Originally Posted by
ChrisA330
AKL via SIN is not a valid routing (ex YYZ). In this case SIN is the POT which makes the return via AKL not allowed. I suspect going via China would work - assuming that would make AKL the POT.
I did this routing this past feb in J:
YUL (UA) IAD (UA) FRA (SQ) SIN
SIN (SQ) BNE (NZ) AKL
AKL (NZ) PEK
AKL (UA) ORD (UA) YUL
Not problems at all during the booking; AKL was used as the POT. I avoided AC all the way due to fuel surcharges thats why the first leg was such a run.
Also, to answer the original post: It depends on what you value. I booked this whole trip wanting around certain flights. I knew I wanted to try SQ's 380 buisness class product from FRA, and I knew I wanted to visit Singapore for a few days. Found the avail, then went from there to see when the next flight to AKL was open. Took that and then looked for availability back home keeping in mind that I could have one more stop over some where, I chose PEK over NRT because I had one thing I wanted to do in PEK (I had previously traveled there so I didn't need a prolonged stay). Decided I would do NRT another time as a stand alone trip.
All this to say that I found this trip extremely worth my miles, but I was extremely flexible in my dates and destinations. I never have problems booking because I never have set plans, I make plans after I have my flights; this process has never let me down. I can understand why some people don't enjoy booking with Aeroplan because they have restrictive parameters (avail).
For me I would never use my miles on anything other than J or F tickets. That's my opinion, and for another person they'll never use their miles on flights. So this is to say (like others have echoed) that each person will value their miles differently. If you want to go to the Cook Islands and there is availabilty then I don't see that as a waste. The expierence and memories you gather from your trip outweight any money/miles you would spend getting there.