Circle Pacific or AONE???

[steven s]

I need the help of the Experts, PLEASE!!!!!

I have been reading and probably still a little confused on what I should do!

In October I need to go to NY for a conference and have planned the following:-

BNE - SYD - SFO - LAX - JFK - LAX - HKG - SYD - BNE - CNS
(I could go to JFK - NRT - HKG - SYD - BNE - CNS)

or should I go from JFK - LHR - BKK - SYD - BNE - CNS

The airfare is approx $3000 more for the AONE but probably a little more flexible and I could get some more internal flights within Australia paid for, to be used over the next 12 months.

Tell me your thoughts!!!

 

[aus_flyer]

I always try and work things to fit into an A/DONE4.

Common thing for me is to depart Aus and fly to US, then around to Europe and back to Asia. Stop in Asia and use FF points for Asia-Aus, then FF points for Aus-Asia, start the *ONE4 again and use the Asian legs, then back to Aus..

 

[steven s]

I always try and work things to fit into an A/DONE4.

Common thing for me is to depart Aus and fly to US, then around to Europe and back to Asia. Stop in Asia and use FF points to Asia-Aus, then FF points for Aus-Asia, start the *ONE4 again and use the Asian legs, then back to Aus..

Great tip thanks Odoherty, that allows me to get better value out of it otherwise I do not get any benefit of all the stops that I am allowed within the countries.

Also on that basis is there significant savings on buying the AONE in Sri Lanka and has anyone here done that???

 

[NM]

Having done many DONE4 trips, I would strongly suggest routing westward rather than eastward. There are lots more daytime flights available rather than the short night-time flights you end up with when flying eastward.

You are obviously looking to fly in First Class, so you will want to be avoiding 2-class international flights.

Your suggested Circle Pacific itinerary is not valid. If you start in BNE, then you cannot continue beyond BNE once you return.

98N . 4. TRAVEL MAY ORIGINATE AT ANY POINT FOR WHICH A
99N . FARE IS PUBLISHED AND MUST TERMINATE AT THE SAME
100N . POINT OR ANY POINT IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. IN
101N . NO EVENT MAY TRAVEL CONTINUE BEYOND THE ORIGINAL
102N . POINT OF ORIGIN.

If you are trying maximise QF FF status credits and points earning, then the AONE4 is going to win by a mile. But only you can justify the extra $3000 for the fare. The cheapest way to get to New York in a premium cabin is DCIR22 using a routing like BNE-LAX-JFK-NRT-BNE for around $7500 or $9500 for an ACIR22.

My preference for a xONEx routing is SWP-Europe-NA-Asia-SWP. Note that to do this you must only transit Asia between SWP and Europe. You only get 4 domestic flights in Australia and a maximum of 2 stopovers on a xONEx fare. But you can continue beyond the starting point on an xONEx fare while you cannot do this on a xCIRxx or xGLOBxx fare.

 

[Skyring]

Having done many DONE4 trips, I would strongly suggest routing westward rather than eastward. There are lots more daytime flights available rather than the short night-time flights you end up with when flying eastward.

Thoroughly concur. If your leg is any sort of distance, then west to east means either a night flight, or a dawn departure and a dusk arrival. Going the other way, with the sun, you can generally count on a mid-morning departure and mid-afternoon arrival, which is so much more convenient.

Another tip, when doing a xONEx, is to fly into a continent on the distant side, backtrack, and then fly on from the near side. Eg. if you are going east-west Europe-NA-Asia, then flights LHR-LAX and JFK-NRT are good ones to take, with your six NA segments zigzagging LAX-JFK via Alaska and Florida.

 

[steven s]

If you are trying maximise QF FF status credits and points earning, then the AONE4 is going to win by a mile. But only you can justify the extra $3000 for the fare. The cheapest way to get to New York in a premium cabin is DCIR22 using a routing like BNE-LAX-JFK-NRT-BNE for around $7500 or $9500 for an ACIR22.

NM, I could only do a ACIR22 direct to LAX from BNE which has no F which I have raised as a frustrating thing for us poor Queenslanders - everything has to go through SYD.

