Just saw this one PANDAPERTH - must have come in while I was writing my reply. You have confirmed it would be better to delay booking for now - I do need more knowledge and information and I think I would end up with a better itinerary by waiting. The DFW-ANC-DFW is a side-trip I had not considered but which definitely has me thinking now. And your suggestion re maximising flights to requalify for PLT status is food for thought - no doubt I will be bothering you again come January to guide me in the right direction!

And hopefully having a daughter in NYC will have side benefits re mileage!!

I will be researching the AA Australia-Europe return tickets which allow a NYC stopover - definite bonus! Can't thank you enough - I have no idea how you know the system so well - you must either work in the industry or have put in many many hours of research!