Hi everybody.

I'm planning a 6-month family vacation next year. 2 adults, 2 young children.

I think my itinery is more suited to Star Alliance as I'd like to go to Africa (where there is limited One World service) but I like OW airlines, so I'd like to try to price it out before I eliminate One World.

I'm also having a lot of trouble with a Sydney->Port Moresby leg on the OW Explorer booking tool, which is preventing me from pricing up anything.

As far as I can see it is a 5-continent fare. Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, North America

Start in London.
Stops in:
Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Cape Town
Colombo - optional
Hong Kong
Manila
Yangoon (already worked out I'll need to buy a one-way Yangoon-KL ticket on Air Asia to keep my Asia segments within fare rules).
Perth
Melbourne
Sydney
Port Moresby (I can't get the booking tool go give me any Australia->Papua New Guinea flights at all even though Qantas/Jetstar fly this route)
Los Angeles
Cozumel/Cancun (want to look at Chetzen Itza)
New York (optional)
Marrakesh
London

QUESTIONS/HELP NEEDED:
1. Can't get any Sydney->Port Moresby flights to come up on the Explorer booking tool, so I really can't research anything until I can get that happening.

2. Would consider sacrificing either Cape Town or Addis Ababa if it makes it possible to do this on One World

3. If I ditch Africa and make this a 4-continent I could just buy a separate ticket to either Cape Town or Addis Ababa if required or if this is cheaper.

4. How much does this ticket cost? (see point 1 - I can't get the Syd->Port Moresby flight happening, so I can't price anything)

5. I'm open to Economy, Premium Economy or Business class, depending on how much the ticket costs. How does premium economy prices compare to standard economy and business for 5-continents.

6. I know the price depends on the taxes, which depend on my flights, but I can't get any idea at all now because of the Sydney-Port Moresbey flight problem above. Anyway approximate prices for each fare class would be fine.

7. I've read reports the United Kingdom is relatively expensive for buying One World Explorer tickets and that others have started their journey from Israel, Istanbul or Jordan in order to reduce the cost. I'm open to just buying a ticket to one of these places and starting the RTW journey there. Who knows if I'd end up "missing" the last sector from London to Israel/Istanbul/Jordan to complete the RTW.

8. Am I just better off doing this with Star Alliance?


THANKS!