NM, you seem to be a step ahead of me. LOL. I just put the phone down with QF and the person was working out the itinerary. She too mentioned about the LAX-MAD being 2 sectors - either LAX_ORD-MAD or LAX-JFK-MAD. So to overcome the problem with over 6 sectors in the USA, I told her I would do surface for YYZ-ORD.

She also said I must use AA for all the USA flights as I fly on AA metal. So, it means ORD-SJU should be AA not CX. Do you agree with her interpretation?

Finally, she too confirmed AKL-CNS is not possible. She said I could do AKL-BNE-SYD. I told her I could do 4 sectors for this continent but she said I could not keep on moving west! I would have thought AKL-BNE-PER-ADL-SYD and that would be 4 sectors. Mind you, I am not clear if that gets me over 20 sectors for the whole itinerary. See below.

syd-hkg,hkg-yyz,ord-sju,sju-pos,pos-mia,mia-bos,bos-sfo,lax-jfk,jfk-mad,mad-cai,cai-lhr,lhr-hel,hel-sin,sin-bkk,bkk-bom,bom-hkg,hkg-akl,akl-bne,bne-per,per-adl,adl-syd

Looks like 21 to me. I think the LAX-JFK-MAD has thrown up problems. What do you say? Thanks again for your prompt responses.

Foreigner