Note that if you are not starting until August 2005, you have two choices for booking. The fare is valid for 12 months from first flight. But if you book early, you won't be able to make specific reservations for flights more than about 330 days ahead. The first international flight must be booked with a specific flight reservation, so that could be done soon after August 2004. The other flights can all be left "open" if you like. If you want to actually reserve the other flights, you will need to wait until the dates you want are open for reservations.

The risk with leaving the flights open is that the carrier you want to use may change their schedule or even cancel the service, which may make it a pain for you to re-issue the tickets.

Also note that some of the SWP sectors you have selected are very short and inexpensive to purchase separately. So you could perhaps better use your 20 OWE sectors for some additional longer haul flights (more miles and status) and just pay for individual sectors like CHC-AKL.

If you were travelling this year I would suggest routing SYD-HKG rather than BNE-HKG. But that far ahead is anybody's guess as to what aircraft type (and hence business class seat) Qantas will be operating. Presently QF use 767 for BNE-HKG with the older dreamtime seats and small IFE screen. CX also operate the sector using A330, but I think they still use their older style business class seats (non-flat). But by the time you are flying, it is possible QF will be using A330-300 with their Skybeds on that route. Going via SYD to HKG ensures a QF 744 3-class aircraft with Skybed seats.

If you leave the sector as "open" you can choose the carrier with the best schedule/seats/service at the time you are ready to fly. Just don't leave the confirmation too late as D seats do dry up on some routes in the few weeks before travel.

AA status should be automatic and you should see the PLAT/OneWorld Saphire printed on you BP the bery next flight after qualifying. And that should be sufficient to get you access to the relevant lounges.