probably anywhere from six or seven cities upwards, a oneworld Explorer will offer excellent value for money. Note also the country of departure determines the base fare and these vary significantly. For example, you will pay a premium for a oneworld Explorer fare departing Australia over, for example, Japan.

 

[VPS]

Great timing for this thread - also have the same idea and one of my questions was - does the RTW in PE or J come on sale much or is much the same all the time

 

[irv]

Early start. Good move.

It appears as though you're looking to pay for your trip rather than use points.

The first thing to consider, in my opinion, is to decide on how many stops you want. Oneworld offers two round the world products, a oneworld Explorer and a Global Explorer. You can check out the differences here. The former is very popular and allows up to 16 stops visiting three, four, five or six continents in Economy, Business or First. (From the southern hemisphere a minimum of a four continent fare is required.) So if you're looking at probably anywhere from six or seven cities upwards, a oneworld Explorer will offer excellent value for money. Note also the country of departure determines the base fare and these vary significantly. For example, you will pay a premium for a oneworld Explorer fare departing Australia over, for example, Japan.

I am hoping to have sufficient points to pay for at least one of us, would this make a difference, will be in Y

 

[Danger]

I am hoping to have sufficient points to pay for at least one of us, would this make a difference, will be in Y

Yes, it does. And to be honest, it makes it a little complicated. Trying to pair a revenue (paid) ticket with an award (frequent flyer points) ticket could get difficult.

The Qantas oneworld award is limited to five stops whereas a oneworld Explorer (round the world) fare can have up to 16. Without knowing your destinations I would be confident that piecing together a five stop revenue ticket (to go together with your points ticket) is likely to be more expensive than purchasing a oneworld Explorer 16 stop ticket. But I could well be wrong. It would help if you can throw some likely cities at us to play around with.

As far as varying your point of sale (ie. purchasing a ticket out of Asia, for example, rather than Australia) I don't think there will be much of a saving in Economy. Business and First yes, but not Economy. But that's a good thing in that it is one less thing to worry about.

 

[irv]

Yes, it does. And to be honest, it makes it a little complicated. Trying to pair a revenue (paid) ticket with an award (frequent flyer points) ticket could get difficult.

The Qantas oneworld award is limited to five stops whereas a oneworld Explorer (round the world) fare can have up to 16. Without knowing your destinations I would be confident that piecing together a five stop revenue ticket (to go together with your points ticket) is likely to be more expensive than purchasing a oneworld Explorer 16 stop ticket. But I could well be wrong. It would help if you can throw some likely cities at us to play around with.

As far as varying your point of sale (ie. purchasing a ticket out of Asia, for example, rather than Australia) I don't think there will be much of a saving in Economy. Business and First yes, but not Economy. But that's a good thing in that it is one less thing to worry about.

Thanks for that information, it is this type of information I find really helpful, I suppose I should advise my wife in due course what is happening, but still plenty of time I need to work it out myself.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you want to take QR, it would mean taking a QF flight from SYD - BKK, as QR would not do Au - Th, would it.
They fly Au straight out to DOH.
Though, SYD - BKK can be done with EK with a QF flight number of course (if possible a QF flight number).
The SYD - BKK flight comes in from CHC, dep SYD late evening.

 

[irv]

I know I am being lazy but rather than troll through many threads has anyone started this out of Japan

 

[irv]

Yes, it does. And to be honest, it makes it a little complicated. Trying to pair a revenue (paid) ticket with an award (frequent flyer points) ticket could get difficult.

The Qantas oneworld award is limited to five stops whereas a oneworld Explorer (round the world) fare can have up to 16. Without knowing your destinations I would be confident that piecing together a five stop revenue ticket (to go together with your points ticket) is likely to be more expensive than purchasing a oneworld Explorer 16 stop ticket. But I could well be wrong. It would help if you can throw some likely cities at us to play around with.

As far as varying your point of sale (ie. purchasing a ticket out of Asia, for example, rather than Australia) I don't think there will be much of a saving in Economy. Business and First yes, but not Economy. But that's a good thing in that it is one less thing to worry about.

Will probably encourage me to look at the other two classes

 

[JohnM]

Great timing for this thread - also have the same idea and one of my questions was - does the RTW in PE or J come on sale much or is much the same all the time

The base price for a oneworld explorer is fixed (depending on the number of continental zones visited); various specific taxes cause variation of the final price.

PE is only available, at an additional cost, on sectors where PE is available. The OW booking tool alerts you to the availability of the PE 'upgrade'.

