I just wanted thank you guys for the help I received in this thread. I booked a OW award last November for
my RTW trip, and am almost halfway through the itinerary (time-wise).
ORD-HKG-SIN-BKK-HKGx-JNB-MAD-GRU-AEP-SCL-GYE-GPS-GYEx-UIO-LIM
Thanks to avoiding BA, the taxes and fees were only $346 per person.
What's interesting is that since booking, the itinerary has been changed, and now (unfortunately) instead of flying JNB-MAD on IB, I'm flying JNB-LHRx-MAD on BA, since IB canceled their only JNB-MAD route. I tried to get it changed, but apparently there aren't any other flights available from JNB to Europe that don't go through LHR. I don't have to pay any more fees, which is good, but the extra flying time is a pain.
New itinerary:
ORD-HKG-SIN-BKK-HKGx-JNB-LHRx-MAD-BCLx-GRU-AEP/EZE-SCL-GYE-GPS-GYEx-UIO-LIM
Other changes include a new connection in BCL, and the AEP/EZE co-terminal. It's great that the airlines can change my routing, but I can't!
Anyways, thanks again for the help and advice.