Hi Bagold
If at all you do a DXB turn around next time , do not use Transit. Take a cart (There are plenty) to immigration, clear it and walk across to departures and recheck in. It takes less than 10 minutes and a pleasant walk tto if you dont like carts
MCT's transit is never crowdeed and they will get the BA agent by radio for you and they are very good too.

Fly now and take a friend for free next time with BA
British Airways frequent flyers who book and fly a full-fare long-haul return flight before January 16, 2002 will be able to take a companion with them for free next time they travel.
The free companion ticket must be taken in the same cabin as the paying passenger. It does not include taxes and travel must be before March 31, 2002.
The offer is open to all members of the Executive Club frequent flyer programme who register online and pay full price for a ticket in First, Club World, World Traveller Plus or World Traveller.
Travellers can join the Executive Club online and will be automatically registered for the promotion. Click here for more information.

it is perhaps easier if we could break the problem into pieces.
let me start with a few modules and ask all of you to improve
(with TWA routes i am sure there is "better" alternatives - in terms of mile, not necessarily quality)

intercontinent:
northern hemisphere:
lhr-lax-...jfk-hkg....sin-lhr
into and out of south america:
hkg-jfk(x)-scl, lhr-lax(x)-scl
into and out of africa
lhr-cpt...jnb-hkg
europe into oz
lhr-sin(x)-syd
asia to oz
hkg-akl
oz to americas
syd-jfk


intra continent
asia: hkg-khi-hkg-khi-hkg
europe/ME: lhr-dxb-lhr-hel-lhr
n.a.: lax-sxm-jfk-lax-dfw-mia-jfk
n.a. (summer): lax-sxm-jfk-dfw-anc-dfw-jfk
s.a.: scl-ccs-scl-ccs-scl
oz:akl-syd-per-mel-syd?
africa(with comair area):?
africa(without comair area):?



[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 12-20-2001).]

jnb-hre-nbo-sez-lhr-dxb-lhr-HEL-lhr-LAX-SXM-jfk-lax-ord-mia-jfk-scl-ccs-scl-ccs-scl-jfk-HKG-khi-HKG-khi-HKG-akl-per-syd-akl-syd-jnb

98k miles (140k+ q-miles for F class)
[note great circle recognizes SEZ as somewhere in USA)

plus all the bonuses, you will get 350k with AA.
assuming you can shell out 140k in CX F from US-JNB.
this is what you get:
A. 210k net miles with ~~$4000,
vs
B, 350-400k net miles for ex-USA with >$9000.
if you have time, it is cheaper to do ex-JNB twice than doing ex-USA once!

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 12-20-2001).]

Yeah pity 'mapper' is not recognising SEZ. There are other airport codes nearby. Try FRK for Fregate Island to help approximate the miles.

Use FSIA for Seychelles

I was able to get just over 104k, though not all of these flights have 3-class service and some of the service is seasonal (ANC). Not like the old days where you could get 115k easily http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif.

cpt-jnb-lun-nbo-sez(pri)-lhr-dxb-lhr-ist-lhr-lax-sxm-dfw-anc-dfw-bos-lax-scl-ccs-scl-bog-scl-jfk-hkg-del-hkg-sin-bom-syd-asp-per-bne-akl-hkg-jnb

Hi drbala, do I need to get a visa if I go through immigration?

I have a British Passport and no Visa is needed. You can check for US passport.

bagold,
From the Government of Dubai, Ministry of Tourism website, it appears that US citizens qualify for an automatic visit visa upon arrival in Dubai:
http://dubaitourism.co.ae/Visa/Visa.htm
That site also refers to a transit visa that may apply.
jerry