So it is not just me who gets confussed by all the rules .

I am trying to arrange a route like this:

LHR-DXB-(far east HKG?)-SYD-CHC-AKL-(pacific island or HNL, but i've done fiji)-(US/CAN Vancouver?)-LHR

I have tried Qantas but just get conflicting info.

The DXB stopover is a cover for a side trip into Iran so it could be LHR-THR or anyother airport that has easy flights into tehran (upto 3 hrs).

I think I can work around the Iran stuff, but the pacific stop seems next to imposible.

The pacific stop was for a winddown and a few dives, so any suggestions are welcome.

Oh, no visas for UK citizen, the iranians have my pasport for a short while .

TIA

chrisaaaaa, I just got back from flying to DXB and Asia. My business routing included LHR-DXB on BA
DXB-BAH on CX and then continued on to HKG

LHR-DXB is non-stop 777 with new business class seats and your best options out of DXB are with CX doing:
DXB-HKG
HKG-BAH-HKG
or the worst, always full and many stops HKG-Bombay-Bangkok-Hong Kong

If you are still intent to doing Iran, then book a separate short hop from DXB on Emirates for better pricing and easier convenience. For lounge access, CX uses BA lounge which is okay.

------------------
"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

You can't get direct from AKL to many Pacific Islands with OW. For HNL, track back via SYD and go to HNL with QF and the US ports with AA.

QF has code shares to other Pacific Islands, but they are not OW partners so can't do them on ONeWorld Explorer fares.

It is seeming as I thought, speaking to agents there is always a lot of uncertainty, with me gently explaining that the airline in question does fly the route I tell them.

I suggested I needed to make my way overland from THR to HKG, but then said that would put me over the mileage limit!

So, a sidetrip THR-TBZ-THR - Emirates and Iran Air, Emirates charge about $150, Iran air about $20 for the internal flight, yet about $600 if you wanted to fly THR to DXB? There seem to be loads of little airlines buzzing about THR, does anyone know how to get onine schedules and booking for these - I've got to try "assman air"

Back to the one world plot:

LHR-DXB-HKG-AKL-CHC-SYD-HNL-LAX-LHR
or
LHR-DXB-HKG-SYD-CHC-AKL-(SYD)-HNL-LAX-LHR
or
LHR-THR||DXB-HKG-AKL-CHC-SYD-HNL-LAX-LHR
or
LHR-THR||DXB-HKG-SYD-CHC-AKL-(SYD)-HNL-LAX-LHR

Are any of these illegal?

I would love a program to work all this out, I used Qantim a couple of years back, it was great, the current version sucks, it no longer works out stopovers.

Would anyone have an updated database for the old version of Qantim, it is (was) a really good front end for a foxpro database.

Thanks

Out of curiosity, are you an American, and if so, how are you getting into Iran?

I'm British, on the embassy website I notice it said US citizens would get a visa for free, whereas I had to pay. AFAIK iran only bans isralies.

Yeh, I was just curious, because in Dubai, they have a lot of tours to Iran. This is from the US Dept of State website.

IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF - *Passport and visa required. The United States does not maintain diplomatic or consular relations with Iran. Travel by U.S. citizens is not recommended. Attention: U.S. citizens need a Treasury Dept. license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and within Iran. Before planning any travel to Iran, U.S. citizens should contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, 1331 G St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20220 (202/622-2480) or http://www.ustreas.gov/ofac/. For visa information, contact the Embassy of Pakistan, Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 (202/965-4990). Internet: http://www.daftar.org

I was wondering what the "license" mentioned was. No problem, have a good and safe trip.

The license is from the foreign assets control office which legally permits you to do business with Iran (which is what travel is considered) and spend money using your credit card and/or US dollars. You may be allowed to legally spend foreign currency there, but not US dollars. That is how I understand it to work with Cuba at least.

Was in DXB on the weekend. The BA lounge is closed for renovations for at least ten days.
Got into the general aviation First class lounge instead. Pretty good. I think better than BA's.