Originally Posted by DG
I suspect there aren't enough passengers who wish to avoid staying a few days in US/Canada in between their trip for many airports to have a such a secure area - unlike European or Pacific rim airports, which get many trans-continental passengers.
So you're saying there aren't enough Canadians and South Americans transferring to intercontinental flights at JFK, ATL, IAH or whichever hub. I highly doubt that and my guess would be that, if it indeed was to be that way, it would be BECAUSE of the USA lacking in transit facilities
Originally Posted by DG
On another note - yes, it adds another $100 to your trip budget, but its extra security.
No extra security as far as I can understand. And $100? Ha ha! I'd have to pay more than that just for the daytrip to London for the interview (and that's not accounting for my time and before visa fees are paid). More like $300.
Originally Posted by DG
If the OP wants to do a RTW, why not stay in the US a couple of days in between? - if you are getting the visa anyway.
There are two reasons for that
a) The US is very near the top of the list of a select number of countries which I just do not wish to visit.
b) In any case, if there is so much trouble in designing a RTW, and given I primarily want to visit 2-3 specific places as opposed to randomly travel around the globe, I'll just scrap the idea altogether and buy separate tickets on carriers from countries that would respect my time and myself as a person and value my contribution (however small) to their airline industry.