Always remember that OW Explorers book into a discounted fare bucket (L - economy, D - business and A - first. The acronyms for these fares is LONEx, DONEx or AONEx, where x=3,4,5 or 6 continental zones. As pointed out, a xONE3 is not available from Australia, as you are deemed to travel through the Asian zone).

What this means, of course, is that availability can be limited, so booking well ahead is highly recommended - especially for business.

I've done 12 DONEx's and one AONEx in the last 12 years. I always use the full 16 sectors (it was 20 until about 2008) to get the best value out of it. All have been booked from Australia. I'm prepared to pay the extra for the convenience but YMMV.

It is important also to not mix in your mind a xONEx and the 140/280/420K award 'RTW'. They are completely separate beasts.

 

[Buzzard]

What about Star Alliance, do they have an around the world fare available on points?

 

[irv]

The base price for a oneworld explorer is fixed (depending on the number of continental zones visited); various specific taxes cause variation of the final price.

PE is only available, at an additional cost, on sectors where PE is available. The OW booking tool alerts you to the availability of the PE 'upgrade'.

Always remember that OW Explorers book into a discounted fare bucket (L - economy, D - business and A - first. The acronyms for these fares is LONEx, DONEx or AONEx, where x=3,4,5 or 6 continental zones. As pointed out, a xONE3 is not available from Australia, as you are deemed to travel through the Asian zone).

What this means, of course, is that availability can be limited, so booking well ahead is highly recommended - especially for business.

I've done 12 DONEx's and one AONEx in the last 12 years. I always use the full 16 sectors (it was 20 until about 2008) to get the best value out of it. All have been booked from Australia. I'm prepared to pay the extra for the convenience but YMMV.

It is important also to not mix in your mind a xONEx and the 140/280/420K award 'RTW'. They are completely separate beasts.

John, thanks for the advice, I find the one world site a bit hard to follow, however I am grateful for the advice of those who have the experience. Lucky I've allowed 2 years to book the trip, may be an expert by the time we leave

 

[JohnM]

John, thanks for the advice, I find the one world site a bit hard to follow, however I am grateful for the advice of those who have the experience. Lucky I've allowed 2 years to book the trip, may be an expert by the time we leave

The OW Explorer planning and booking engine will trap any errors or breaches of the rules that you make.

It does take a bit to get one's head around xONEx's but here are the key things:

1. Maximum 16 sectors - irrespective of whether it's an XONE4, 5 or 6.

2. Continental 'zones' are often bigger than a continent (eg. N America includes the Caribbean and Central America; Europe includes Dubai, Jordan, Turkey, Morocco etc.). This is a good thing .

3. You are permitted 4 sectors in each continental zone, except for N America where it is 6. That can also be a good thing .

4. Only 1 trans-continental flight is permitted in each continental zone (ie. I can't go PER-SYD-[RTW]-SYD (or MEL or BNE)-PER. Similarly LAX, SEA, SFO to the E coast (eg. New York, MIA) or vice-versa can only be done once.)

5. Cities with two airports can be a PITA as the ground sector is counted as one of the 16 sectors.

 

[hutch]

If you want to take QR, it would mean taking a QF flight from SYD - BKK, as QR would not do Au - Th, would it.
They fly Au straight out to DOH.
Though, SYD - BKK can be done with EK with a QF flight number of course (if possible a QF flight number).
The SYD - BKK flight comes in from CHC, dep SYD late evening.

Noting that you can't fly Emirates on a OW RTW ticket.

 

[Spongbob]

If your Europe plans includes the UK, try to avoid LHR except as a transit stop as the passenger tax increases the cost of your RTW airfare.

 

[Buzzard]

Noting that you can't fly Emirates on a OW RTW ticket.

Emirates is not part of One World.

 

[irv]

Open dated tickets, am I right in assuming they are subject to the fares at the time you close the date.

 

[JohnM]

Open dated tickets, am I right in assuming they are subject to the fares at the time you close the date.

I'm think I know what you mean - but I have always booked my xONEx's as a full itinerary upfront. I don't know how it works as a 'progressive' itinerary.

It is possible to book an xONEx through a travel agent (they will almost certainly charge a fee) and have it 'held' until about a month before travel and then pay for it. If the price goes up between time of booking and time of paying, you pay the higher price.

That is the way I used to do it when Qantas had travel agent offices. They did not charge a booking fee and I could keep my money in the bank for 9-10 months.

If you book online through the OW xONEx engine, as I now do, you pay there and then - but that's the final price.