Calchas was suggesting QF12 all the way through to SYD, ie -JFK-SYD-MEL-BNE-MEL-SYD-NRT
With QF12 out of JFK often delayed, connections to MEL can sometimes be missed with the flight released and MEL connections from JFK moved to the BNE or SYD flight upon landing in LAX.
Since you don't have a US transcon on the current plan, there is also the option of JFK-SFO-SYD, or if after September, SFO-MEL on some days.

QF fly BNE and MEL-NRT and SYD-HND, JL fly SYD-NRT and MEL-NRT
The QF BNE and MEL-NRT flights are day flights north, overnight south. HND is overnight in both directions.
JL has a day flight north from SYD and south to MEL and night flights north from MEL and south to SYD.

It was 6200 USD for DONE3 (+1000 for another continent), I guess it's a competitive price nowadays but some veterans here may know better.

It was TLV-HKG-MLE-HKG in one go - yeah just for points for that MLE turnaround. But regardless, I didn't have to present my itinerary before proceeding to check-in so it wasn't an issue.

Thanks Himeno for your reply....Yes I am aware of all of those options and have flown every which way home from the west coast and to be frank just hate all the options....As we are retired JFK-HKG-MEL suits us better as we spend a couple of nights in HKG and that eases the jetlag and then the overnighter from HKG arrives at 11.30am a most civil time when Melbourne airport is deserted and from landing to the Limo is about 15 minutes !!
So thats why we are looking to come home via HKG....Currently we are doing DONE5's from JNB but the rand has moved dramatically against us so thinking we may need to start from HND and trying to see if its is allowable to come home via HKG

This is a problem I believe. People have reported success in getting transits (<24 hours) ticketed like this, but I don't recall anyone every getting a stopover ticketed on similar itineraries.

The rules say "Maximum 2 stopovers permitted in the continent of origin" so I don't see why it would be a problem to route HND- ... RTW ... -oHKG-oHND.

That's fine.

What isn't fine as I understand it is HND-<Europe>-<N America>-o<Asia>-<SW Pacific>-<Asia>-<HND>.

Whether HND-<Europe>-<N America>-x<Asia>-<SW Pacific>-<Asia>-<HND> is fine may depend on who you ask.

???
Current rule says:

And neither of the visits to Asia is for travel between the Southwest Pacific and Europe/Middle East
Therefore the itinerary will not be valid

Thanks all...will call AA and report back but I guess the only option is to fly JFK-MEL-SYD-HND....or stay with orginating in JNB and pay the extra

Rang JL and they confirmed that this itinerary is in fact invalid so need to fly JFK-SFO-MEL etc....Thanks all for your advice

Hey everyone, I started research for DONE4, I thought I share base fare with rest of you.

Airport BF Currency
cai $2,490 (USD)
alg $6,994 (USD)
nrt $7,140 (USD)
kwi $7,157 (USD)
amm $7,193 (USD)
tlv $7,200 (USD)
ktm $7,228 (USD)
OSL $7,272 (USD)
khi $7,388 (USD)
isb $7,388 (USD)
cmb $7,441 (USD)
ARN $7,481 (USD)
AMD $7,499 (USD)
jed $7,602 (USD)
ist $7,685 (USD)
doh $7,991 (USD)
mpm $8,034 (USD)
jnb $8,222 (USD)
dxb $8,506 (USD)
lca $8,528 (USD)
hel $8,528 (USD)
dme $8,528 (USD)
mla $8,528 (USD)
lhr $8,641 (USD)
bgw $8,750 (USD)
akl $8,976 (USD)

Source: ExpertFlyer ; pulled on Apr 28 2018

Can anyone advise if any better ex-pricing point exist, compare to what I have pulled?
Additionally, Can someone share details on why ex-CAI are invalid? I am curious what is the reason behind barring ex-CAI fare? I tried searching but nothing relevant is coming up.

Thanks,

SEZ BA rtw fare valid?
 

Not aware of anyone ticketing it so far.

Possibly a TA could do it.