Query re alternate ways of RTW

[BABENS]

Hubby and I are looking at taking a well earned break quite soon.

We're both Oneworld and would like to maximise the status credits/points, but not at too great additional cost to other options.

Both keen on Business Class and not keen on any time on the West Coast of the US. (He is quite strong on that point...) We also prefer to stopover once we hit 14 hours in the air.

We have some business in Atlanta, much needed shopping in New York and London..., social time in Copenhagen and if possible would love to get back to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland (I know - difficult... to combine with other options).

We both love HK but will sacrifice this year for Narita stopover or other alternate.

At this stage I have been researching

JAL Companion Business Class to London AUD5,900ish with a return out of Frankfurt (after going to Copenhagen by ferry and train to Frankfurt from Copenhagen)

an Icelandair Business Class across to NY (seems to be around AUD2,500) and a possibily a domestic US NY-ATL_NY in economy

I have also considered replacing the JAL with Finnair to enable a return out of Copenhagen without the need to go to Frankfurt by train and also bypassing NY and going straight to Atlanta from London and doing a side trip to Iceland if we really get the time.

I know a great many of you are wonders at options and deals, so keen to hear your thoughts....

 

[browski]

QF/CX to HKG/BKK and then RJ to AMM and London is always a good earner.

 

[BABENS]

QF/CX to HKG/BKK and then RJ to AMM and London is always a good earner.

I hadn't thought of that option - sounds good. Any idea how I book something like that.e.g is it a Qantas flight or Royal Jordan?

 

[docjames]

QF to HNL then across to ATL from there. And then keep going to LHR and then HEL on Finnair, then Finnair to HK for a couple of days then home on QF or CX.

Keeps all flights as short as possible and avoids West Coast USA.

 

[BABENS]

QF to HNL then across to ATL from there. And then keep going to LHR and then HEL on Finnair, then Finnair to HK for a couple of days then home on QF or CX.

Keeps all flights as short as possible and avoids West Coast USA.

Thank you - other than a Oneworld RTW which isn't the cheapest business in the world, do you know any other way I could book something like this?

 

[docjames]

Thank you - other than a Oneworld RTW which isn't the cheapest business in the world, do you know any other way I could book something like this?

To use a *Alliance product, you'd be looking at NZ via AKL and LAX and going straight through to ATL (fails one of you criteria of a rest after ~14hr flight). I guess CO via CNS and GUM to HNL is another *A option, but not necessarily cheaper and not as good J product (no better than QF's poorer J product to HNL). Or UA again via LAX or SFO ex-SYD and MEL.

Not sure if Skyteam offer an RTW offering, limited to DL SYD-LAX-ATL-europe and probably on ? Asiana back to SYD, or again buying a return ex-ATL for ATL-Europe-ATL and buying a return DL SYD-ATL-SYD. And again, fails the test of no stopping in LAX but wanting rest after 14hrs. Of the "majors", DL seems to be cheaper.


NZ may also offer RTW fare (aus-AKL-LAX-LHR-HKG-AKL-aus) but you'd have to trasnit LAX again, and buy side segments to ATL (LAX-ATL-LAX) and into europe and back from LHR. May work out (slightly) cheaper but messier. NZ also have Premium economy too so potential to save $$$ there too. You could also consider NZ doing aus-AKL-LAX-LHR-LAX-AKL-aus and buying a return rather than RTW on them and again side tickets to ATL and into Europe.

VAus often have sales in conjunction with Virgin Atlantic to go aus-LAX-LHR-LAX-aus with side trips seperate again, again the LAX issue.


Lots of options to play with and price up I suppose.