Thanks Kate! After speaking with them, I still desparately need advice from FTers!!

I've booked awards for years, but nothing quite this complicated & the OneWorld awards are new for me and... I have many options with the AA & AX points. Will also be in Hawaii (& would prefer to be vacationing & not stressing) when the 'magic' 330 day window opens.

The woman I spoke to was very honest & said:

1.) The 330 day magic number is not that at all & most a/ls do not load award inventory on that special date
2.) Many carriers will not let you book only a ow, waiting for the return dates to open. I've had luck booking ow's with DL, but not always & we're talking about a whole lot more carriers/possibilities here
3.) TravelPlanners will not book anything until the return is able to be booked, so I am afraid I will lose any available outbound seats (assuming I can talk an a/l into booking a OW & holding)

With the AX points & a LAX/FCO//VCE/LAX itin, I could book AF J through DL, LX J or F

On AA points - AA J (really don't want to do this), Oneworld on BA J or F, but I am really unclear on how that works, if I book it with AA, etc.

Would also like to throw a MUC or CDG stop in there somewhere if possible.

So, quandry - do I start this process on vacation & drive myself nuts, or do I take my chances with Travelplanner & wait until our return (2 weeks later) inventory is loaded? This is the first time I've heard the 330 is a totally pie in the sky number... The $99.95 fee is micenuts to me - well worth it if they can do it! But it will drive me crazy waiting & if they can't find anything after I've passed the 330 day window I don't know if I'll be able to deal!