Would you suggest Purchasing a RTW trip?

[JamieB]

Hi All
I need to fly to ADL-SYD?-LAX-YVR-BRS-SIN?-SYD?-ADL next march.

The airports with the '?' don't have to be included just added for a suggestion.

What would be the best value flights to book, I presume RTW?
Also when is the best time to book?, do they release cheaper flights at any particular time?
I do want to fly Oneworld airlines as QFF. trying to gain status, but the trip will ad quite a bit anyhow.
I do have flexibility to fly in either direction.
Any suggestions would greatly appreciated.
:?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yes that would be a good candidate for a RTW.

Just to check by BRS do you mean Bristol or Brussels (code actually BRU)? Also what class of travel are you looking for and what status do you have (will have when travelling this)? These may impact choice of airlines/routings to maximise the points and status credits.

This routing suggests a DONE4 (if business class), AONE4 (first) or LONE4 (economy).

These allow 20 sectors, so you could add some more sectors to increase earning (assuming you have sufficient time). To maximise points and SC earning its a good idea to enter and leave continents from the opposite sides - ie SYD-JFK and LAX-LHR.

As a starter, and this could certainly be improved a lot, something like

ADL-SYD-JFK-LAX-DFW-YVR-ORD-DFW-LAX-LHR-BRU-LHR-xx_-LHR-SIN-HKG-yyy-HKG-MEL-DRW-ADL where xx_ somewhere in europe served by OW and yyy somewhere in asia (note that at least one of the transits through LHR must be under 24 hours, same with DFW, LAX and HKG).

RTW fares are fairly fixed, with periodic reviews. However once your plans are reasonably set I would book to avoid any extra increases in fuel surcharges (quickly adds up on these types of tickets).

 

[Dave Noble]

If you need to fly to Bristol itself, then a ONE World ATW ticket will probably not be the best since, I dont believe that there are any flights from Vancouver to Bristol. Bristol is a pretty easy drive or train trip from LHR however

For a OW trip, I would suggest a Global Explorer since your routing fits nicely within 26k category at a price of around AUD2549 rather than the AUD2959 for the One World Explorer

If going for this ticket, book through American Airlines ATW ticket desk and your "taxes" will be much more palatable than if booked through many agents or airlines such as QF

If after status, this would be an ideal candidate for an AA Lack-of-Challenge to get OW sapphire status

Dave

 

[NM]

For a OW trip, I would suggest a Global Explorer since your routing fits nicely within 26k category at a price of around AUD2549 rather than the AUD2959 for the One World Explorer

It would only fit into 26,000 mile if the game is played in SCL. If he needs any LAN connections inside South America, its going to grow to a 29,000 mile itinerary.

This is assuming a routing like ADL-AKL-SCL-xx_-SCL-MAD-LHR-SIN-ADL

Noting that ADL-AKL and SIN-ADL are not operated daily, so may need to add connections in SYD or MEL. And requires land connection to Bristol.

So if he needs to be somewhere other than SCL in South America, and needs to be in Brussels and not Bristol, then a LONE4 may in fact provide more flexibility. Note that on the LONE4, he can include all 4 SWP sectors in Australia, which may provide some extra domestic flights after the return to ADL (with the restriction of max 2 stopovers). So could add an additional ADL-PER-ADL or ADL-SYD-ADL or ADL-BNE-CNS-BNE-ADL any time within the 12 month validity. So return to ADL and that is stopover number 1 in the continent of origin, then still have up to 4 sectors available with one more stopover (unless some of these sectors used for ADL-SYD-AKL or SIN-MEL-ADL.

So if the mileage gets above 26,000 miles, the more flexible option will be LONE4 OneWorld Explorer.

 

[Dave Noble]

It would only fit into 26,000 mile if the game is played in SCL. If he needs any LAN connections inside South America, its going to grow to a 29,000 mile itinerary.

Im confused... Given a routing specified as

ADL-SYD-LAX-YVR-BRS-SIN-SYD-ADL

where does South America come into it?

I replaced BRS with LHR with a suggestion of hopping on a train to BRS since he does state a OW preference.

Total mileage on the above itinery ( with BRS replacing LHR ) is 25,414 miles which is nicely just within the limit of 26k

If he really must fly into BRS rather than direct, then the journey becomes messy with diversions via EDi, CDG or BRU

There is an issue ( which applies to the ONE fare too ) in that LAX-YVR is not served by an OW airline; perhaps fly ADL-SYD-LAX / YVR-BRS-SIN-SYD-ADL with a separate sector booked for LAX-YVR . With a ONE fare, you can do it by taking a tedious detour via somewhere like DFW admittedly.

