My DONE4 (oneworld RTW) booking experience

[marki]

The nuisances (nuances)with CW and CE (on BA) are palpable. I have personally noted however that using the Google flights search engine booking CE can net a bargain, especially if it is timed right. A J-class flight can be had for cheap. Sometimes particular flights have very light loadings - it may be due to train strikes, you get about 40 Status Credits for a one way trip. (BER-LHR). Thank you Skylabsea for your efforts most informative.

 

[adenda]

Thanks for this, very illuminating.
What tool/map did you use to work out the possible routes?

I see 'flightconnections.com' offers a (paid) ability to restrict routes by alliance, but is there another option?

You can filter to OneWorld by using this URL: Oneworld Route Map - Flights and Destinations

 

[justinbrett]

Not a paid advertisement!

I have just booked a DONE4 ex-HND using @madrooster's travel agency. It is a great option at the moment as due to the low value of the JPY, my ticket cost me sub-A$9K, which is incredible as you really can't get a return fare to LHR or LAX for that, let alone RTW. I've also got a side trip to DRW as part of it after I get back to Australia.

I just had to make a CR booking to HND one way to start the trip, and I've got the return to HND flights next year which all going well will be where I start my next DONE4. At those prices, going via Japan is completely worth it. (Ex SYD, DONE4 is about A$16K).

And sure, you can still get a great fare booking yourself via the web (and trust me, I haven't used a travel agent since 2008), but I can say going through an agent like MR is definitely worth it - without going into specifics of what he can do.

For those interested here is my trip:


Fairly vanilla, an open jaw in Europe (ZHR-CDG), LHR, JFK/LAS then home. Stand alone trip to DRW (using the loophole that BNE/DRW doesn't count as transcon, but SYD/DRW does).

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome (back) to the TA club . Yes, my own TA has booked me RTW ex Japan several times; once on Star Alliance which I unfortunately had to cancel.

 

[ausfox]

Not a paid advertisement!

I have just booked a DONE4 ex-HND using @madrooster's travel agency. It is a great option at the moment as due to the low value of the JPY, my ticket cost me sub-A$9K, which is incredible as you really can't get a return fare to LHR or LAX for that, let alone RTW. I've also got a side trip to DRW as part of it after I get back to Australia.

I just had to make a CR booking to HND one way to start the trip, and I've got the return to HND flights next year which all going well will be where I start my next DONE4. At those prices, going via Japan is completely worth it. (Ex SYD, DONE4 is about A$16K).

And sure, you can still get a great fare booking yourself via the web (and trust me, I haven't used a travel agent since 2008), but I can say going through an agent like MR is definitely worth it - without going into specifics of what he can do.

For those interested here is my trip:
View attachment 398640

Fairly vanilla, an open jaw in Europe (ZHR-CDG), LHR, JFK/LAS then home. Stand alone trip to DRW (using the loophole that BNE/DRW doesn't count as transcon, but SYD/DRW does).

Well done to you and madrooster. What sectors are onQantas?

 

[justinbrett]

Well done to you and madrooster. What sectors are onQantas?

SIN-LHR, LAX-BNE, SYD-HND, plus all the Aus domestics obviously. Some of the flights have QF codeshares.

Welcome (back) to the TA club . Yes, my own TA has booked me RTW ex Japan several times; once on Star Alliance which I unfortunately had to cancel.

Ah, but all TAs are not created equal. I feel these ones are in the minority.

I enquired at my local Hello World, initially "I'm not sure we can even do that!". Then the quote was A$10,300 which was at least 1K higher than the self booking tool.

 

[ausfox]

I have used madrooster. He is very good.

 

[RooFlyer]

SIN-LHR, LAX-BNE, SYD-HND, plus all the Aus domestics obviously. Some of the flights have QF codeshares.

I assume the ticket was on AA paper, or JAL?

 

[justinbrett]

I assume the ticket was on AA paper, or JAL?

Nope. True blue QF stock.

(I wanted to get the QF Amex bonus points). Was no incentive to go with anyone else.

 

[serfty]

I assume the ticket was on AA paper, or JAL?

Nope. True blue QF stock.

(I wanted to get the QF Amex bonus points). Was no incentive to go with anyone else.

Yes, 081- plated.

By us paying with a QBR Amex, there's 2xPoints on the fare, and as a level two QBR entity, 30% additional points on QF travel so paid.

Also, when the TA is competent, you won't need to contact Qantas over booking issues.

Yes, TAs can and do charge fees for their services. For these types of bookings the fees can be in the mid '00's ... however, remember "you won't need to contact Qantas over booking issues.".

 

[RooFlyer]

Nope. True blue QF stock.

(I wanted to get the QF Amex bonus points). Was no incentive to go with anyone else.

Fair enough re the AMEX. I recall from hazy memory that being ticketed on JAL or AA was going to save me about $500 to $1000 in various carrier charges.

And without wishing to tell you how to suck too many eggs, a way of increasing points and SCs on these RTWs would be to for example, fly from Europe to the US West Coast then make your way east across the USA and then fly back to Australia starting at New York (when the Qantas flight originated there). Longer flights, no increase in cost. In my case I flew Sydney to New York on Qantas, hopped west across the USA, then flew to Doha from Los Angeles, worked my way west across Europe and then flew to Japan from Heathrow etc.

