Originally Posted by
FrequentFlyKid
On the phone with a different agent now and they're saying that there is a maximum of four segments allowed in any direction so AKL-BNE-BKK-HKG-ICN-JFK/EWR-CLE would obviously six and not permitted. That's not published anywhere that I can see but I doubt the validity of that claim from the agent. Maybe I am wrong.
AKL-BNE-BKK-HKG-ICN-JFK/EWR-CLE is more than four transfers and would not be allowed. AKL-BKK-HKG-EWR-CLE, which is what you originally posted, should be allowed, provided that travel between each of those cities is direct (a single flight number).
The four-transfer rule (in each direction, on a round-trip) is in the fare rules for both US-Australia and US-SE Asia awards. If you try to book a simple CLE-SYD roundtrip and click through to the itinerary review page, you'll find a link to view the fare rules. When it works -- unfortunately, it's hit or miss -- you'll find the limit on the number of transfers published there.