Will appreciate any thought/comments/critique on following itinenary. I have used only 19 segments...

SIN-HKG-BOM-HKG-AKL
(AKL-MEL SURFACE)
MEL-PER-BNE-DRW-SYD
SYD-JFK-SFO-ORD-LAX-ORD
ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-SIN

Thanks in advance.

Looks OK.

One suggestion is that you might save a few bucks by doing your surface segment in SWP between MEL and SYD, if the order in Oz isn't important. For example, AKL-BNE-DRW-PER-MEL//SYD. Of course, with all the competition across the Tasman these days, the difference might be negligible.

Another is that if you are flying D or A then you might consider using BA YVR-LHR rather than AA LAX-LHR. A few less miles but probably a nicer flight.

From Qantas web page on Oneworld Explorer
"Within Australia only one non stop flight is permitted between Perth and Brisbane, Cairns or Sydney; or between Darwin and Melbourne or Sydney. This restriction does not apply for passengers originating their travel in Perth or New Zealand when travelling to/from Africa on the Sydney-Perth direct flights. "

This is usually interpreted as PER-BNE or DRW-SYD but not both. Still, they may ticket it the way you want- good luck !!!

The comment above about SYD-MEL is valid. Always less expensive than Aust - NZ

The SFO-ORD-LAX-ORD-LAX (7080 miles) looks like mileage - status earning.

Plenty of other mileage opportunities if that is one of your aims, unless you really want to go LAX & ORD twice.

19 segments:- 20 is better if you want miles maximised. eg LHR-DXB-HEL-LHR


[This message has been edited by Mwenenzi (edited Dec 05, 2003).]

Thank you ExMO and Mwenenzi..

- I am flying this trip D, and was hoping to upgrade LAX-LHR to F using VIPOW.
- the diff in price between MEL-SYD and AKL-MEL is pretty small - about USD $50.
- Regarding SFO-ORD-LAX-ORD-LAX, I am based in Chicago and taking a 3 week break after SFO-ORD and later visiting family in LAX.
- Planning this trip to maintain AA EXP status...definitely looking for status miles.
- I cannot find DXB-HEL in March 04???

A minor question - does it make a difference if I book this with trip AA, CX or QF???

I still recommend doing AKL-MEL on the OWE ticket and buying a Red-eDeal on QF for MEL-SYD, if you can rearrange the order in Oz. Not only will you save the US$50 but you will get to fly across the Tasman in D, rather than Y, thus getting many more status miles. You will get 1643 actual miles for the AKL-MEL trip and 2054 Q points. The SYD-MEL in D is only 440 miles and 550 Q points. Also, effective next year, QF will only give 50% credit for discount Y, so you would only get 822 miles and Q points for the AKL-MEL cheap ticket.

AY flies DXB-HEL on Mondays. Check one of those dates as they do show that they fly the route on 8 and 15 March.

You can book with any of the airlines although given your SIN origination, I'd go with CX. If you don't like the service there, use AA.

if you cannot get suitable dates LHR-DXB-HEL-LHR, try LHR-HEL-DXB-LHR

LX have flights ZRH-DXB-ZRH. When LX join Oneworld this will be another DXB mileage earning opportunity

LHR-DXB 3420 miles
HEL-DXB 2819
ZRH-DXB 2966

Other milage runs in EU
LHR-IST 1565 (BA)
ZRH-JED 2461 (LX)
ZRH-MCT 3178 (LX)
LHR-MCT 3624 (BA)
HEL-LPA 2921 (AY may be seasonable)
HEL-TFS 2626 (AY may be seasonable)
HEL-FNC 2678 (AY may be seasonable)

To use the 20th segement could go SFO-ORD-LAX-DFW-ORD-LAX (7372 miles) instead of SFO-ORD-LAX-ORD-LAX. I guess there are plenty of other places which could become the 20th segment and still get you to ORD LAX when you want.


[This message has been edited by Mwenenzi (edited Dec 06, 2003).]

LX may be joining oneWorld on Apr 1, 2004, but I highly doubt they will immediately be counted as a RTW partner... yet. It may take a few months and only will be valid on tickets issued after the announcement.

It is unfortunate that I am planning on this trip in Feb/Mar and LX will not be joining till Apr 04.
I have made some changes to NA itinerary.
Regarding SWP - I agree upon AKL-MEL segment.

SIN-HKG-BOM-HKG-AKL
AKL-MEL-PER-BNE-DRW
(Surface DRW-SYD; can I purchase this extra segment??)
SYD-JFK
(Surface JFK/LGA-ORD)
ORD-LAX-SJU-ORD
ORD-HNL (Surface HNL-LAX)LAX-ORD
ORD-LAX-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-SIN

This is approx, 63,000 status miles (+ 5200 miles for surface segments)

This is lot of flying in a month's period.

No, as you already have 20 segments. However, you can buy a separate Red e-Deal ticket on QF for A$231 (about US$166 at current rates but by next year probably more).

As above purchase a ticket on Qantas or Virgin Blue or take the train
Can get off the train at Alice and go out to Ulura / Ayres Rock for a few days

Another idea:-
AKL-MEL-PER-BNE-DRW 7341 miles
AKL-BNE-PER-DRW-ADL 6941 miles
AKL-BNE-PER-DRW-BNE 7089 miles

This gets you to Adelaide so you only have to purchase ADL-SYD
Darwin has been an expensive place to get to / from
ADL-MEL-SYD-BNE is the main routes in Aust, has Virgin in competition so is less expensive and more frequent flights
Also MEL/SYD-PER is usually less expensive than MEL/SYD-DRW and I think has a more frequent service.
There is also (or will be) as CBR (Canberra)-PER flight

(AKL-BNE-PER-DRW-BNE added )



[This message has been edited by Mwenenzi (edited Dec 09, 2003).]

Thanks again ExMO and Mwenenzi...

Regarding SWP segment - I chose AKL-MEL as my first segment because HKG-AKL arrives in AKL around 1PM and I can connect to MEL flight around 4 PM. AKL-BNE will force me to spend a night in AKL.

I think this leads to the real question - I am flying in AKL on Monday and leave SYD on Sunday. What cities and locations in Austalia do you recommend? I was planning 2 nights each in BNE and SYD and a night in MEL. I have never been to Australia and open to suggestions.

Thanks

With such a short time in Oz the time of your flights will make a big difference.
Would only spend 1 or nil nights in BNE. SYD (and the harbour area) has more attraction than BNE & MEL. If you like out door stuff spend more time in DRW. SYD-BNE-MEL-PER are just big westernised cities like many others in the world