After several iterations, I have come up with the following and would appreciate any suggestions / warnings / comments. My wife and I will be leaving in January 2008 and returning in late April 2008. The most important flights to ensure that we get in J are the long haul flights.

MCO-JFK JetBlue
JFK-PEK (CX x YVR - assuming that I wont be able to get the JFK-HKG nonstop. also, the layover time in HKG is not great, may use a 20k OW award to get better connection times and eliminate the 1,234 miles and 2 segment HKG-PEK RT)
PEK-HKG (CX)
HKG-AKL (CX) [AKL-NAN on separate tkt]
AKL-BKK (QP x SYD and BA) [BKK-CEI-HKT-HAN-HUI-DAD-SGN-REP-BKK on separate tickets which I plan to buy when I get to SE Asia - any other ideas?]
BKK-JNB (CX x HKG)
JNB-TLV (BA x LHR or IB x MAD) [TLV-AMM-ETH-TLV-IST-ATH on separate ticket]
ATH-BCN (IB) [my open jaw]
BCN-JFK (IB x LHR BA to JFK) [IB BCN-JFK as a backup]
JFK-MCO JetBlue

OW - 14 segments and 34,322 miles

> if I book 270 - 300 days in advance, how is "usual" the availability on the routes listed? In particular, JFK-YVR-HKG in early January; HKG-AKL in mid-January; SYD-BKK in early Feb (a few days before TET); BKK-JNB in early March; and JNB-TLV (x LHR or MAD) in mid-March (1 week before Easter).
> any ideas on a multi-SE Asia ticket.

I realize I am asking for a lot of feedback when no one really knows the answer (i.e. on J availability), but I would expect many of you have tried these segments in the past and may have some experience in obtaining award seats.

thanks again to the board for your feedback.

Jeff