Paul,

Don't forget that AA will allow you to qualify for Exec Platinum using points. Hence if you book a RTW first class ticket you can quite easily qualify for Exec Platinum by flying under 70,000 First Class miles. This can be done quite easily using a 5 Continent RTW fare.

However, many of the longest routes in a continent do not lend themselves to mileage runs. I believe SYD-PPT is only once a week and if you miss the return you are screwed. It is also only offered on a 2 Class service. Hence the best options in Australia are SYD - PER and SYD - Darwin.

In South America SCL - Easter Island requires you to stay on Easter Island for a couple days while the plane continues on to PPT. Until recently the SCL - CCS flight was only twice a week and would require a 14 hour wait in CCS while the plane continued to MIA and back. I think in October you can fly up and back leaving SCL Monday Morning and returning back into SCL Tuesday Morning with only 6 hours or so in CCS.

In Europe the longest we found that did not require a massive wait was London to Dubai that came in at over 3,400 miles and permitted 2 hours to get off the plane and checked in for the next flight. If you missed that flight however, another flight was scheduled 8-10 hours later.

In North America during the summer one of the best is DFW - ANC getting over 3,000 miles and returning after only 2 hours. Actually the flight from DFW - ANC originates in SJU so you could do a SJU - ANC segment for over 5,000 miles.

Suprisingly, when you consider how big Asia is there are no > 3,000 miles intra continental flights available in First Class on a RTW fare. Does anyone know of any?

Anyway even restricting you choices by saying you will only fly in flat sleeper seats overnight you should find MANY alternatives that will garner Exec Platinum Status with only one 5 Continent First Class ticket.

rich

[This message has been edited by RichLond (edited 08-30-2000).]