I think I need to look at doing the AONE4 fare, have you any suggestions on the best routing for this trip. Considering the only important items would be JFK, LHR (visit a good friend) and maximum value of flights back in OZ as I am very time poor for long trips! Also how many miles are you allowed on a AONE4?

Thanks is advance for sharing your knowledge. Steven

 

[serfty]

... Also how many miles are you allowed on a AONE4? ...

Hi Steven,

With a xONEx there is no limit on miles. You are allowed as many segmentsas you can fit withinthe rules.

i.e. Max 20 Segments limited further limited by 4 segments per continent (6 in NA) + transcontinental segments.

The DONE4 I am soon to finish has over 60,000 miles in its 20 segments.

 

[Skyring]

The DONE4 I am soon to finish has over 60,000 miles in its 20 segments.

Crikey! With cabin and status bonuses, you'd be able to go around again in Y.

 

[Dave Noble]

Crikey! With cabin and status bonuses, you'd be able to go around again in Y.

credit to AA and could go around in J . A normal OWE would tend to have a lot less miles than that

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thoroughly concur. If your leg is any sort of distance, then west to east means either a night flight, or a dawn departure and a dusk arrival. Going the other way, with the sun, you can generally count on a mid-morning departure and mid-afternoon arrival, which is so much more convenient.

I agree but nevertheless most of my RTWs from NZ tend to be in the other direction due to a much more convenient schedule (to US depart evening vs middle of day to asia, and from asia arrive middle of day which is good to catch up on stuff and adjust back to the time zone vs from US arrive very early in the morning). With NZ starting redeye flights to HKG and PVG this may well change my routings.

 

[Skyring]

credit to AA and could go around in J . A normal OWE would tend to have a lot less miles than that

Crikey! Are you fair dinkum? If so, it would seem that with some creative flight scheduling, combined with one of those cheap DONE4s from Colombo, I could go around twice in J for not much more than the cost of two LONE4s. That's worth thinking about.

 

[Dave Noble]

Crikey! Are you fair dinkum? If so, it would seem that with some creative flight scheduling, combined with one of those cheap DONE4s from Colombo, I could go around twice in J for not much more than the cost of two LONE4s. That's worth thinking about.

If the journey is 60,000 miles that could earn a candy stealer over 135,000 miles ( 60k base plus 60k Candy Stealer bonus plus 15k+ cabin bonus depending on how much was travelled on 2 class flights within the USA.

120,000 is needed for a J return from Australia to Europe
150,000 is needed for a 26,000 mile Round the world trip ( max 16 sectors )
160,000 is needed for an F return from Australia to Europe

Dave

 

[steven s]

So if I am working on a AONE4 the basics are:-

1. 2 stops per country

2. max of 4 flights per country

3. Australia allowed two flights upon return?

Steven

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not quite. 4 flights per continent (not country) except 6 for north america. Extra flights can be purchased except for continent of origin. However restricted to 20 flights in total.

You have 4 southwest pacific sectors in total - can be at start, end or combination. However if starting from Australia, once arrive back cannot leave the country again so Oz-round the world-Oz-NZ-Oz would not be allowed but Asia-round the world-Oz-NZ-Oz-Asia would be allowed.

 

[NM]

NM, I could only do a ACIR22 direct to LAX from BNE which has no F which I have raised as a frustrating thing for us poor Queenslanders - everything has to go through SYD.

Which is why the DONE4 and DCIR22 fares are generally far better value than AONE4 and ACIR22. For example, I just completed a DONE4 that was 39,331 miles flown and 15 segments. All bar one of those flights was in the most forward cabin of the aircraft. That included two QF flights that I upgraded with QF points and Upgrade Credits, and one CX flights that I received an op-up. The only flight I was in J when there was an F cabin was AA FRA-DFW and I could have upgraded that one to F for 25,000 AA miles. But since it was a daytime flight (carefully selected due to the west-bound direction of my DONE4) I could not see the additional value for F over J. It certainly was not worth an additional $4500 to purchase an AONE4 ticket in my books.

I think I need to look at doing the AONE4 fare, have you any suggestions on the best routing for this trip. Considering the only important items would be JFK, LHR (visit a good friend) and maximum value of flights back in OZ as I am very time poor for long trips! Also how many miles are you allowed on a AONE4?

