Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer
Since my fears that AS metal would not be permited have been confirmed (
), here is a slightly modified itinerary. I have heard on the BA board, however, of people getting full points/miles on AS metal for AA flights, so is there no way of being a little sneaky about it?
Modified Itinerary:
HRE-JNB / BA
JNB-NBO / BA
NBO-JNB / BA
JNB-LHR / BA
LHR-BCN / BA
BCN-LHR-JFK / BA
JFK-MIA / AA
MIA-LAX / AA
LAX-ORD-ANC / AA
ANC-ORD / AA
ORD-SEA / AA
SFO-HKG-SYD / CX
SYD-AKL / QA
CHC-BNE / QA
BNE-ADL / QA
ADL-SYD / QA
SYD-JNB / QA
It is slightly more circuitous having to go via ORD, but I suppose I could see somone or do something there. Problem is connections between LAX and SEA on AA seem non-existant.
I could also just buy a seperate ticket with AS, but then I wouldn't be able to take full advantage of up to 6 flights.
I played around with it a little and came up with this as a way of using your 6 NA segs, touching your NA destinations (but using a separate but not expensive AS RT on the west coast), and cutting Asia out of the mix. You'd still have a European seg to use in addition (LHR-IST?/HEL?/? -BCN-LHR) or whatever, so I don't think you would lose much mileage.
1 HRE-JNB
2 JNB-NBO
3 NBO-JNB
4 JNB-LHR
5 LHR-BCN
6 BCN-LHR
7 LHR-ORD
8 ORD-ANC
9 ANC-ORD
10 ORD-SEA//
Then separate AS open-jaw (mileage earning but not OWE legal) SEA-LAX or -SFO then LAX/SFO-YVR. Note RT from SEA might be cheaper during cruise season - YVR prices go way up. Train from SEA to YVR is around US$30, 4 hours.
11 YVR-JFK (CX, daytime flight, your transcon)
12 JFK-MIA
13 MIA-JFK
14 JFK-SYD (QF)
15 SYD-AKL
16 AKL-BNE
17 BNE-ADL
18 ADL-SYD
19 SYD-JNB