Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

"I think Explorer awards are great for open jaw but a distance based routing for something like 'JFK-HKG-DEL-AMM-JFK' would cost lot more in RDMs!"

No, you're mistaken. In Business Class, an Explorer award would actually save you miles.

AA's one-way awards between North America and India -- which only permit routings via the Atlantic -- cost 67.5K miles each way in Business, or 135K miles for a roundtrip. By contrast, the JFK-HKG-DEL-AMM/HEL/DOH-JFK routing would cost only 130K AA miles in Business if booked as an Explorer award. As previously noted, on an Explorer award, you could travel via the Pacific (on CX) in one direction if desired, and you could also have free en-route stopovers if you wanted them.