Hi All,

Have been poking around here and on the OW booking tool for a few weeks now, and here's what I have as a VERY prelim. itin. for Dec 2010 (based on Dec 09 and Jan 10), ex-JFK (intending to start and end in YYZ with a cheapo AA rtn to JFK):

JFK - YVR (CX F, 777) [>24 hrs]
YVR - DFW (AA J, 757) [>24 hrs]
DFW - LAX (AA F, 767) [>24 hrs]*
LAX - SFO (AA F, MD 80) [>24 hrs, next day]*
SFO - NRT (JL F, 744)
NRT - (HND) - HKG (JL J, MD 90; CX F, 777)**
HKG - SIN (CX F, 744)**
SIN - SYD (BA codeshare, QF F, A380)***
SYD - (HKG) - LHR (QF F, 744; BA F, 744)****
LHR - MCT (BA F, 777)*****
MCT - (LHR) - MIA (BA F, 777; BA F, 744)
MIA - JFK (AA F, 767)

*LAX could be eliminated; there was no good flights to NRT when I looked besides this routing; in exchange, I'd put in BUD or such in Europe to make up 16 segments.

** Q1. What's the trend with CX - will they eliminate all intra-Asia F flights?

*** Q2. In Dec 10 and Jan 11 (and when I actually book 11 months out), QF should have more A380 availability in A, I hope?

**** Q3. Quite like this combination of different carriers. If BA's new F is good, I'll want to keep this. If not, is it possible to change a booking like this to CX after the AONE4 ticket is issued?

***** Never been to the ME, and saw the debate between DXB or MCT on another thread, hence this routing ^

Q4. Am a BAEC member, and hope to maximise TPs and mileage gains from this itin. Don't really see myself flying with AA much, or CX for that matter. Should I reconsider and enrol in AAdvantage or AsiaMiles?

Q5. Taxes and surcharges 1: Is there any difference whether I book an AONE4 as a BAEC member, ex-JFK, paying in USD, using a Canadian credit card (Royal Bank of Canada BA Visa), or as an AAdv / CX AM member, ex-YYZ, paying in CAD?

Q6. Taxes and surcharges 2: I get a sense from other posts that CX and QF flights tend to incur higher taxes and surcharges. If I maximise BA codeshare flights, then I should be able to reduce those, and increase BAEC points earning, shouldn't I?

Any other expert tips and suggestions are much appreciated! Thanks very much in advance

PS: Have a few BA-specific questions, which I posted here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ec-2010-a.html