Feeling drawn (for reasons unclear to me at this time) to the Western Cape of South Africa, I plan to redeem some of my AAdvantage miles to fly First Class. With only four exceptions, my international travel has been to Western European cities and my flights have all been on AA (vast majority), BA (once) and DL (twice). Therefore, I need advice from those of you who are seasoned, intercontinental travelers with experience on many of the world's airlines, in particular the oneworld carriers.

The following are my choices, if I understand the AAdvantage award tables and the participating airlines' route structures:

1. CX, via YYZ/LAX/SFO/YVR and HKG, to/from JNB for 140,000 miles
*This option is the best deal, mileage-wise, and I suspect it would also offer the best service of all the choices. It would allow a stopover in HKG in both directions. Still, it would be a very long trip and I wonder if it would make sense when there are other, more direct routes.

2. oneworld "Zone 6" award for 180,000 miles using a combination of AA+BA+IB. The PLT desk told me the total mileage would be 18,794 (Zone 6 award has 20,000 mile cap) for the following: ORD-LHR-JNB-MAD-ORD
*This option would allow me to compare the First Class service of three oneworld carriers and would also allow me the chance to visit Madrid. Plus, it would be more direct than going via HKG.

3. AA/BA award, via LHR, to CPT or JNB for 200,000 miles.
*This option intrigues me, despite the extra miles required (I have plenty to deal with) as it would allow me to fly to CPT, rather than JNB, and it is more direct than going via HKG.

4. SR or IB stand-alone award, via ZRH or MAD, to JNB for 200,000 miles
*This option is not really attractive to me but it is, nonetheless, an option if all else fails.

Based upon your experience traveling among the oneworld carriers mentioned, which option would you choose and why?

Thanks; I will appreciate your suggestions.

Bill
(edited for clarity)

[This message has been edited by bbinchi (edited 02-21-2001).]