I asked again and it seems they consider that CMB-BKK // NRT-LHR as two seperate stopovers (BKK and NRT) which means that all other "stops" within Asia have to be within the 24 hour transit period.

As they don't count BKK-NRT surface as one of the "4 allowed sectors within continent of origin" I - in my self-interested view - don't think a surface sector should be considered a second stop but it's not me who issues the ticket .

I wouldn't say it is 100% the definitive answer - nothing I could see in the rules either way - so each office and airline may have a different interpretation......

I have to mention, a big ^ for Cathay's CMB office which whenever I have dealt with them both now and in the past, have always been 100% professional, efficient and very easy to deal with.

I really wish so many other One World offices were this calm when you mention OW Explorer ....