thanks so much for the valuable feedback Viajero, Number6, Christep, and NM,

I did not know that BA transatlantic flights do not get milege on AA. As a result, I have changed my itinerary to not stop in the US on the way back.. and took Number6 recommendation of LHR-YVR. ^

Number6: ANC flight on AA runs until sept 30th (as per AA timetable on August 2004) so that would work fine for this trip. I know that the HKG-LHR (CX) flights are quite full, so if the dates don't work, I was prepared to take the BA flights.

Christep: I completely forgot about the Kaiseki meal from HKG-NRT, and so have changed the flight to be direct rather than stopping in TPE.

Given that I still have one more segment that I could use for Asia, I decided to add HKG-KIX (always wanted to go to KIX).

NM I couldnt quite follow your comment.. Are you saying that for this trip I could get QF Platinum if I were to use QF FF program in addition to AA?

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Below is my revised itinerary:

1) YYZ-ORD (AA)
(2) ORD-ANC (AA) Stopover
(3) ANC-DFW (AA)
(4) DFW-NYC (AA)
(5) NYC-SYD(QF) Stopover
(6) SYD-AKL Stopover
(7) AKL-MEL Stopover
(8) MEL-HKG (CX) Stopover
(9) HKG-NRT (CX) Stopover
(10) NRT-HKG (CX)
(11) HKG-KIX (CX) Stopover
(12) KIX-HKG (CX)
(13) HKG-LHR (CX) Stopover
(14) LHR-DXB (BA) Stopover
(15) DXB-LHR (BA)
(16) LHR-IST (BA) Stopover
(17) IST-LHR (BA)
(18) LHR-YVR (BA) Stopover
(19) YVR-JFK (CX)
(20) JFK/LGA-YYZ (AA)

TOTAL Milege: 55,522 miles (excluding bonus)
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BTW, I was going to book this itinerary through AA. Anybody know if Travel agent gets commission on this, and therefore I should book through TA so that it goes to the TA?