Round the World - One World - Business

[vrixon]

Have scanned the forums and there seems to be mixed views on the One World RTW fares. Intend circling the globe about Sep 09 (2 pax) departing Darwin and stopping in America (North and South if fare is suitable) - at least New York/Washington and possibly Florida or California as well as eastern Canada; Europe - London and Scandinavia; and Asia - Beijing, HK and elsewhere.

Both wife and I are QFF (one platinum, one silver - both club members) and intend to travel up the front of the plane.

Any suggestions or comments on the best way to attack this travel?

 

[NM]

I would generally go for the OneWorld Explorer fare as its the most flexible. However, you would need a DONE5 (or AONE5 depending on how far up-front you want to sit) since you are including 5 continents (SWP, NA, SA, Europe, Asia).

The Global Explorer DGLOB34 34,000 miles (distance based) fare is the same price as the DONE4 (4 continent OneWorld Explorer), so will be a little cheaper than DONE5 is you can fit into the 34,000 miles limit.

Its presently cheaper to book through AA, using their ATW desk to make the booking, and avoiding a lot of the fuel surcharges that Qantas will charge you on the same fare. typical saving on such a routing would be in the order of $500 but could be more.

Expect to be paying around $11,500 for a DGLOB34 or DONE4 inc charges, and a little more for a DONE5.

 

[DTM1]

or, given that you are already in Darwin, the best best woul be to book the ticket through AA departing from MNL. You'll need to make your own way toMNL, but the ticket could be as much as 40% cheaper

 

[NM]

or, given that you are already in Darwin, the best best woul be to book the ticket through AA departing from MNL. You'll need to make your own way toMNL, but the ticket could be as much as 40% cheaper

Or Indonesia may be a cheap starting point for them as well.

 

[Hvr]

So how do you find someone to book your DONE4 etc from another country?

Am vaguely considering one for 2009 and have noticed that MNL or NRT appear to be the cheaper places to start from.

 

[DTM1]

You book it yourself. You book it through AA worldwide desk in the US and have it calculated in local currency. You then have to ring local AA office to pay for it. As long as they give you an e-tkt, you simply turn up for your flight. I just finished arranging an ex-NRT DCIR22 this way.

There are stacks of posts in relation to this. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to post a link, as I don't recall where the best one is ?

 

[Mwenenzi]

vrixon Welcome to AFF (1st post)

or, given that you are already in Darwin, the best best woul be to book the ticket through AA departing from MNL. You'll need to make your own way toMNL, but the ticket could be as much as 40% cheaper

If you book in Asia you can avoid the SWP zone altogether and so get a DONE3 (Asia - NA - Eu), or DONE4 if you want to include South America. Even going to Singapore or BK to avoid the SWP zone may be worth it, instead of ticketing in MNL or Indonesia

 

[NM]

You then have to ring local AA office to pay for it. As long as they give you an e-tkt, you simply turn up for your flight.

Since 1st June 2008, all OneWorld Explorer and Global Explorer tickets have to be e-tickets. No more option for paper ticket.

 

[sr81]

vrixon Welcome to AFF (1st post)

If you book in Asia you can avoid the SWP zone altogether and so get a DONE3 (Asia - NA - Eu), or DONE4 if you want to include South America. Even going to Singapore or BK to avoid the SWP zone may be worth it, instead of ticketing in MNL or Indonesia

I am departing from DPS (Bali) as a DONE3 so Indonesia is in Asia not South West Pacific.

CX has an office in Jakarta though the ladies in the AA MNL office could not have been more helpful after arranging the flights through Dallas.

 

[MelUser]

Note though fare increases ex Manilla and with AA's rules on dearest of place of ticketing or first port of departure you would be up for US$5453 for a DCIR22 versus $US3816 having it ticketed by Cathay Pacific in Jakarta.

 

[vrixon]

Thanks everyone - much food for thought. I have been offline with work and this has given me a bit to think about. Interesting concept ticketing the trip from somewhere else ... Singapore is the most logical but it would mean an extra flight on Jetstar or Tiger to get there.

The 11k fare options are about the ball-park I was looking at so to drop it much below that would be really impressive.

Once I get a few prices to compare I will post them back here for all to see.

 

[MelUser]

Thanks - we like the follow up and conclusion!