Is flying AONEx worth the extra cost in terms of lounge access, comfort, etc? I tried to find a thread that directly addresses this issue but I could not. If there is such, please point me to it. If not, I would like to hear your opinion. For example, I have created AONE4 itinerary:

pdx-xdfw-bos-xlhr-del-bkk-nrt-xhkg-sin-syd-cns-ayq-syd-xlax-xdfw-pdx

which is around $13,500, ~36K miles, while if I do the following DONE5:

pdx-xdfw-bos-xord-del-bkk-nrt-sin-syd-cns-ayq-syd-scl-ipc-scl-xdfw-pdx

I pay only $9600, get 10K more miles, and see more places. Obviously DONE4 will be even cheaper. Another disadvantage of AONE4 is that about half of the flights are downgraded to D.

On the plus side for AONE4, I can try the 3 famous F lounges - HKG (hkg-sin with CX F), SYD (syd-lax QA F), and LHR T5 (lhr-del BA F), and I can fly sin-syd in A380 F with QA. Is it worth the extra cost? Any tip is appreciated. Also, if you have ideas on how to optimize the mileage on both, I would like to hear them, although I want to visit most places on both itineraries. Thanks!