thanks for the really detailed info! i've done the 380 on SQ (JFK-FRA). NH sounds appealing primarily due to the fact that they fly to SJC. Beyond that I've never heard anything amazing about them, unlike BR which I've seen highly rated…and I've also been to their lounge at SFO which is the best J lounge in that airport by far. given the service I've received there…I feel like the flight should be equally amazing.

agreed about the schedule, though i was thinking that there's enough time there to leave the airport in taipei.

i did see the TK flights. for me personally it's a bit less interesting because i have already flown IST-SFO (and IST-YYZ) on them in J.

one thing i did completely forget and just realized is that i can leave from MLE. the only reason i'm going into CMB in the first place is because of AA's ridiculous zones, which don't allow single-award redemptions there over the pacific. however according to matrix this apparently gets me nothing, as my only options with one stop are TK and LH.

i do wonder if A3 would allow an SQ redemption on SQ 451 followed by SQ 2, even though SQ 2 technically has a stopover (but is it considered such given that the flight number doesn't change?). but the prices are still astronomical, over $5500 for a OW J ticket.