Originally Posted by
memanny
I am super newb to this.
Itinerary 1:
HND-HKG - JL
Hkg-SIN - CX
SIN-MEL - QF
MEL-SYD - QF
SYD-BCN - QR
BCN-HEL - AY
HEL-LHR - AY
LHR-DEN - BA
DEN-MIA - AA
MIA-GIG - AA
GIG-LAX - AA
LAX-HND - JL.
The is the shorter one, it does not include IST. Plan here is to take 3 months in DEN(home) before going to GIG.
Itinerary 2:
HND-HKG - JL
HKG-SIN - CX
SIN-MEL - QF
MEL-SYD - QF
SYD-IST - QR
-IST-lHR - BA
LHR-BCN - BA
BCN-HEL - AY
HEL-DFW - AY
DFW-GIG - AA
GIG-LAX - AA
LAX-HND - JL
This includes IST.
I would be interested how to maximize 4 segments on QR.
There is no oneworld carrier which flies GIG-LAX nonstop. So unless AA offers a GIG-LAX "direct" (through) flight, you will have to add a connecting segment. Ditto SYD-BCN and SYD-IST on QR.
To get four QR segments, you would have to transit DOH twice. (I don't know the oneworld Explorer ticket rules so I cannot say what the transit rules are.)
Very important that you list each segment (even if you're only connecting, rather than stopping over) so that we can assess status earning.
Edited to add:
At this site, you can get a good approximation of the distance of each flight segment:
http://www.gcmap.com/dist