 

[oz_boater]

... as a level two QBR entity, 30% additional points on QF travel so paid.

What is a "level 2 QBR entity"?

 

[madrooster]

By us paying with a QBR Amex, there's 2xPoints on the fare, and as a level two QBR entity, 30% additional points on QF travel so paid.

QF can actually be fairly generous in earnings and in the right circumstances, QF ticket stock can be worth it.

For just one QF flight crediting to QFF, for a well engaged member... there's the base QF points/SCs earn, Accor points if you have a linked Accor account, QBR points if you have a QBR entity, potentially double SCs/points, an extra 1 point per dollar on the fare if charged to a QF co-branded credit/charge card and possibly extra earnings beyond this list.

 

[justinbrett]

And without wishing to tell you how to suck too many eggs, a way of increasing points and SCs on these RTWs would be to for example, fly from Europe to the US West Coast then make your way east across the USA and then fly back to Australia starting at New York (when the Qantas flight originated there). Longer flights, no increase in cost. In my case I flew Sydney to New York on Qantas, hopped west across the USA, then flew to Doha from Los Angeles, worked my way west across Europe and then flew to Japan from Heathrow etc.

It wasn’t a status run, I’ll have more than enough to retain WP and have some flights spilling over to my next membership year.

MR suggested some routing to maximum SCs but I wasn’t interested as I don’t need them.

 

[Lynda2475]

Fairly vanilla, an open jaw in Europe (ZHR-CDG), LHR, JFK/LAS then home. Stand alone trip to DRW (using the loophole that BNE/DRW doesn't count as transcon, but SYD/DRW does).

Excellent and no need to transit the ME, definite food for thought for me next year depending on work.

 

[RooFlyer]

Also, when the TA is competent, you won't need to contact Qantas over booking issues.

Yes, TAs can and do charge fees for their ervices. For these types of bookings the fees can be in the mid '00's ... however, remember "you won't need to contact Qantas over booking issues.".

... or anything else on the itinerary that they've booked! International flights, tours, game lodges, cruises for me (occasionally rental cars, hotels and Virtuoso where they have a good deal); they have a standing corporate deal with QR that gets me back at least the TA fee for the itinerary. My TA once got me an exception to a OW DONE5 where, having dropped down to Sth America from USA, I wasn't allowed to return to Nth America. But they contacted the ticketing airline and got a waiver at the booking stage.

When I first came onto AFF, I wondered at all the problems and queries people had, especially with mixed airline itineraries; I'd never experienced them. Realised in the end that my TA just seamlessly stitched everything together for me and I just did the travel, blissfully unaware that I was doing things that weren't usually easily achieved.

Sorry to gush, but I couldn't imagine travelling international on revenue tickets without them.

QF can actually be fairly generous in earnings and in the right circumstances, QF ticket stock can be worth it.

For just one QF flight crediting to QFF, for a well engaged member... there's the base QF points/SCs earn, Accor points if you have a linked Accor account, QBR points if you have a QBR entity, potentially double SCs/points, an extra 1 point per dollar on the fare if charged to a QF co-branded credit/charge card and possibly extra earnings beyond this list.

Oh, absolutely, no doubt about that. Then it usually comes down to whether you want to earn max QFF points or save some money up-front. I don't value QFF points as much as many here, so happy to save the cash.

My DONE4s, as described above, and usually using QF into and out of Australia always got enough SC earn to requal for Plat, even using QR for long sectors.

 

[wandering_fred]

Booked with my TA in CMB.
DONE3 + one extra USA AA segment(otherwise known as the 7th NA segment)
A bit under US$4900 including TA fee and taxes/airline fees.

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

A map from the Great Circle Mapper

www.gcmap.com

The last three segments only because CX has not yet released HKG-CMB for 2025. Eventually I will pay the $US125 and agent fee to change to KUL-HKG-CMB-NRT. The USA segments were a major problem due to married segment logic (and the relatives in DEN and TUS). And almost no D class on QF long haul 3 months out.

A lot of effort into this schedule for wandering
Fred

 

[serfty]

What is a "level 2 QBR entity"?

The Ultimate Guide to Qantas Business Rewards - Point Hacks

Now with more points at Qantas Hotels and on select Jetstar fare bundles.

www.pointhacks.com.au

With their ABN attached to the booking business will earn 20, 30, or 40 Qantas Points for every 100 Qantas Points that the eligible passenger would earn for themselves while travelling depending on tier level. Earn is calculated on base (bronze) rate.

For example, if a bronze statused employee earns 800 base QFF points for a MEL-SYD segment, a level 2 business also earns 30% of that being 240 points.

Moreover, by paying with the Amex, they also earn "triple" that 240, so another 480.

For example, if that fare was $200, combined earn is 1920.

 

[justinbrett]

Oh, absolutely, no doubt about that. Then it usually comes down to whether you want to earn max QFF points or save some money up-front. I don't value QFF points as much as many here, so happy to save the cash.

My DONE4s, as described above, and usually using QF into and out of Australia always got enough SC earn to requal for Plat, even using QR for long sectors.

I'm not sure if you've ever used MR's services but he worked some magic to get me a really good price. Certainly wasn't just about the QF points.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm not sure if you've ever used MR's services but he worked some magic to get me a really good price. Certainly wasn't just about the QF points.

Yes; can certainly work some magic