A couple of additional comments to add to pegasus8228 analysis.

You can pick up an additional 1600 miles in OZ by adding DRW, i.e. AKL-MEL-PER-DRW-SYD.

You will need more than 66,000 flight miles to make EXP even on a AONE* ticket. This is due to the fact that not all, actually not even most, of your flights will offer first class service. Even though you are paying for first, you will fly and receive mileage credit bonuses for business on those flights.

The DFW-ANC-DFW segments are only available in the summer. You indicated that you intend to do this trip earlier in the year.

You second itinerary, 4 Cont ex-GIB 69496, in addition to being 5 continents as noted, also has one too many segments in Europe and two NA transcons. If you want to spring for the 5 continent fare this trip could be modified to:

GIB-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-dps-hkg-bom-hkg-AKL-MEL-PER-drw-SYD-JFK-YVR-DFW-ANC-DFW-mia-JFK-EZE-SCL-CCS-SCL-lax-LHR-GIB

This will give you about 83,000 miles (assuming the DFW-ANC-DFW segments are available). It leaves out MAD but you can buy a cheap fare from LHR to MAD for less than US$100 return.

In answer to your other questions -

Yes, you will receive the PLT 100% bonus for travel through 2/03.

When you qualify in 2003 for EXP you will be EXP through 2/05. You will receive 8 VIPOWs about a month after you qualify and another 8 at the beginning of 2004.


[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 01-04-2003).]