Originally Posted by
etch5895
Thanks for all the info so far. To address a few questions posted:
While I am interested in accruing as many miles as possible, I'm not really interested in adding a fifth continent to this trip. My stops in the states are to visit family/friends and aren't really flexible. DFW was the logical choice because I can buy a cheap R/T ticket to Tucson, and it only burns up one segment each (HNL-DFW, DFW-EWR). While JFK might be a better option than EWR, it is much easier for my Dad to pick me up/drop me off at EWR than driving into Queens.
I've decided to replace Manila with Singapore. It looks like a nice ride via BKK only using one segment on the inbound flight, and outbound 2 segments via JAL.
Coming back into FRA, then staying overnight and departing for Amman the next day (via LHR- BA, RJ). Then, I would turn around and catch the early TK flight back to Germany via IST (no OW miles, but a few half-hearted miles towards SEN
).
The AMM-HKG direct flight is not showing up via the OW booking tool. I know it continues on to HKG, but for some reason it isn't coming up.
Regarding the TUS side trip, you might consider going HNL-LAX (-TUS-) LAX-EWR. UA serves LAX-TUS nonstop (thus Star miles) plus it's cheaper than DFW-TUS-DFW. If you're interested in BA tier points/elite qualification, the HNL-LAX-EWR routing (all in first class due to no business on those sectors) will yield more tier points than HNL-DFW-EWR.
Regarding OW miles/status, I think a more basic question is, what are your normal travel patterns? It sounds like you're mainly a Star traveler, with Europe as your main focus? If so, then acquiring BA status sounds much more useful than AA or QF, and easier to maintain if you're interested, as getting the 4 BA segments is not that hard, plus as I mentioned as a European resident you're able to (re)qualify for elite status much more easily than others. I'll reiterate that with your current itinerary you have more than enough tier points for BA Gold, and would only be lacking enough BA metal segments, which can easily be obtained outside the RTW, or else by substituting some inexpensive flights within the RTW (e.g. SCL-PUQ) with some European sectors and BA metal at the beginning or end (e.g. AMM-xLHR-BKK..)
For miles accumulation, and if you were willing to skip Hawaii AND pay out of pocket for SCL-PUQ, you could use the "second N. America entry" rule and go, for instance, ...NRT-GRU-SCL-IPC-SCL-LAX (-TUS-LAX-) EWR-LHR-FRA-LHR-FRA-AMM. NRT-GRU stops at JFK but is one flight no./segment, so a great mileage earner. EWR-LHR is on BA metal, so that would help you earn the necessary BA segments to get from Silver to Gold on this itinerary.
One other note along those lines - if you started in TLV rather than AMM (same price or a bit less in Euro terms) you could ride BA metal at both ends, e.g. TLV BA LHR BA BKK... and EWR BA LHR BA FRA BA LHR BA TLV. You could still get back to IST on TK, or to FRA on LH from Ben Gurion. If you want to tour Jordan, it's not hard to get to Amman from Jerusalem, or to Petra from Eilat.