For an AONE4, I would be doing something like this:
BNE-MEL-LHR

Then add up to 4 European segments, keeping to the rules of only 2 long-haul flights to/from LHR. Common places used to maximise benefits and including an F cabin are LHR-CAI and LHR-IST.

LHR-LAX (one of the longer flights so good FF earning). Another good one is FRA-DFW.

Then add up to 6 North America segments. Keep in mind you can only have one non-stop trans-continental flight included. Look for flights operated by 777 or 767 aircraft where possible, so that generally means sticking to the major trunks such as LAX-JFK, LAX-DFW, DFW-MIA, SFO-ORD, LAX-ORD etc.

Then head to HKG with CX. The JFK-HKG route is a very good earner, but LAX-HKG is the only daytime option (which would be my preference). Then add up to 4 Asia segments. Stick to CX routes with an F cabin, so that may mean HKG-NRT-HKG and HKG-SIN-HKG. There are other options as well.

Then head back to either SYD or MEL on CX or QF. QF has a daytime option HKG-MEL on QF30 which would be my choice because I much prefer to fly in the daytime when I can maximise the F cabin experience and sleep in a hotel room when I have arrived.

Then connect back to BNE within 24 hours so you then count BNE as the first SWP stopover and you can save another BNE-xx_-BNE flight with a stopover to be used any time in the 12 months the ticket is valid.

This routing is basically what I used for my last DONE4, but I did not maximise the European sectors (only used LHR-FRA), nor Asian segments (only used HKG-KUL-HKG) since I had some time constraints and places I had to include for business purposes.

 

[Chucksta]

If doing a AONE4, is it better to fly towards the west or fly towards the east?

Also, are there many routes that don't have a first class section on the plane? eg PER to SIN

thanks

Chucksta

 

[NM]

If doing a AONE4, is it better to fly towards the west or fly towards the east?

Flying on any fare I find it better to head westward. Even in F I prefer to fly daytime flights and by chasing the sun you have more options for daytime flights, particularly Asia-Europe, Europe-USA and USA-Australia/Asia.

Also, are there many routes that don't have a first class section on the plane? eg PER to SIN

Yes there are lots. Recently discussed has been any flight to/from BNE. QF only offers F on MEL/SYD-LAX/SFO, MEL/SYD-SIN-LHR, MEL-HKG-LHR and SYD-BKK-LHR.

Many AA services trans-Atlantic do not have F. Need to look for 777 aircraft to get F on AA. The 767-300 are all 2-class. AA use some 767-200 for 3-class trans-continental domestic flights.

CX has a combination of 2 and 3-class services. All of their 747-400 aircraft are 3-class. All of their 777 are 2-class. The A330's can be either.

All BA 747-400 and 777 aircraft have an F cabin. Some 767-300 aircraft have F (at least I think they still have some in that config, but I have never flown them).

AY does not offer F. LAN does have a small F cabin on their A340 services to/from SYD/AKL.

 

[bfmi]

Also on that basis is there significant savings on buying the AONE in Sri Lanka and has anyone here done that???

I've had some really good savings buying from an agent in BKK. Check out www.chawlatravel.com. Rani is super smart and easy to work with via email. Tend to do better on *A compared to OW.

 

[meloz]

Not quite. 4 flights per continent (not country) except 6 for north america. Extra flights can be purchased except for continent of origin. However restricted to 20 flights in total.

You have 4 southwest pacific sectors in total - can be at start, end or combination. However if starting from Australia, once arrive back cannot leave the country again so Oz-round the world-Oz-NZ-Oz would not be allowed but Asia-round the world-Oz-NZ-Oz-Asia would be allowed.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to recall OZ-PNG-OZ being legal at the end of the travels. Is this correct?

Meloz

 

[NM]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to recall OZ-PNG-OZ being legal at the end of the travels. Is this correct?

Meloz

Not on a OneWorld Explorer fare. QF flights to POM are codeshares and not operated by a OneWorld airline (PX) so they are not available for a OneWorld Explorer. They can be used on a Global Explorer fare.