johnathome

Traveling to Australia in September with family. Will head to HK afterwards and then back to US. Was looking/researching airfare when I read about the Circle Pacific Fares. Anyone use this type of fare to Australia. I think using the business class fares are very attractive. Anyone use them recently?

Patty

I just put a Oneworld circle pacific on hold in business class. I posted lots of questions and got great feedback in this thread http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34801122

I started out looking at the Star Alliance circle pacific but while I was still researching, the base fare for that product nearly doubled! So I started looking at the Oneworld product and it's actually working out better for what I want to do with the exception of no really good South Pacific island options. Sounds like the Oneworld circle pacific may also work well for you if you're looking at Australia and Hong Kong. Where in the US will you be flying from? Where in Australia will you be visiting?

Here's some info on how they work http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-trave...e-pacific-fare
You may also want to print out and read the rule sheet.

I used the 22,000 mile one and my routing is -

Los Angeles-Hong Kong-Cairns(stopover)-Melbourne-Devonport(stopover)-Melbourne-Adelaide(stopover)-Sydney-Wellington(stopover )-Auckland-Los Angeles

The total mileage according to the AA Round The World desk is 21,976. There's no grace mileage. If you go over, you get bumped up to the next base fare. I'm actually making my own way from Wellington to Auckland (this is referred to as a surface segment) but the mileage is counted just as if I'd flown that segment.

The total fare on my itinerary is $6,132.50. That breaks down to a $5,500 base fare for the 22,000 mile US originating circle pacific plus $75 x 2 for the 2 extra Southwest Pacific stopovers I added and $482.50 in taxes and fees.

4 free stopovers are allowed on the 22,000 mile circle pacific with a maximum of 2 free stopovers in one region except in the country of origin where only 1 stopover is allowed. Additional stopovers up to 2 extra per region (total 4 per region max - 2 free, 2 paid) are allowed at $75 per stopover except in the country of origin where no additional paid stopovers are allowed.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions or post on the Airlines forum thread too.

Patty

I just saw your other thread. You could do your itinerary in the order you listed with the 26,000 mile circle ($6600 base fare) and I think it would look something like this http://tinyurl.com/694ozn

You wouldn't actually fly the ASP-AYQ segment but the mileage needs to be counted anyway.

johnathome

Hey Patty,

Are you able to include intra-Australia flights as part of the Circle Pacific? I see you are moving from Cairns to Melbourne to Devonport back to Melbourne, etc. If so, this is even better for me.

I'm a bit confused on the stopovers. Are you not stopping in HK? Looks like you have 5 stopovers but paying for 2 extra.

I may decide to do this from SFO and manage to do with 22K.

Finally, diid you book with a travel agent or with Cathay, AA or Qantas direct?

Thanks so much

Patty

Yes, all the intra-Australia segments that I listed are included in the circle pacific.

I could have a stopover in Hong Kong if I wanted to but I ran out of time. Right now I have 4 stopovers, all in the Southwwest Pacific region - Cairns, Devonport, Adelaide, and Wellington, so I'm maxed out on the 4 allowed stopovers in this region (2 free, 2 paid).

I booked with the AA RTW desk at 800-247-3247.

Patty

Forgot to mention, one thing to be aware of is that Qantas flights operated by Jetstar can't be used. However Qantas flights operated by National Jet, Eastern Australia, Sunstate, Alliance and Jetconnect are all OK.

johnathome

Just called American RTW and they were able to book what I needed. Coming from SFO, I was just under 22K also! Thanks for your help.

Patty

Have a great trip!