Originally Posted by
LHR-HUB
I have been through the stickys and done some searching and most advice seems to indicate booking through AA to save fuel penalties BUT I'm not going anywhere in the US. Would I be better off adding a TP run and going via LAX or similar for little (or no) extra cost?
Routing through LAX would add another continent, around GBP700 in additional cost. You might "save" part of that in fuel fines by having AA issue the ticket, but it's doubtful if it would end up net ahead (of course more tier points). You appear to have two available segments, so it's feasible to add N. America.
Instead, you might think about re-working your transpacific and S. America routing - maybe SYD-SCL-IPC-SCL-EZE-GRU-LHR, adding Easter Island (a 2000+ mi segment, thus good for TPs) to the mix. Or, you could rework your SA route to use QF to EZE then LA to Europe, SYD QF EZE BA GRU LA SCL LA IPC LA SCL LA MAD/FRA...
I also assume you have a need for HEL and MXP as your European segments, even though they're short-haul (seems like under-utilization of your 4 European segments, but business is business I guess.) Still, you might think about adding a longhaul side trip in for the TPs - LHR-MCT or DXB-LHR - and just go out of pocket for HEL or MXP.
Otherwise, go with it and amend the route later to add/change things. It's easy and affordable to do so.