Hi All.

I'm just about to book a DONE4 and thought there would probably be some sage advice to be gleaned from around these parts before I hit the "buy" button.

I am BAEC silver and will be putting all tier Points and miles into that account (unless someone advises me otherwise). I should hit gold somewhere around my GRU-LHR leg

Plan is as follows:
TPE(JL)NRT(CX)HKG(QF)MEL(QF)SYD(QF*)SCL(LA)EZE(LA) GRU(BA)LHR(BA*)HEL(BA)LHR(BA)MXP(BA)LHR(BA)HKG(CX) TPE

This all seems to work. The on-line booking tool looks OK and has given me a pricing, but I just wondered if anyone could offer any advice to allow me to:
- Save cost.
- increase miles and Tier Point revenue.
- improve my flying experience (never flown JAL. Prefer BA/CX. Happy with LA and QF. Prefer to avoid AA)

I have been through the stickys and done some searching and most advice seems to indicate booking through AA to save fuel penalties BUT I'm not going anywhere in the US. Would I be better off adding a TP run and going via LAX or similar for little (or no) extra cost?

My secretary has been pulling her hair out today with the OW booking engine, so I really didn't want to add more insult to injury and ask her to stay even later to look at other options

Thanks in advance for all the great advice.

Routing through LAX would add another continent, around GBP700 in additional cost. You might "save" part of that in fuel fines by having AA issue the ticket, but it's doubtful if it would end up net ahead (of course more tier points). You appear to have two available segments, so it's feasible to add N. America.

Instead, you might think about re-working your transpacific and S. America routing - maybe SYD-SCL-IPC-SCL-EZE-GRU-LHR, adding Easter Island (a 2000+ mi segment, thus good for TPs) to the mix. Or, you could rework your SA route to use QF to EZE then LA to Europe, SYD QF EZE BA GRU LA SCL LA IPC LA SCL LA MAD/FRA...

I also assume you have a need for HEL and MXP as your European segments, even though they're short-haul (seems like under-utilization of your 4 European segments, but business is business I guess.) Still, you might think about adding a longhaul side trip in for the TPs - LHR-MCT or DXB-LHR - and just go out of pocket for HEL or MXP.

Otherwise, go with it and amend the route later to add/change things. It's easy and affordable to do so.

Sample itinerary with 14 2000+ mile sectors

TPE-NRT-PER-SYD-EZE-UIO-SCL-IPC-SCL-MAD-AMM-LHR-AMM-HKG-DPS-NRT-TPE

AMM-HEL-DPS? I guess you meant HKG not HEL.

Thanks. I had it right in the great circle mapper link, but not in the text.

Hello!~

Which segments are a must?

Here is a modified itinerary:

TPE-NRT-PER-SYD-EZE-UIO-SCL-IPC-SCL-MAD-LHR-MCT-LHR-HKG-DPS-NRT-TPE netting 3000 miles and 100 extra Sc's than kiwiflyer's.

If you list some must visit places I can go through the thinktank again =)