Originally Posted by IMOA

Just got a few questions (confirmations really) on a DONE ticket

I'm ex syd have to do a bit of running around at the beginning of 2007 with some meetings in brussels, detroit and chicago and looking at the DONE4 ticket it seems to be brilliant way to tack on a free asia holiday at the end, see some bits of the US I haven't visited yet (and escape chicago february weather) and rack up some killer miles/status points. I've done quite a bit of reading over the past few days and I don't see that I'm breaking any rules but it just seems to be a too good to be true deal which is why I thought I should check my logic

My current plan is



The first big question I guess is whether or not the asian segment at the end is considered a backtrack. My read of the rules is that it won't be but I could be missing something there

The other question is whether or not my continental US flights are allowable, I've checked the east coast/west coast airports and ORD isn't listed so am I right to assume that the fare gives me what amounts to a couple of free return J flights in the US?

I'm a qantas frequent flyer and with the exception of not earning bonus status miles on CX for the pacific crossing (just flown ORD LHR return on AA J and cannot bring myself to use AA again if there's any alternative available, just a pity I'll be a touch early for JAL) are there any other restrictions/deductions in terms of earning miles/status?

And possibly quite important, I'll hit emerald while in the US but won't have the new card so will there be any hassles using the cabanas in the wing that people talk about? One of the transfers will be overnight in HKG so my plan is to check my luggage through, hit the town then get back to the airport early for a soak and breakfast before heading on.