Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer
I thought one could fly from North America to the Asia Pacific region via Asia, as long as one is only in transit, and not making a proper stopover (which for BA means longer than 24 hours). That would not count as a stopover, so would not add a 5th continent, or have I read it wrong?
Regarding stopovers... I'd be flying "direct" HRE-JNB-NBO without a stopover in Joburg. So that should make for only two stops in JNB: one coming back from NBO and another making the final leg from SYD on QF (sorry... I did know that).
Will try the validator in the morning... have to go now.
Yes unfortunately you've read it wrong. For example, if you go Oz-Europe-NA-Oz it's also a 4-continent trip because all OW Oz-Europe flights, even on one flight no., stop in Asia. So if you want to do just a xONE4 ex-Africa, you need to go directly between the SWP and N America (JFK, LAX, HNL) with no Asia stops.
The "just passing through" Asia rule relates to the prohibition on doubling-back between continents, but not the continent count. The wheels touch a continent, you count it.