With South Africa and Mozambique being so expensive, I'm considering NRT and OSL for 2019. I like to start in January/February and visit warm places, then go to U.S., then Caribbean, then Europe later when it's warm.

Here are two routings I'm considering. Curious if people have comments:

nrt-sin-syd-adl-per-syd-dfw-san-phl-gcm-dfw-lax-lhr-mad-jnb-hkg-nrt

47,200 miles. Disadvantage is QF J SYD-DFW. Starting in NRT will be quite cold in Jan/Feb, but I can overnight at the Narita Hilton for a good price (would want an overnight for safety, in case there's a problem with the positioning flights).

osl-doh-jnb-syd-adl-per-syd-sin-hkg-dfw-san-phl-gcm-dfw-lax-lhr-osl

45,303 miles. Routing HKG-DFW means I can upgrade to F using AA SWUs. Downside is I earn virtually no AA EQD nor RDM for such a long flight. I guess the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardermoen is connected by walkway, which is far more convenient than the shuttle required for the Narita Hilton, although I wouldn't earn Hilton (or Starwood) points. Upside is I can visit Such Africa during their summer instead of ours.