Oneworld Explorer ticketing

[skylabsea]

For someone based in Oz, is there are program that is clearly superior to QANTAS to credit the status / FF points to?

Given that a oneworld RTW can be a status bonanza?

I had just assumed QANTAS, but seeing the award availability via (for example) AA or BA websites where these tickets don't show up as bookable on QANTAS, and the high status needed for Platinum on QANTAS / low crediting for non QF flights, I am wondering if I should look elsewhere?

Thanks for mentioning my thread.
QF halves the earn on certain partner flights (e.g. MELHKG on CX J earns 60SC rather than the full 120 on QF) which is what pushed me to alternate FF programmes.

 

[aus_flyer]

Has anyone ever found that Qantas reservations cannot price an itinerary that is perfectly valid? I normally book through AA. The ticket is starting in Japan but the Qantas system is not quoting if I include any domestic flights in Australia. And this is the Hobart call centre I’m dealing with! They’re just as stumped as I am.

 

[bam71]

What’s the routing?

 

[Danger]

Any help with using the oneworld online tool? It always gets angry if I put an itinerary over 34000 miles, even if it has a green tick for meeting the oneworld explorer DONE4 rules. Better to call AA office?

The online booking tool is about as useless as a Qantas offshore call centre. You're better off calling AA, but that team will only assist you if you have certain sectors with AA (e.g. TAtl or TPac).

 

[aus_flyer]

The online booking tool is about as useless as a Qantas offshore call centre. You're better off calling AA, but that team will only assist you if you have certain sectors with AA (e.g. TAtl or TPac).

Will they accept AA codeshare (eg LAX-HKG on CX) or does it have to be AA operated?

 

[Cynicor]

It’s very variable what they require. It’s not always necessary that you have the large oversea components in AA but this is the most common.
They will accept codeshares

 

[aus_flyer]

It’s been a long time since I’ve booked through AA. What’s the best number to call?

 

[oz_boater]

Have read the rules and had a good play around with a combo of "Flight Connections", "Expert Flyer", the QANTAS Status Calculator and the xONEx rules.

My objective was to go to some interesting places and try out as many business class long haul cabins as I can in a DONE4 for Aug-Oct next year, while hitting 1210 status credits by end Oct to get Platinum given the Status Credits I already have in hand (will lose it end this Oct, have a few flights in Dec/Jan which will gives some SCs)

Pricing a few countries, Japan is indeed the cheapest so will start there

and here we have the path, keeping in mind that Casablanca is considered to be part of Europe (or maybe the middle east)



So
Start Sydney and position to Tokyo using a FF ticket

Then
Tokyo -> Honolulu on a JAL 787 (lay flat bed)
Honolulu -> Dallas on a AA 787 (lay flat bed)
Dallas -> New York on a AA domestic 737
New York -> San Fran on a 3 class A321 (lay flat bed)
San Fran -> Doha on a QATAR QSuite A350 (lay flat bed)
Doha -> Casablanca on a QATAR 777 (lay flat bed)
Casablanca -> Istanbul on a Royal Air Maroc 787 (lay flat bed)
Istanbul -> London on a British Air el cougho A320
London -> Madrid on a Iberia A330 (lay flat bed)
Madrid -> Hong Kong on a Cathay A350 (lay flat bed)
Hong Kong -> Kuala Lumpur on a Cathay A330 (lay flat bed)
Kuala Lumpur -> Bangalore on a Malay 737 puddle jumper
Bangalore -> Sydney on a QANTAS 330-200 (lay flat bed)

Live in Sydney so I am home, aim to be home by Oct 31st so trigger platinum again
(1350 Status Credits by this time)

Then have a trip to Lord Howe Island to take in the 1st half of 2025

Finally 'finish' the trip by flying back to Tokyo on a QANTAS A330 (lay flat bed) to start the next DONE4 some time around August 2025

1,605 status
97,500 FF points (assuming gold)
48,850 miles

I think this valid, but would appreciate someone knowledgeable checking it

11 of the 16 flights are on aircraft with lay flat beds and it covers 7 airlines Long Haul cabins (JAL, QANTAS, American, QATAR, Royal Maroc, Iberia & Cathay)



Reds are intercontinental sectors, greens are local sectors

Thoughts?
Errors?

