<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by virtualtroy:

Where a routing from one point to another involves a change of flight (IE no direct OW flight), is this considered a direct journey or two separate flights, irrespective of the fact that the intermediate point was simply for immediate transfer?

OWE fares are sector based. Unless your continuing flight has the same flight #, you burn a sector

Explorer
As I understand it, a maximum of four stops are permissible; but can you go back to the same city twice, provided it’s not the point of origin (just country or continent)? For example, if my origin of travel was HKG and my stopovers in Europe were: 1) LHR 2) FCO 3) LHR 4) LHR prior to onward return travel to HKG, is this allowed?

You can take any 4 flights you want. The fare is not measured by stops, but sectors. If memory serves, you don't have to book contiguous flights, nor originate or return to your intercontinental gatway on any of the flights (the missing sectors are classified as 'surface').

Can the fourth stop be within the continent or does it have to be the exit flight to the next one?

See above.

“Except if originating from Southwest Pacific or Hong Kong where, if in first and business class, there is no minimum stay” – what’s defined as SW Pacific and what are the minimum stay restrictions?

SW Pacific=Australia, NZ, PNG. I think this includes the pacific islands too but can't see why you would want to buy your ticket in Vanuatu (you'd have to get there to pick it up). Minimum stay restrictions are that your final flight on the OWE cannot be less than 10 days after your first flight on the OWE. I think this is to stop business travellers using the fare as a cheapo way to get F or J fares on business trips

As for no restrictions on moving freely intra-continent, surely mileage restrictions must kick in?
Not on the OWE fare
</font>