Unfortunately, there are no Oneworld carriers flying direct IAD (or DCA or BWI) to ATL so you are unlikely to get AA miles for those trips.

Historically, AA and BA have not given mileage for the other's flights across the Atlantic. That will change somewhat on July 1 of this year when BA flights in full fare coach, business and first across the Atlantic will qualify for full mileage credit on AA, except for flights to the U.S. Thus, you can fly to Canada, Latin America or the Caribbean on BA and get AA credit.

The direct SYD-JNB flight is operated by QF and is eligible for a DONE* ticket. There is also a connection via a QF codeshare operated by SA from PER-JNB that is not eligible. The direct QF flights operates Mon, Thurs, Sat and Sun.

You do not need to do TXL-LHR-YYZ-ORD-ATL in one go. For example, you can stop overnight in YYZ just make sure your connecting flight to ORD leaves the next day before your scheduled arrival time in YYZ. That way you will spend less than 24 hours in YYZ (or ORD or wherever you choose to stop) and it will not count as a stopover. One connection you could do would be TXL-LHR-YYZ. leaving TXL at 1050 arriving YYZ at 1755 and the next day do YYZ-ORD-ATL, leaving YYZ at 1015 and arriving ATL at 1512.

On FF programs, as was mentioned in another thread, you can obtain status on AA via the challenge program. Your trip will run over 30,000 miles and you are flying business. The Platinum Challenge on AA will give you Platinum status for 10,000 Q points (miles * class of service bonus). You're going to have over 45,000 Q points by the time you finish the trip. In fact, you will qualify for PLT status by the time you hit SYD. Don't register for the challenge until after 16 June (hmmm, or is it 16 July???). That way your status will last through February, 2005, without having to requalify.

[Edited to fix spelling the spell checker didn't catch.]

[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 06-05-2003).]