I am boggled by how much you guys know!! I am SOOO out of my depth in getting the best value I can with my DONE4 - very grateful for the help as my husband and I intend to do a lot more travelling now that the kids have all moved out and started paying for their own flights!

Thanks MWENEZI - I think I will take your suggestion and consider booking in January next year when there will be a clearer picture of what airlines and routes are available. Also taken on board are yours and PANDAPERTH's suggestions for flying SYD-JFK-LAX or SFO then travelling back east visiting all the places we want to across the state.

We need to stop in NY, we want to spend time in Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Paris, we are happy to spend a couple of weeks travelling across the US and will transit anywhere just about to maximise mileage as by then I will be busy planning the next trip (2015) which will involve Spain, Morocco & Portugal with the necessary stop in NY to visit the daughter again.

Thanks GARDYLOO - I had already thought about doing our Turkey/Greece content first before staring the DONE4 - I will have to recheck a Cairo vs Amman origin in Dec/Jan when I book so thanks for the bug work-around.

PANDAPERTH - you would be proud of me - the last itinerary I came up with I managed to use ALL 16 sectors - with a little help from your suggested itinerary! Thank you so much for your succinct explanation of the AA Challenge rules - nowhere else explained it so well.

Just a couple more questions (for now that is) - when I book in January, intending to start the itinerary later in the year, for dates which then fall outside the required time - you mentioned dummy dates. Would I just book in earlier dates and change them when I commence the itinerary? And if I book in a dummy finish date, will I incur a fee pushing it out to near the end of the 12 month ticket?

And regarding the taxes and fuel surcharges, is there a listing somewhere of these charges for each airport?

Thanks again for all your help!