Originally Posted by psfcfa

Don't know if this will help, but might give you some ideas...

My partner and I are doing our first RTW in Nov. using mix-and-match strategy with One World and *A carriers. Going the northern route (Australia, etc. RTW scheduled for 2014) flying Philly to Toronto on US (12,500 US miles), Toronto to Hong Kong on Cathay (F) for 75K BA miles, HKG to Bangkok and Bangkok to London on Thai (F) for 80,000 CO miles and London back to PHL on BA (F) for 75,000 BA miles. The total is 242,500 miles and about $700 in fees/taxes each for a first class RTW that would run about $22,000. All flights booked one way, of course, so the Bangkok stop is 23 hours...but it's an overnight at the St. Regis for SPG points and cash anyway.