I would appreciate comments and help on the following itinerary:
tlv-mad-gig-scl-ipc-scl-gig-jfk-hnd-bkk-nrt-han-hkg-ams-hel-mad-tlv
Although I used to buy A, I am thinking of D this time because most of the routes don’t offer first at all. I need to decide whether to start in tlv or amn and would appreciate help with how to buy tickets in these two cities. The recent price changes don’t seem to be relevant to my route, but I could start elsewhere. I really do want gig, ipc, and jfk in the route; the rest of the destinations are for tourism and are changeable for more scenic places or more mileage. I don’t know if fuel surcharges are relevant, but I suppose my ticket would be issued by IB in tlv or AA in amn.

I believe I've heard that using the online tool has been difficult for itineraries using IB as the first carrier, so that might work against you; the alternative would be BA out of TLV which of course would expose you to BA fuel fines.

I've had good experience working with AA's Israeli GSA, Tal Aviation, but that was with Tal's Swedish office at ARN. However since Tal is an Israeli company you might try setting up an itinerary with the AA RTW desk and having it issued by Tal as AA's agent in TLV.

Alternatively, you could start in Jordan and use the online tool without the RTW desk's intervention. You might use the North America "second entry exemption" and try a route like AMM-xJFK-GIG-SCL-IPC-SCL-GIG-JFK-HND-BKK-NRT-HAN-HKG-AMS-HEL-MAD-TLV for a few more miles.

Thank you for your reply. How would I go about "having it issued by Tal as AA's agent in TLV"? I have no contacts at all in TLV. As for RJ, their flights systematically show D0 on Expert Flyer (at least for May/2011), so I presume they don't want to participate in rtw. Is there something there I don't see?

I'd try your itinerary on the Booking Tool as I was looking at EF for availability today for AMM-BRU and AMM-MAD and even though EF was showing lots of D0s the tool was able to book the flights in D.
I don't know what the issue with IB is but to confirm what Gardyloo mentioned when trying to commence with a CAI-MAD flight the tool did not give the option of the direct IB flight.
The other benefit of taking RJ ex-AMM is that the tool books through AA which might help lower the fuel surcharges and I have found changing reservations much easier with AA issued tickets - you don't have to pay Service fees for every date change.

http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/where...ckets/main.jsp then http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/where...ets/israel.jsp

http://www.talaviation.com/