It's possible that the A/D problem - no doubt very real, from all the posts here complaining about it - is very carrier-specific and/or localized. On a recent AONE I had no problem getting three seats LAX-LHR two weeks out, setting up 4 European segments about the same time, and replacing LHR-HKG with CDG-HKG, all at the dates/times I wanted.

OTOH I "know" that I shouldn't expect nonstop JFK-HKG, AA will not likely give me a premium seat on a transcon, BA won't let me fly MRU-LHR, and JAL doesn't want me anywhere near their fleet.

Also, many of us have come to depend on EF for availability data, and for whatever reasons it's not always giving accurate answers - optimistically showing seats not available when we ask for them, other times not showing flights/seats that are available. We need a better tool for global planning.

Slightly OT, xONE has surely become a hot product because there's this whole Internet thing that advises people how to fly around the world in first class, on the cheap. I hear it gets thousands of hits a day, and has newbies and seasoned travelers alike grabbing for their phones to join the parade. Called "flyer chat" or something like that.

Internal to OW, which I keep calling ManyWorlds because the carriers are so very loosely tied and agree on precious little, we keep hearing that division of revenue from an rtw ticket is very spotty. You can imagine the smoke-filled room where they debate that issue amongst themselves, but the result is surely what we see - some airlines don't see xONEx working to their advantage, others do.

Don't forget that there are lots of other ways to circle the globe - it may be time to look at the ad hoc pairings. For instance, you can originate a first-class rtw on EK/UA out of BKK for the grand sum of USD5500, more or less. Is it $3000 less worthy than an $8500 AONE3? Probably.