Originally Posted by spotwelder
By including AMS and MAD in your plans, you miss out the joys of Higher Intermediate Fare destinations like London in your plans with the RTW allows. You may also be using NW and IB whereas the better carriers are not being used for some of the trips.
Actually, on that particular trip, I am flying AA from LAX-LHR, then connecting to BA with a trip running LHR-MAD-LHR-AMS-LHR. The whole trip (leaving LAX on May 27, returning June 11) cost $696 during a fare sale, with a 50k-miles upgrade (J on the AA legs, and I think F on the BA routes).
Edit: The remainder of the domestic trips are on AA.