Dave

 

[NM]

It would only fit into 26,000 mile if the game is played in SCL. If he needs any LAN connections inside South America, its going to grow to a 29,000 mile itinerary.

Im confused... Given a routing specified as

ADL-SYD-LAX-YVR-BRS-SIN-SYD-ADL

where does South America come into it?

Arrrgh, I am the one confused, not you. Too many similar threads going through my mind :shock: and too little thought between brain and fingers . You are correct, of course.

And I can't even blame the booze! I posted this is complete soberity :roll: .

 

[NM]

There is an issue ( which applies to the ONE fare too ) in that LAX-YVR is not served by an OW airline; perhaps fly ADL-SYD-LAX / YVR-BRS-SIN-SYD-ADL with a separate sector booked for LAX-YVR . With a ONE fare, you can do it by taking a tedious detour via somewhere like DFW admittedly.

Dave

When QF starts their SYD-SFO-YVR serivce, there may be an option to go LAX-SFO on AA and then SFO-YVR on QF. Not sure if the same restrictions will exist for the SFO-YVR flight as exist for the LAX-JFK QF flight?? But even it they do, so long as you use QF for the trans-Pacific flight, you should be able to book the QF SFO-YVR flight.

 

[JamieB]

Thanks for the advice thus far.
Just to clarify that Yes it is Bristol-don't have to fly but thought I would ad it to the post to get the feedback.
Just a little on my situation, I have tonnes of points but at this stage no status - only bronze.
Booked a flight next month as follows
ADL-SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-FCO-LHR-HKG-SYD-ADL
I will be doing it over 2 weeks and needed to do it to get to HKG.
From my workings should net around 250sc's - only down fall is all in O Class so can't upgrade but for 1589+tax's from Best Flights thought it was a good deal.
Also 2 X ADL-SYD next month.
So generally looking for more status but looking forward to first trip overseas.
Is there any better time to book a Global Explorer? eg price.

Also another quick questions how do you rate the travel insurance with CC such as CB Plat?

Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

[rosesplus]

Last Sunday in the Sunherald QF advertised a RTW ticket QF/BA for $1999
including taxes and a $200 land credit. Q class ticket with 2 side trips included, I can't find it on the QF site.

 

[NM]

Is there any better time to book a Global Explorer? eg price.

Global Explorer booked in economy class hs two seasonal prices, known as Peak and Basic. The fare codes are LHGLOB26 or LLGLOB26, where the second letter is H for Peak (high) season and L for basic (Low) season.

The season is based on the date of the first Inter-Regional sector. For this year and for purchased from Australia, the dates are:

Peak: 31 May through 18 August, and 6 December through 24 December
Basic: 1st January through 30th May, and 19th August through 5th December, and 25th December through 31 December.

These dates may vary slightly from year to year.

So it does not matter when you purchase, but when you plan to fly.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Unlike regular fares, "standard" RTW prices are relatively fixed. They wont go up in price just because all the cheap ones are gone and conversely wont have a sale just because not selling enough.

Special promotions are an exception to this, but usually have more restrictions than the "standard" RTWs.

Of course from time to time RTW prices change, usually (always?) up. But this might be only once or twice a year. Fuel surcharges seem to change more regularly (again always seem to increase) and so may be a factor in booking & paying early. With some airlines RTWs can incur a lot in these so called "taxes" so worth beating any known future increases.

 

[tuapekastar]

Last Sunday in the Sunherald QF advertised a RTW ticket QF/BA for $1999
including taxes and a $200 land credit. Q class ticket with 2 side trips included, I can't find it on the QF site.

It sounds similar to this one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476333&highlight=knowledgable, rosesplus, discussed in some detail on FT QF forum (though I can't recall side trips being part of the deal, so maybe it is a different one)? If info was on websites, then it was well hidden. Best source of detail for me was by ringing BA Res. Offer received by some posters via e-mail from BA. Quite restrictive, and didn't end up suiting my purposes. I think this offer "expired" on Oct 11.

Cheers

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks for the advice thus far.
Just to clarify that Yes it is Bristol-don't have to fly but thought I would ad it to the post to get the feedback.
Just a little on my situation, I have tonnes of points but at this stage no status - only bronze.

Well, for Bristol, I would suggest flying to LHR , taking the railair link to Reading and then how on the Great Worstern service to Bristol. Booked in advance , the lowest roundtrip fare from Reading to Bristol is ₤20 in standard class and ₤38.80 in 1st class
Dave