Hi,

Just wondering if this looks ok?

SYD-MEL-AKL-HKG-NRT-HKG-SIN-HKG-JNB-LHR-DME-LHR-DXB-LHR-MEX-DFW-YVR-DFW-LAX-JFK-SYD

So if I have this right, I have my max 20 sectors but I am confused by the 2 sector rule in Europe to Russia / Middle East. Does that mean I can do Moscow and Dubai, or just one? If it's just one, what could I swap Moscow out for?

I also understand that the DFW-LAX would be in coach as business is not offered but I couldnt work out another routing to include Vancouver and New York while maximising points from LHR to North America. Unless I can book CX from YVR to JFK and work something around that?

Thanks

You cannot do both DXB and DME from LHR. If you are looking for mileage, try IST instead of DME. Virtually the same mileage.

DFW to LAX should be in domestic first, not coach. Business class tickets get to fly first in the US if there is no business offered (subject to availability, of course).

You can book CX YVR-JFK if you want to but it uses up your one allowed NA transcon so you would have to give up LAX-JFK.

From your post I assume you want to actually stop in NYC and YVR (if not then you could go JFK-HKG on CX as one flight number - but not if you want to stop in YVR - also problem since you have already been in Asia by then).

Given the above, and maximizing miles from Europe to NA means flying to west coast and not JFK how about the following options:

...LHR-YVR-DFW-JFK-SYD
...LHR-LAX-DFW-JFK-YVR-LAX-SYD

Assuming you don't want to stop in LAX, then also:

...LHR-YVR-JFK-SXM(optional side trip)-JFK-DFW(optional side trip)-JFK-SYD

or

...LHR-LAX-DFW-YVR-JFK-SXM-JFK-SYD

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

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

For the JFK "side trip", I often seen SXM come up, if you're going for the miles, why not use AUA? (1681 v.1951 miles respective)

Can you stay air-side in SXM? AUA you cannot.

Including JNB is has to be DONE5

I just put in SXM as an eg.... many direct Carribean flights from NYC. SXM is one of the nicer ones and one i have been to. I would not bother doing a turnaround - too nice a place not to stop and enjoy.

If you are wanting to earn max QF Status Credits then there is some tweaking you could do. Try for SFO-BOS for your US Trans-Continental route, its 2704 miles with two-class operation, so gets you F SC's in the 2700-5000 mile block.

You could return to SYD by JFK-NRT-MEL-SYD so long as NRT is just transit. This gets you two sectors in the >5000 mile range for more SC's. But you will be on AA for JFK-NRT (in 777, so not bad in J) and QF for NRT-MEL-SYD (in 767 with no option for F upgrade). Compared to QF flying JFK-LAX-SYD where you may have the opportunity to upgrade to QF F using points of UC's.

Try to use QF, BA and AA wherevere possible to get the Status Bonus points. You won't get them on CX services, just base points plus cabin bonus.

As someone else noted, including JNB makes it a DONE5.