WorldBanker,
Be careful with the JFK-SJC-TPE-SJC-JFK Idea. If you travel on 150 and 151 the whole way, it is only ~7800 miles each way. Because you are on a 'through flight' you only get miles as if it were nonstop from JFK-TPE. If you use other flights to get from JFK to SJC you get significantly more miles each way.