Originally Posted by
Mbenz
Thanks for the help guys. I will keep trying different routes through Europe on the ANA tool. The UA and US unfortunately aren't extremely helpful with the more creative routings however. I am thinking the experience might be nice going through Asia anyhow on SQ, NH, OZ or TG
UA is picky about going the 'long way around' but US (we have points on both) seems to be OK with it...
US won't encourage "creative routings" (as in they won't suggest them) but they will allow them - as opposed to UA who won't allow.
US allows US to Africa via Asia, but to my knowledge only for west-coast originations. I just sent back an award I wasn't able to use that was PHX-LAX-SIN-BKK-JNB-FRA-NRT-LAX-PHX. UA laughed when I asked about something similar.
I had great luck earlier this year on UA getting to South Africa (and Namibia) as follows: PHX-YYZ-LHR-CPT//WDH-JNB-FRA-DEN-PHX. Got the exact dates I wanted in business about 10 months out. At the time, some days had NYC-JNB direct in business, but I wanted a day in London so opted for the connection.
Keep in mind that while LX (SWISS) serves Europe-JNB, their flights won't ever show in the ANA tool, so you will always have to call and check to see if there might be availability.
You could try any of the following routes if they had availability to see if US would allow:
IAD-NRT-BKK-JNB, IAD-NRT-SIN-JNB
IAD-JFK-ICN-BKK-JNB, IAD-JFK-ICN-SIN-JNB
and of course the HKG flight on SA, so IAD-NRT-HKG-JNB or JFK-ICN-HKG-JNB.
or to cut segments, IAD-JFK-BKK-JNB
There's also a daily SA flight from GRU-JNB (and vice versa) - I've tried that routing many times and never found availability on days that would work for me.
Good luck!