I ended up going MHT-JFK-ICN-PEN (DL MHT-JFK, KE the rest of the way). Once in Penang I boarded an oil tanker and was on there for 17 days before getting off at DXB and returning DXB-CDG-CVG-MHT on AF & DL.

Aside from a 3 hour delay in taking off from MHT, the trip went very well. It was coach all the way, but I managed to at least get an aisle seat on all segments and lucked out with a row to myself DXB-CDG, so I could lay down and sleep.

KE had the best legroom, followed by AF, then DL (all long flights were on 777). My 12-hour layover at ICN went well, thanks to the transit hotel in the terminal, while the 6 hour layover at CDG and 4 1/2 at CVG on the return trip were not as nice.

The reward from the trip was making Gold on DL for the first time ever - I'm usually Silver or nothing. If I'm *really* lucky and get another long trip, I could just get Platinum this year.