Maximising SC on RTW

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Woops typo! Yes I mean ANC, not ACH. I also meant LGW not GAT or whatever I typed.

There were some time constraints - I wanted to ensure maximum weekday time in the cities I need to work in. On the current plan I get into LAX at 4pmish Sunday, giving me flight recovery time to be fresh for meetings Monday morning.

I deliberately booked a non direct flight to LGA as all avail direct flights (at time of booking) only had seats in 3 class planes. 2 class of course allows the booking into F.

Yes - only 19 flights. I could have gone home via ADL or CNS but bugger that - after this much flying in a short space of time I'm just gonna want to get home I think.

The exercise was to get 1965 SC's with as few flights as possible whilst maximising work time in main cities and minimising flights/transfer times. Annoyingly I've just booked a flight to Perth next week and no longer need that many SC's but oh well. Once we checked over the final itin, I actually changed the NRT-SIN-NRT to NRT-HKG-NRT to shorten flights again. End result? Of the 10 business days, I only lose 2 in the air, so I'm really happy with that.

Thanks for the AA pricing tip but I've gone against the popular opinion of this forum and booked/paid with Qantas. First, I fly domestic a lot so the QFF program suits me and uh... quite honesty I groan inwardly and outwardly every time I have to set foot on an AA flight. I despise the airline and I guess that ruling with my heart as usual, I can't bring myself to give my loyalty to AA. I know the program is better etc... but I just can't. Something about that flying kangaroo for me

Finally - I have a special meal (vege) and I always ask for a drink the second I get it (otherwise I have to wait 30mins while they serve everyone else's meals. When sitting in Y, Qantas is the ONLY airline who's FA's have never groaned or said "yeah later after we've served the meals" - that action means I'm left waiting and waiting without a drink with my meal. I know that sounds really lame, but it is the simple things that make a difference sometimes. Thus - my loyalty remains with Qantas and I ALWAYS choose Qantas on all international flights regardless of class.
 
No worries.

Best of luck on the flights.

All I can say is when someone asks where is Rae this week - the only answer will be in the Air !!! :p
 
aubs said:
No worries.

Best of luck on the flights.

All I can say is when someone asks where is Rae this week - the only answer will be in the Air !!! :p

Too right! On the weekends at least. Hmmm... I look at it this way. I get fed well (compared to how cough I normally eat), I'll sleep and watch movies - all the same things I normally do when stuck in LA over a weekend (don't like the city and avoid the touristy stuff/going out for that reason).

Thanks again to all for their help, advice and inspiration! I have done 4 RTW trips in the past 2 years (along with another 26 trips to the USA and a dozen through Asia and Europe in past 8 years) but never before have I attempted to maximise SC's and be a serious FF!

It's going to be a major challenge for me (I'm all about getting there as quickly and efficiently as possible). I will definitely be posting a trip report - though don't expect anything as good as some of the wonderful ones I've read here - will do my best :)
 
Rae said:
Thanks for the AA pricing tip but I've gone against the popular opinion of this forum and booked/paid with Qantas.

Ticketing with QF is the "low maintenance" option, albeit considerably more expensive.

As I am lazy (and time-poor like everybody else) I also ticket with QF. I am prepared to sacrifice the extra money for the convenience. Everybody's circumstances are different.

Of course, ticketing with QF doesn't preclude crediting to AA, but that is a whole new thread altogether:D

The wonderful thing about this board is it provides us with information on alternative strategies for all aspects of flying, which aren't widely known ... in Australia at least. We then choose how to use that info.
 
Rae, good luck with your trip.

aubs was correct however, savings on a DONE4 purchased in Australia though AA rather than QF have been reported to often be well over $500. :shock: (This for identical itineraries).
 
Rae said:
Thanks for the AA pricing tip but I've gone against the popular opinion of this forum and booked/paid with Qantas. First, I fly domestic a lot so the QFF program suits me and uh... quite honesty I groan inwardly and outwardly every time I have to set foot on an AA flight. I despise the airline and I guess that ruling with my heart as usual, I can't bring myself to give my loyalty to AA. I know the program is better etc... but I just can't. Something about that flying kangaroo for me
You can use the QF FF program for the flights and still purchase the ticket from AA to get the cost savings. There is no need to fly with AA or use the AAdvantage FF program to gain the savings by purchasing the ticket through AA. The airline that issues the ticket is in no way related to the FF program to be used.
 
