Cor blimey, man. 'Sample RTW itins'??? The permutations are, in fact, endless, and without giving us some idea of what/where you want you're really asking for the moon. (Having said that, I recommend that you head toute suite to the 'Trip Reports' forum and read jacob_m's world-champion narrative of what he recently accomplished.)

AUK? I've never heard of anyone starting an RTW in Alakanuk, Alaska but hei -- why not? Price will be the same as anywhere else in the USA, though. (And providing that a *A carrier goes there.)

With an RTW in sardine class, your opportunities for upgrading individual flight sectors would be about the same as with an ordinary economy ticket. That is, it depends on the carrier involved and in which FFP you have the points you want to spend. Almost half of the *A carriers are now allowing upgrades from other members' programmes, and more are supposed to come on board next year. The cost of such upgrades, however, is not cheap, compared to each programme's own.

I personally don't see why anyone would want to take an RTW 'for fun' in sardine class -- because on the long trans-oceanic flights it just wouldn't be, you know, fun; however, last time I checked LON was a comparatively good place, price-wise, to start such a trip. Check out the *A RTWMC, online or downloadable, which will give you the price for any itinerary you plug in.

cheers,

Henry