Hi all,

I am planning a RTW. I did a LONE4 last year on 1W before I discovered flyertalk and just would like to check my thinking with you guys. I’ve spent several hours searching past threads, but I’m sure there’s a lot that I still don’t know, so I apologize in advance if these questions have been answered already. I also apologize for the dense nature of this as well. (I also posted this in *A forum as well).

My basic requirements would be to start in London, then DEL-BKK-HNL-SFO-NYC-LON. I’d like to take a full year to do this (taking an extended sabbatical before grad school in 2006). I’d like to fly economy as I’ll need to save $ going back to student life. Another option that I was considering is getting a cheap flight from LHR-DEL and then getting a business class RTW from there, but not sure that it’d be worth the extra ~$2000. (I'd be appreciative for creative solutions here, however)

Some relevant bits of info:

I am an AA Platinum, (was EXP for 3 yrs, all before discovering FT, but didn’t requalify last year, in part because I didn’t know that LONE does not allow any mileage accrual on CX or QF!)

I have no status on *Alliance.

Despite that, I’m currently thinking that using Star Alliance will be better for me because:
· 1W will not allow any mileage accrual on CX or QF for economy
· I can fly to HNL from Japan, rather than having to go down to SYD (HNL is a must to visit family)
· A * alliance ticket is less expensive than a 1W four continent

Since the * ticket is priced according to miles, I was going to add some segments to visit family in the States, so thinking something more like this:

LHR-MUC/FRA/VIE-DEL-SIN-BKK-HKG-NRT-HNL-LAX-SFO-SEA-GEG-DEN-ORD-LGA//JFK-LHR

This is under the 29K threshold.

Let me confirm that all these segments would allow me to accrue miles? (couldn’t find anything to the contrary)
If I did a status match with UA or US, then all domestic (plus ANA if I take that) would be eligible for 100% bonus

But as it will go, I don’t think I will fly 25K this calendar year, nonetheless, do you think I’d be worth using a status match to get lounge access and 100% bonuses on the US portion of the itinerary? I’m thinking yes.

Does UA or USair do the parachute for status matches?

If I did a 1W, it would be something like:

LHR-DEL//BOM-BKK-HKG-NRT-MEL-AUK-SYD-HNL-SFO-LAX-DEN-ORD-NYC-LON

The BA LHR-DEL would accrue 25% + 100% Elite Bonus
All Asian segments on CX would not be eligible for mileage accrual
I could get SYD-HNL booked as the codeshare AA flight and hence get 100% + 100%
All domestic (including JFK-LON) would accrue 100% elite bonus

And I only will have flown about 10K miles on AA before I leave on my trip at the end of next month, and unless I pony up and buy a Bus. Class ticket, I will not fly enough to re-qualify for Plat. But with the ‘parachute’ approach, AA will drop me down to Gold anyway.

To sum:

I wanted confirmation that:
· You all think that going with * is better for me. Or are there other considerations that I am missing?
· I also think I should do a status match. Is USair better because of the unlimited upgrades? Are the segments in the RTW ticket eligible for the free upgrades (1W not allowed to use stickers)?
· Would there be anyway to justfiy the RTW in business from India?

In any case, I appreciate the help on this. Thanks for the thoughts/advice.