Some observations:

SFO-BOS is crappy F. SFO to JFK is proper F, albeit for a few less miles.

SYD-HKG-LHR is using an extra segment just to get CX on HKG-LHR. To be honest I reckon if you can get a QF 380 on SYD-LHR then go with that an use the other segment somewhere else.

How about:
ORD - (MIA) - JFK (-24 hrs)[AA A, 757; 767]
JKF - HKG [CX F, 777]
HKG - KIX [CX F, 744]
KIX - BKK [JL D, 777]
BKK - NRT [JL D, 777]
NRT - SIN [JL D, 777]
SIN - NRT [JL]
NRT - SYD [JL]
SYD - LHR [QF A, 380]
LHR - MCT [BA A, 777]
MCT - (LHR) - IST [BA A, 777; BA D, 320]
IST - (LHR) - SFO [BA D, 320; A, 744]
SFO - JFK [AA A, 762]

Or substitute the SIN-NRT-SYD in J for a SIN-HKG-SYD in CX/QF A (depending on timing).

While I'm trying out dummy bookings on JL, everything is in D - transcon or intra-asia! I know for a fact JL has a new F product ex-JFK and SFO, but it doesn't show up for some reason (can't be full ALREADY - i've tried March 10, Jun 10, Sept 10).

As Moomba says, perhaps they're withholding seats until closer to the flights?

Christep is giving some good advice in regards to the quality of the F product within the US. 767s are best on AA.

In regards to JL, this is what I see:

[KVS Availability Tool 5.1.2/Platinum - Sabre: Availability/GTC/US-CRPD1]
So it seems they are not making D or A available yet. But if you waitlist I guess it will come through so this is nothing you can do online.

The problem with this is that SIN-HKG in F is half the BAEC TP compared to SIN-NRT in J.

Thanks again for the info everyone!^

When it comes to codeshare flights, does it make a difference which carrier's flight no. I book on? Say JFK-HKG, on CX triple7 - *AA codeshare no. or CX's proper? Similarly, SIN-SYD, QF A380 (*BA vs QF)?

Also found a few more 2000+ miles sectors in Asia on CX: HKG-CGK; HKG-CTS. Although they're not really places I want to visit.

NRT - (SIN) - SYD is also a superior routing to NRT-SYD. Now it's a matter of finding out if JL has F on NRT-SIN (old-style?)

Codeshares can matter a little bit. The main difference can be in terms of earning for your Frequent Flyer Program (so all of us QF members will always book AA codes over CX codes as we get bonus miles). The only other thing is that a codeshare might affect your chances of an op-up which is not really relevant for you.

Also be aware that CX regional can be quite bad, IMHO JL will be much better.

And I think there is no JL F to SIN currently.

Last time I went NRT-SIN-NRT in J on JL it was an ancient 744 with fuzzy old seats and lousy IFE. JL has too many seating configurations to make planning far ahead very easy.

I know the OP wants to start/end in the US, but feel obliged to mention that there are places where the cost of an AONE4 will be quite a lot cheaper (e.g. AMM) than the US - with savings that might justify the access flights.

Again, the timing's pretty far out, but it might be worth it to consider going NA > SWP > Asia and have a chance of taking QF's A380 across the Pacific as well as an Asia > Europe segment. ...LAX-SYD...SIN-LHR... for example.

A tweaked itin. now looks like this, and a few extra questions please:

jfk-hkg-syd-akl-hkg-nrt-bkk-kix-sin-lhr-mct-lhr-ist-lhr-lax-mia-jfk

2280 BAEC TPs; 56110 miles

Q1: [JFK- (HKG) - SYD: CX 777; QF 744]: This counts as 1 segment on the WO booking tool, but I will get credited for the TPs on BOTH legs separately, correct? (180+180=360)

Q2: [SYD - AKL: D on LA 340]: Is there no F on LA? Is D a good (hard and soft) product?

Q3a and b: [KIX - SIN: D on JL 777]: a) Does JL operate F on this route? b) If I could find a connection via HKG on CX in A on one of the legs, would this count as 2 segments or 1?

Q4: [LAX - MIA: F on AA 767]: Is F on the 767s better than the 757s?

Q5: The mileage quoted on MileageMonkey is actual miles flown? I'll have to factor in cabin bonus on BA for the grand total then?

Any further tips on maximising TPs and miles would be much appreciated too!

Thanks again!!

1. JFK-HKG-SYD will be two segments, and probably won't be allowed as the current interpretation of the "second Asia entry" appears to be that it's only valid in conjunction with a SWP < > Europe itinerary, not N. America < > SWP. In order to have NA > SWP > Asia as your general itinerary, you'd have to go from a N. American gateway (JFK/LAX/SFO/HNL) directly to Oz/NZ and not via HKG.

2. Lan has discontinued first class. Their J product is very good, but IMO not necessarily that much better than QF's. QF has a lot more flights between AKL and Oz, so potentially more convenient.

3a. No FC on KIX-SIN or anywhere else from KIX that I can see on JL. For the time being it seems the only intra-Asia services to/from Japan that have F are HKG-KIX (CX) and NRT-HKG (both JL and CX.) But as noted it's a changing picture, and counting on intra-Asia F in the future looks pretty dicey.

3b. Every time a flight number changes, it's another segment.

4. Very much better. However LAX-MIA often operates with 777 equipment, so F gets Flagship Suites, some of the best FC chairs going.

5. Mileage Monkey is usually close, but not guaranteed. COS and elite bonuses depend on your FF plan.

If our MLF re-ordered his Asia SWP so that the SE Asia flights were prior to Oz then he could fly direct SYD via SIN to LHR using the second Aisa entry rule.

The RTW booking tool appears to accept it, passes the validation checks ... but I've never successfully ticketed with this kind of itinerary with a generic error message at the final payment step. It's taken me a while to work out what is going on but the common element is this kind of routing, when I removed it the ticketing went through fine.

Yep - I dummy booked it and it was validated on OW's tool as well as on Mileage Monkey.

Is 56110 miles about the best I can do? I think the intra-Asia segments are about as maximised as I can.

Is there a way to maximise intra-Europe? Shame I can't do both MCT and TLV ex-LHR.

I think you have maxed the European flights. There are much longer flights with in Asia but they don't have F.

Without any logical reason, I also see a risk that AKL-HKG might not have F anymore by the time you fly.

It didn't last time I flew it - 3 class plane sold as 2 class. One or two (I presume CX Emeralds) sat up front in the big chairs, but nobody else. J was packed, as was Y.

F on AKL-HKG is only sold for the peak southern summer season.