I am planning a trip to Norway with 4 of my sisters for the summer of 2013. Coordinating our flights is a bit complicated and I would appreciate any help you FT experts might have. I also want to book the best flight experience possible (given we are flying coach), so which airline will provide it? Here are the particulars:

• 2 sisters (including myself) departing from MSP, using miles/points to “purchase” tickets
• 1 sister departing from TUL, purchasing ticket with $
• 2 sisters departing from PHX, purchasing tickets with $
• Flying coach
• We want to all be on the same plane for the TATL portion of the trip (preferably MSP and beyond)
• We have some flexibility of dates – we can go any 14 days between July 9 and July 28. Our ideal itinerary would be “meeting” at MSP, departing July 11 to OSL. Then departing (open jaw) from BGO to MSP (and three sisters continuing to TUL and PHX) on July 24.
• I will first book the two tickets departing from MSP with miles/points, and the sisters departing from TUL and PHX will then book their tickets (with $) to match the MSP itinerary.
• I have enough points/miles for the two coach tickets on DL, UA, AA and their alliances (even if I can't book low level seats)
• I plan to book the MSP tickets as close to 330 days out as possible. The sisters paying for their tickets from PHX and TUL will book shortly thereafter to match the MSP itinerary.
• Once all five tickets are booked, what happens if/when there are flight changes? How do I “keep us together” on the same flights? Any tips for getting seats together even though the five tickets will not be booked as one?

Thanks in advance to you FT experts for all your help! If not for what I have learned here and reading blogs over the past several months,this trip would not be possible!