Thank you all - helps enormously. Of course I realize that schedules (and fares) may change a lot between now and next year. This is the first of what I expect will be a series of several iterations. I agree about the short sectors and will be looking at more useful uses of segments.

Not Kenya especially but Seychelles, maybe. A late friend worked there for NASA and reported that the bugs were big and many. Might require some negotiation with Herself. But I was trying to figure out somewhere to get to white sand and palm trees on this trip (besides Egypt and Israel where it will be a tad hot in August - that might be the ticket.)

On segment count, I was under the impression that the intercontinental flights arriving and leaving did not count against the in-continent segment max (I posted another thread on this yesterday.) You said I have 7 North America legs, I thought 6. Obviously I am wrong on this point, so which one of the in- or out- legs counts against the total?
Maybe; the SA itinerary is still pretty rough. Thinking about Botswana, possibly as part of a short package deal. The August timing of the start is based on best wildlife viewing in the Kruger/Botswana parks.

Question: Has anyone flown IB in Biz? Thinking about XXX-SJU-MAD-BCN on the flipflop. Thanks again.