oneworld Explorer round the world - website or travel agent?

[JohnPhelan]

I've done a few oneworld explorer round-the-world journeys over the past 10 years or so. Business class, so D-class ticketing (except for AA domestics in F class).

I've always bought these through a travel agent before - because that was the only way you could - but now you are able to do this online (via the QF site which directs you to the oneworld round-the-world booking engine).

My question is this - should I do the booking online or get it ticketed through a travel agent? Will I get a better price from a travel agent, or will it be the same as the published price on the oneworld site? Generally you get cheaper prices on international flights by using your agent, but does this apply to the oneworld explorer fares, or is there no capacity for agents to discount these?

 

[tuapekastar]

I do not know if it is cheaper to book through an agent, but I have booked previously as below, if of interest.

I have booked a LONE4 and a DONE4 in the past through AA direct (i.e. ringing their Around-The-World desk in Dallas and booking through them).

For my DONE4 (las year), which was booked ex-AKL (cheaper base fare), the total taxes/charges were ~NZD700, which is quite a bit less than what has been reported for tickets booked through QF.

I just made sure I knew my routing (and was within the rules), what flights I wanted, that there was D availability for them, and the process took me maybe 20 minutes on the phone at most.

I did have some hairy moments when ticketing, when the NZ AA office (actually a common call centre in Brisbane I think) tried to charge me the ex-AU fare (the ex-NZ one is quite a bit cheaper), but managed to overcome those obstacles. If you plan to ticket ex-AU then that shouldn't be an issue for you.

There have been reports in the past that to book a DONE4 through AA you need to meet certain conditions (e.g. at least one overwater segement on AA, or the first segment on AA). Whilst I did fly TATL on AA the agent gave me a choice between AA and BA - I took AA (which was what I had planned anyway) and managed to upgrade that leg to F.

So sorry, I haven't answered your question, but perhaps given you another alternative (which may save a bit on taxes etc.)

 

[tuppaware]

tuapekastar .. when giving your details did you give an NZ address or a Aus one ?

 

[Heleigh]

Book via travel agent in 2008 DONE4 but did my own reseach from web site including availability of flights the agents fee was exactly the same .

2009 1 - AONE4 and 2 - LONE4 again confirmed flights and availabilty but finished with booking via Qantas due to three bookings but they charged the handling fee - the fare was 10% discount on base fare.

2010 and 2011 AONE4 web and paid via web as well.

I find the oneworld rtw explorer an easy site to work with for base route and if there is need to change any date or time of flight I contact QFF WP and usually not problem to change.

 

[tuapekastar]

tuapekastar .. when giving your details did you give an NZ address or a Aus one ?

Can't recall if it was the address or CC number (or if I even gave an address) that 'alerted' the agent (but both would have been Australian).

I think what happened (it's probably posted somewhere but it's too late at night to look back for it at the moment ) was the first time I rang (a Friday afternoon) as soon as I gave an Australian CC number (or maybe the address, cannot recall for sure), the agent said 'so you're in Australia' or something like that - I half-tried fibbing but I'm no good at it and said 'yep'.

The guy said, 'aah, have to convert it to AUD'. I knew what he meant was 'charge you the ex-AU price' so I spluttered a bit and then told him to hang five and do nothing.

I then rang back Monday prepared to argue the point (I disagreed with his interpretation of the relevant rule - I reckon because I was ringing the AA NZ number to ticket it I was purchasing in NZ), but it was not necessary - the agent I got went right ahead and did it no questions asked.

So it's probably worth trying if one is making reasonable savings (after allowing for positioning flights, hotels, any CC conversion fees etc.), but one should have a Plan B, even if that involves sucking it up, rebooking ex-AU and paying the ex-AU price.

 

[drron]

I use a TA but for reasons that probably dont apply to everyone.My DONEs are booked early so I use TA as then i do not have to pay until ~6 weeks out.So the saving I make on my OD interest is greater than TAs fee.
I already have my line worked out if i do use AA to book ex NZ.I am Australian but am in NZ now using my Telstra calling card so it appears I am ringing from my Australian phone.Then again I can lie.

 

[ChrisBNE]

A TA should/may be able to plate the fare to AA and offer the AA taxes level (less YQs). Only draw back is AA support < QF support if things go wrong.

 

[drron]

A TA should/may be able to plate the fare to AA and offer the AA taxes level (less YQs). Only draw back is AA support < QF support if things go wrong.

Most TAs use a consolidator and it is they who often refuse to plate on AA.This comes from my TA and a former manager of a consolidator who is a family member.

 

[Cocitus23]

I have been buying these tickets for some 7 or 8 years now, sometimes paying with $$$, sometimes with points, sometimes my ticket with $$$ my wife's with points. My itineraries tend to be complex and usually go right to the allowable limits of the number of sectors and the number of stopovers. My practice is to work out my own desired itinerary using the One World web site. Then, when I think I have it all correct, I use a Qantas agent to book it for me. Why? Well, usually on some obscure sector I run into a problem such as seat availability or inadequate connect time, and I appreciate the expertise of the agent to work around the problem. For example, I recently booked two such tickets which included Amman - Colombo on Royal Jordanian. They only fly it three days per week and I could not get seats on a RTW itinerary even paying with dollars six months in advance. The agent quickly got me around it by routing me AMM - BKK on RJ followed by BKK - CMB on CX.

So, it's to overcome such issues, as well as synchronising $$$ tickets and points tickets that I use the agent.

Maybe I'm dumb and not good at looking after my own interests, but I have not got involved with such cunning stunts as using AA's ticketing out of NZ. Should I?

Cocitus23