Curious, since CX has already announced that Global Explorer tickets will include LX from 1 April.

The oneworld site now states that Swiss will come online in mid 2004. So, not wanting to wait too long to plan I thought of another itineray, but wanted to ask all you experts if this would work:
LAX-DFW-YVR on AA (spend the nite in YVR)
YVR-LHR on BA (spend a couple nites in LHR)
LHR-DXB-LHR on BA (spend the night in LHR)
LHR-IST-LHR on BA (spend the night in LHR)
LHR-HKG on CX (spend a couple nites in HKG)
HKG-SIN on CX (spend a couple nites in SIN)
SIN-HKG on CX (spend a night in HKG)
HKG-CGK-HKG on CX (another night in HKG)
HKG-JFK on CX (nite in JFK)
JFK-DFW-ANC (night in ANC)
ANC-DFW-LAX

Would this work?

Thanks!

Only two stopovers in your continent of origin. One of those stopovers (YVR, JFK, ANC) would have to be for less than 24 hours and so be a transit.

1. A STOPOVER IS A BREAK OF JOURNEY OVER 24 HOURS.
2. STOPOVER PERMITTED ANYWHERE.
3. MAXIMUM 2 STOPOVERS PERMITTED IN THE CONTINENT OF ORIGIN.

Looks like your JFK stop can easily be <24 hours and you could skip the overnight in YVR and just go straight through to LHR if you wanted to.

I know you are pressed for time but you are passing up visiting two very interesting cities, DXB and IST. If you can spare a few more days they are both definitely worth a stop. IST for history and DXB for, among other things, cheap gold.

Depending upon your situation, it may be cheaper and easier to buy a separate ticket to YVR and begin the RTW from Canada. I know that the US to Canadian dollar has weaken, but you should check it out. That can solve the 2 stopover limit in the continent of origin.

Great idea! I am grateful that all of you have helped me so much through this process. If the fare is cheaper in Canada, would I then need to find a travel agent up there to ticket me?

Forget Canada. The AONE3 fare ex-Canada is US$8255 vs. US$8400 if originatng in the U.S. The savings used to be worth it beofre the US$ tanked.

As I have been planning this trip another question has arisen. Would it be possible to do more of the domestic flying at the beginning rather than the end of the trip? I was thinking LAX-DFW-ANC-DFW-YVR-LHR, etc. and then at the end finish HKG-JFK-LAX. That way I would have the more enjoyable flights at the end of the trip. do you see any problems?

Thanks

No problem, just remember the two stopover (>24 hours) limit in NA.

Regarding the itineray suggested by TimF10, would HKG-CMB-HKG be alllowed? this would add c1,000 miles more than Jakarta.

Any other mileage stretching options ?

Thks

Yes. HKG-CMB-HKG is allowed. So is HKG-KHI-HKG, which is even longer.

Also you could increase the US part like this if you really want to spend a night in Anchorage (you also aren't using your transcon, but I can't immediately see a way to do so including YVR and ANC) since you don't have a transcon:

LAX-DFW-YVR-LHR-DXB-LHR-IST-LHR-HKG-KHI-HKG-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-ANC-ORD-LAX

which is 49862 vs 48624

Thanks for the ideas. I am really enjoying planning my first rtw trip with your help. Keep up the great suggestions!