RTW fares....a quick question (or 3) for the experts!

[Febs]

Hi guys,

Despite my daily readership of this great site, and reasonably frequent posting, I never really looked closely into RTW fares like DONE4/5's, Circle Pacific, Global Explorer fares etc...

Now that I'm starting too, I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Basically my situation is - in the past when I've travelled to the US for work (usually SYD-LAX, then a bunch of internal domestic YUP/KUP fares on AA) the total fare ends up being almost $13,000 in J/A. A usual itinerary is something like SYD-LAX-DFW-MEM-MCI-DFW-LAX-SYD.

Given the fairly hefty cost, I'd like to look into a RTW option, mainly to (potentially) reduce the cost, but also to earn some more SCss and visit somewhere new/interesting.

Trouble is, it's a three week trip and with the exception of the weekends before and after, I don't have any extra time. Would like to use those weekends as much as possible though. The other restriction is - must be ticketed through QF in Australia, so no fancy $7k DONE4's from NRT I'm afraid.

Is there a OneWorld RTW fare in J for under $13k that would include a number of internal US flights (say, for example, SFO-DFW-MCI-DFW-SFO), and allow me to stopover somewhere in Asia on the way to SFO? I'd also like to throw in a stopover in MIA if possible.

Ideally, I'd like to visit DXB (even if only for a day), and it seems with OneWorld you can travel SYD-BOM-DXB-LHR-LAX...though I've got no idea if that would fit into any of the RTW offerings...

(As you can tell, I'm pretty lost with all of this)

Last question (I promise!) would it be possible to do a RTW fare like the one described above, and still have segments left over (ideally Australian domestic segments) after return to SYD?

Sorry for the million (probably stupid) questions...but as I said I'm a bit lost. Thanks!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

Is there a OneWorld RTW fare in J for under $13k that would include a number of internal US flights (say, for example, SFO-DFW-MCI-DFW-SFO), and allow me to stopover somewhere in Asia on the way to SFO? I'd also like to throw in a stopover in MIA if possible.

OneWorld Explorer (DONE4) is your friend. It will provide you up to six USA domestic sectors booked in A class (for 2-class flights, D for 3-class flights).

Ideally, I'd like to visit DXB (even if only for a day), and it seems with OneWorld you can travel SYD-BOM-DXB-LHR-LAX...though I've got no idea if that would fit into any of the RTW offerings...

Yes, QF flies SYD-BOM and CX flies BOM-DXB and BA flies DXB-LHR. DO note that the CX flight BOM-DXB is at different times on different days of the week.

Last question (I promise!) would it be possible to do a RTW fare like the one described above, and still have segments left over (ideally Australian domestic segments) after return to SYD?

The rules changes recently so that now you cannot continue beyond the point of origin. So if starting in SYD, once you return to SYD that is the end of the itinerary. So the only way to keep some Australian domestic flights up your sleeve is to not return to SYD, but perhaps to MEL or BNE and purchase a separate ticket back to SYD so you can pick up your remaining Australian sectors later.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

The rules changed recently so that now you cannot continue beyond the point of origin. So if starting in SYD, once you return to SYD that is the end of the itinerary. So the only way to keep some Australian domestic flights up your sleeve is to not return to SYD, but perhaps to MEL or BNE and purchase a separate ticket back to SYD so you can pick up your remaining Australian sectors later.

Bugger. What if you do the internal Aus sectors first?

Or alternatively, what I flew to BNE, and then booked my DONE4 starting from BNE (and then flying SYD -> HKG going out). One way back, flying LAX->SYD (stopover) and the doing some domestic sectors later (as long as I don't pass through BNE)

 

[Dave Noble]

Bugger. What if you do the internal Aus sectors first?

Or alternatively, what I flew to BNE, and then booked my DONE4 starting from BNE (and then flying SYD -> HKG going out). One way back, flying LAX->SYD (stopover) and the doing some domestic sectors later (as long as I don't pass through BNE)

That's fine

Dave

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Hi Dave,

The latter is fine? or both are fine?

And now I have a third question - I'm looking at DONE4 fare rules on ExpertFlyer, but it must be my failing brain. I can't see any T&C that indicate that passing through your origin terminates your flight. Can anyone highlight the appropriate section?

Thanks once again.

 

[Keith009]

Under Flight Application:

D. TRAVEL MAY NOT BE VIA THE POINT OF ORIGIN

 

[Dave Noble]

Hi Dave,

The latter is fine? or both are fine?

And now I have a third question - I'm looking at DONE4 fare rules on ExpertFlyer, but it must be my failing brain. I can't see any T&C that indicate that passing through your origin terminates your flight. Can anyone highlight the appropriate section?

Thanks once again.

starting with a BNE-SYD, flying around the world, returning to SYD and then taking 3 sectors is fine

Taking 4 domestic sectors that do not pass through the point of origin and then flying around the would is also fine

Dave

 

[vt01]

My DONE4 starts in SYD and I come back to BNE. I've bought a cheapie ticket l to get me back to Sydney and then sometime over the next 12 months I'll buy another cheapie ticket to BNE so I can do my BNE-PER-DRW-ADL-SYD which will finish my DONE4.