Thanks for all the help so far ! ^

WAW sounds like a realistic start point, particularly since we would like to do the DXB trip later in the year .... (and also the facts that it is closer than CAI and served by cheap Aer Lingus flights direct from DUB)

The KUL trip can be arranged by train / bus / separate ticket - that's not a problem !

The route on WearyBizTrvlrs post sounds like a good one :-

WAW-LHR-NRT
NRT-HKG-SIN-BKK-HKG-LAX-(GRU)-GIG (using the transit clause)
GIG-SCL-LIM-JFK
JFK-ORD-PHX-LHR
LHR-DXB-LHR-WAW

Any other comments / recommendations ?

Would there be any benefit(s) to doing GIG first i.e. WAW-LHR-GIG-onwards ?

Thanks again,

John P.