Alas I rule life with heart more than head usually. I'm happy to pay Qantas an extra $500 to know that the booking $$ go to them instead of AA (yes I hate American Airlines that much).

I'd read elsewhere on this site that more than 16 sectors booked with AA results in a paper ticket. Well, same applies with Qantas it seems. Damn!

FYI the full price of the ticket with Qantas was $11,002.86
 
Rae said:
Alas I rule life with heart more than head usually. I'm happy to pay Qantas an extra $500 to know that the booking $$ go to them instead of AA (yes I hate American Airlines that much).

I'd read elsewhere on this site that more than 16 sectors booked with AA results in a paper ticket. Well, same applies with Qantas it seems. Damn!

FYI the full price of the ticket with Qantas was $11,002.86

Yes 16 is a universal limit on e-tickets. Interesting given IATA is pushing so hard for 100% e-tickets (at least for itineraries involving IATA member airlines which is all the majors). I hope some software change to allow bigger tickets is being planned.
 
Rae said:
... FYI the full price of the ticket with Qantas was $11,002.86
Given the base fare for a DONE4 ex Oz is $9699 you have a total +++ of $1,302.86; that's mainly Qantas Fuel Fines.

I hazard a guess the savings by going via AA may have been well over $700 on your routing.

Anyway, as I posted before, enjoy your trip. :D
 
Interestingly my AA ticketed in the US DONe4 came out at about A$10,658.
 
Serfy I am positive you are right and that I am an idiot that rules with heart over head. Alas, I am fully satisfied giving the $$ to Qantas. This may all change once the sale goes through of course :) The way I figure it, I'm getting pretty good bang for buck anyway, as my usual RTW trips are about 5 flights total.


If I had to leave QFF for whatever reason, I'd join BA over AA.
 
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Rae said:
If I had to leave QFF for whatever reason, I'd join BA over AA.

Just for clarity what is it about AA that you so dislike? THe award redemption rates are a lot lower than on QF. In terms of bang for your buck it doesnt matter who tickets it - you will get the same bang. In terms of giving money to QF - remember that APA plan to strip A$4bn from QF after acquisition so you are in effect giving money to APA rather than QF.

Re my ticket price - as that was ticketed in the US it attracts a much higher base price so if it had been ticketed here in Oz it would have been much cheaper.
 
:mad: I hate the airline, I hate the lounges, I hate the FA's, I hate the seats, I hate the service.

I realise this has nothing to do with which program I should favour etc, but seriously I dislike them so much I just don't want to give them any more than I have to.
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
Yes 16 is a universal limit on e-tickets. Interesting given IATA is pushing so hard for 100% e-tickets (at least for itineraries involving IATA member airlines which is all the majors). I hope some software change to allow bigger tickets is being planned.
Lets hope they don't "fix" the limitation by enforcing a 16-sector limit on OneWorld Explorer tickets :evil: .
 
Rae said:
:mad: I hate the airline, I hate the lounges, I hate the FA's, I hate the seats, I hate the service.

I realise this has nothing to do with which program I should favour etc, but seriously I dislike them so much I just don't want to give them any more than I have to.

:idea: You could get even by crediting to AAdvantage when flying other OW airlines, and using AAdvantage status benefits (ie charging lounge use to AA) and cheap but valuable AAdvantage awards. That way AA do not get the benefit of revenue (other than what other airlines pay AAdvantage for the miles) and you get to maximise your benefits and awards. Just a thought.
 
NM said:
Lets hope they don't "fix" the limitation by enforcing a 16-sector limit on OneWorld Explorer tickets :evil: .

Or, even worse, xRWSTARx (*A RTWs) which currently allow 24 flights (down from 28 in recent years, which itself was down from unlimited number as long as within total mileage).
 
NM said:
Lets hope they don't "fix" the limitation by enforcing a 16-sector limit on OneWorld Explorer tickets :evil: .

Stupid question time

I thought on a full Y/J/F fare you were entitled to unlimited stopovers (and therefore segments) as long as you stayed within the MPM and one year time limit.

Is the new IATA 16-segment rule going to change that?

Pre RTW tickets that was the way to get the same result - albeit for rather more $$

Happy wandering

Fred
 
Would that be on a Global Explorer fare? The xONEx has no distance limits that I know of -just segments.
 
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