Hi, I still consider myself a noob but think I've read enough. I hope this is the right place to get help.

I'm currently at 8k EQM / 11 EQP and I'm planning a trip that should put me into Elite. I would just like some advice from the experts on how to best maximize my $ spent since I will be buying these myself.

I need to plan a trip to the following places in about a month. I'm not 100% sure on the order but know I will be starting/finishing with EWR and have BOM as the final deportation.

EWR->NRT->HKG->SIN->BOM->EWR

I know CO doesn't fly some of these routes so I may need to use another carrier but still think I can gain elite.

My questions are, how to maximize elite qualification and us elite status during my travel. Or, does it make more sense to break it up and use non CO flights during this trip?

Any help is much appreciated.

Although SkyTeam is a bit weak SE Asia to Indian sub-Continent.

I think Singapore/Bombay is tough, unless maybe you can do SIN/SEL/BOM on KE, if they fly to Bombay. That may not be backtracking if your routing to SIN is via Narita from Newark. Onward options from HKG looks tough.

You might try a SkyTeam RTW ticket routing EWR-NRT-SIN-SEL-BOM-EWR.

I don't mind taking detours from SE Asia to India, I know there aren't many directs to BOM.

I'm not familiar with skyteam, I'll check it out.

Anyone have any other advise? I don't mean for the forum to be a TA, just would like a starting point.

Thanks