 

[oz_boater]

Question: you are allowed 2 'stopovers' in the continent of origin.

Does the time between the flight arriving back in your 'continent of origin' and the 1st sector in it (in the above example, HK) count?

 

[Danger]

Congratulations on putting so much effort into it.

First, Egypt is still the cheapest starting point (as your table shows).

Second, Morocco is part of Europe/Middle East (one continent).

Third, it's not clear to me how you're finishing the itinerary. Is BLR-SYD your final leg? If so, two things. First, that moves it from a DONE3 to a DONE4. Second, rule 4(c) requires that "travel must terminate at the same point", subject to some exceptions which don't apply in your case. My advice would be to remove Sydney and fly BLR-Asia, then return to Australia from whatever that point is.

Question: you are allowed 2 'stopovers' in the continent of origin.

Does the time between the flight arriving back in your 'continent of origin' and the 1st sector in it (in the above example, HK) count?

I'm not clear on your question.

The oneworld forum on FlyerTalk has some excellent and very knowledgeable users who know the rules inside out and will be able to offer much better advice than you'll get on AFF where the product isn't as widely used.

 

[skylabsea]

Question: you are allowed 2 'stopovers' in the continent of origin.

Does the time between the flight arriving back in your 'continent of origin' and the 1st sector in it (in the above example, HK) count?

My understanding is whether or not the flights themselves are inter or intra continental is unrelated to the determination of stopover vs transit; so in your example if you land 0655 and depart at 1245 same day it'd be a transit, but if you decide to spend the night in HKG and depart the following day it'd be a stopover.

 

[oz_boater]

Congratulations on putting so much effort into it.

First, Egypt is still the cheapest starting point (as your table shows).

Yes, but only by 1k and Japan is just down the road from us.

Second, Morocco is part of Europe/Middle East (one continent).

Which I am relying on so this is a DONE4 rather than 5

Third, it's not clear to me how you're finishing the itinerary. Is BLR-SYD your final leg? If so, two things. First, that moves it from a DONE3 to a DONE4. Second, rule 4(c) requires that "travel must terminate at the same point", subject to some exceptions which don't apply in your case. My advice would be to remove Sydney and fly BLR-Asia, then return to Australia from whatever that point is

The DONE4 starts and finished in Tokyo (HND)

I live in Sydney, so use a FF ticket to position to Tokyo to start with, then kick off the RTW from HND. I then have the final segment from SYD to HND to use when I am ready to start the next RTW (again from HND) in 2025

Thanks for the feedback

 

[oz_boater]

My understanding is whether or not the flights themselves are inter or intra continental is unrelated to the determination of stopover vs transit; so in your example if you land 0655 and depart at 1245 same day it'd be a transit, but if you decide to spend the night in HKG and depart the following day it'd be a stopover.

Thanks, is it the “same day” or “within 24 hours”?

It it is the “same day” then that is a problem with BLR as the flight in arrives at 23:40

 

[pyffii]

We've been doing DONE4 ex Tokyo for many years now and its a great way to do a RTW trip....transit is any stop that is no longer than 23 hours and 59 minutes

 

[skylabsea]

Thanks, is it the “same day” or “within 24 hours”?

It it is the “same day” then that is a problem with BLR as the flight in arrives at 23:40

Within 24 hours.

 

[sqkiwi]

We've been doing DONE4 ex Tokyo for many years now and its a great way to do a RTW trip....transit is any stop that is no longer than 23 hours and 59 minutes

Hi,
who do you book with?
thanks

 

[pyffii]

AA via the RTW desk....ring via skype for free

 

[docjames]

Anyone up to date on pricing for a LONE4?

Ex-AU, SIN, NZ?

 

[oz_boater]

LONE4 (in AUD) today from
NZ $3,980
Oz $4,069
Sing $6,175
Japan $3,714

So it looks like you want to avoid Singapore, the rest are all in the same ballpark of $4K

Data from Expert Flyer

 

[docjames]

Thank you.