I am almost sure that I will have to do without one of the destinations I want to visit within this itinerary (because I cannot get it under 34,000 miles), but perhaps someone has a good idea, so let me post it anyway:

ICN-xHKG-FCO-BCN-xMAD-MIA-UIO - surface sector - LIM-SCL-IPC-PPT-xAKL-NAN-SYD-AYQ-xCNS-xNRT-ICN

Unfortunately, in the Great Circle Mapper, I always end up at 34,230 miles. There is a nonstop BA flight ICN-LHR which would solve my problem, but unfortunately, that flight only seems to operate during the summer, but my trip would start in October. Of all the destinations listed, I do not care about HKG, CNS, NRT.

Right now, the only possibility I see to get below 34,000 is to just buy a (hopefully cheap) RT ticket SYD-AYQ-SYD and then take the nonstop flight SYD-ICN and leave the AYQ-CNS-NRT detour out of the RTW ticket.

Do you have any other ideas?

Also, do you see any other problems/rule violations with this itinerary?

Thanks!

P.S.: Here you can see how the itinerary looks in the Great Circle Mapper... http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y352212C4

[This message has been edited by attorney28 (edited 05-30-2003).]

I'm assuming that MIA is a stop you need to make--otherwise, I'd say to use Iberia directly to Quito.
When you are checking prices for side trips, I'd look at Miami-Lima and do the RT to Quito from LIM--I'm pretty sure it can be done locally for about $200.00. (mas o menos).

Hmmm... tricky one.

Greg's suggestion on MIA-LIM doesn't really help since MIA-LIM is within one mile of MIA-UIO-LIM.

I'm also curious as to which OW airline flies NRT-ICN?

What about TPE as the starting point? The published fare for MGLOB34 is about US$230 cheaper than the Korean fare.
tpe-hkg-fco-bcn-mad-mia-uio-lim-scl-ipc-ppt-akl-nan-syd-ayq-cns-hkg-tpe
is 32972 miles. You ought to be able to get a ICN-TPE-ICN for more or less the same as the saving in GLOB price.

Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that I would like to do a DGLOB34. That one is surprisingly cheap from Korea (about the same price as from TPE, a bit less, actually - I will be in Korea in the middle of a Star Alliance RTW, but will have to go back to BCN and then to MIA and thought, might as well buy a Oneworld RTW to do that). Miami is a stop I need to make.

Oops, you are right about NRT-ICN - there is an AA flight no, but it is operated by JAL, which I had overlooked.

In that case, it seems even clearer that I will need to buy an extra RT ticket SYD-AYQ-SYD which will solve my mileage problem (or I could get an award ticket - how much are intra-Australian awards in BA's frequent flyer program?).

So I might as well not include AYQ in the RTW ticket and instead do some sector/mileage optimization within Europe in order to gain the maximum miles with this by doing some island hopping on the balearic islands. Also, BA's LHR-MIA business class might be nicer than IB's MAD-MIA, so I would change that as well.

ICN-xHKG-FCO-BCN-xMAH-xPMI-IBZ-xALC-xBCN-DUS-xLHR-MIA-UIO-GYE-surface sector-LIM-SCL-IPC-PPT-xAKL-NAN-SYD-ICN

I think this should be within all the rules (33,938 miles total, 20 segments + 1 surface segment, less than 15 stopovers). So how much mileage would I earn with this as a BA Gold? (I believe even on a DGLOB, they will only let you fly Y on SCL-IPC-PPT for some reason.) Will it be enough to qualify for the highest OW tier? And how long will the status last if I finish the whole trip in 2003?

Extra sidetrips (award or purchase) would be GYE-LIM for the surface sector (oneway needed, but RT purchase probably cheaper?) and SYD-AYQ-SYD (award or purchase best?).

Another somewhat off-topic question, is UIO or GYE better as a starting point for a Galapagos excursion?

Almost done with the planning!

[This message has been edited by attorney28 (edited 05-31-2003).]

Unfortunately the Sydney-Ayers Rock is one of the more expensive routes due to Qantas having a monopoly on it. The cheapest listed at the moment is about AU$600 return (or US$400 or so). You could go to Alice Springs instead for AU$400 return, though it's still a fair drive from there to get to Ayers Rock - depends how much driving through the desert appeals to you I guess. There's usually decent award availability out there though, especially mid-week, so could be a good option to take a look at.

attorney28,

Why do you have to buy a ticket GYE-LIM - since the surface sector counts as miles, why not use the regular LanPeru flight ?

[worries that i'm being stupid].

Also, as I understand it, there's not a huge difference in starting a Galapagos trip from Quito or Guyaquil, except the the return flight is +/- $40 more from Quito.

I would love to do that, but I can only find Taca and Aero Continente flights in Amadeus. The Oneworld Electronic Timetable does not have any direct LanPeru flights between Ecuador and Peru either.

Sorry - that's what I get for believing the LanChile route map on their website