Posting this from the all-new (and vastly improved) Oryx lounge in Doha! Crew on our flight tonight were similarly bemused about the whole points thing.

I can't see a problem regarding luggage with having seperate tickets for the two sectors either.

Be careful - the terminology police will be on to you. This is a 'TP run' rather than a 'mileage run' (whose sole objective is getting miles for the lowest cost per mile possible!).

BAH-DOH much better now for three reasons:

• 747 kicks 777 into touch - blue mood lighting in the F cabin, 1A/1K give great views forward on the short hop]
• Daylight savings - being on GMT+3 when the UK is on GMT+1 means less time hanging around in Doha (and on the ground in Bahrain if you're connecting back through to London)
• Oryx Lounge - upstairs now, much larger with more seating, 50" plasmas, nice decor and novelty cactii