Looking at a "get max miles" as well as "get max Tier Points" (BA) RTW something like this for a OW RTW and wondered if it is possible under 3-continents or if it would be 4:

(CAI) OR BAH-LHR-CAS-MAD-SCL-DFW-ORD-HNL-LAX-LHR-BAH (OR CAI) @ 31757 mi (likely will be ex-CAI to save money and probably back to BAH)

The questions I have are:
- seems like 3 continent is possible (Europe, South America and North America), but:
(1) it looks like this doesn't go completely around in a clockwise direction
(2) the ORD-HNL-LAX segment may be backtracking
(3) as I recall, the northern edge of Africa is considered in the OW European "continent" definition
(4) if I have to leave HNL and come back through Asia (making it a 4 continent RTW) I would have to come back to US west coast anyway and fly to HKG because OW flights to Asia from HNL take me to Australia (which adds another continent)
(5) the HNL-LAX leg necessary if I am to come back through LHR but there may be alternate routings from HNL, I just don't know of them.
(6) the MAD-SCL leg uses IB or LA - if done in "D" is that a good/bad flight?
(7) same question for SCL-DFW-ORD using AA or LA (note DFW simply an in-transit stop although flight numbers change so it would be a different segment)
(8) some of the LA flights are actually flown by AA - this does not seem like a problem. question would be, which have better service?

... or are there things I haven't considered? Are there better routings than this?

I think once you hit HNL, you may only go west, according to rules. So, that means Asia or South Pacific. Others likely will have more detailed comments.

You must cross both the Pacific (north or south) and Atlantic oceans to be legal. You are crossing the Atlantic twice (MAD-SCL and LAX-LHR) which is not legal. LAX-HNL is not counted as trans-Pacific.

You are correct that ORD-HNL-LAX is not allowed. If you fly ORD-HNL, then you must continue to SYD (the only OneWorld option that does not return to the US mainland). So that adds another continent - but also lots more miles.

You have lots of segments left and could do several things to max miles/status. But until you sort out the continents there's not much more we can do to help. I am assuming SCL and HNL are must stops?

you get good tier points for AA as Dom flights are classified as A class for DONE - so the more the merrier. any flights over 2,000 miles earns 180 points. and under earns 60 - which is better than equiv on BA - i think

If instead I did CAI-LHR-HKG-LAX-IAD-LHR-BAH (which crosses both oceans once) would that be legal? The thing is, I live in Saudi Arabia so can fly out of DMM or BAH. No OW flights ex-DMM, so BAH is it. From there can only go (AFAIK) to LHR or to HKG, or a code share (Gulf) to SIN. So I was thinking that it might work if I flew to LHR and used that as a hub to go to the Pacific, then come around across the Atlantic (but both transiting LHR). But then again, maybe not.

SCL is not a must stop (a mileage run there), but HNL is a must stop.

Appreciate the insight.

Thx.

If you want HNL you may have a bit of a problem. I do not think CX flys HKG-HNL. There is no back tracking to/from HNL. Otherwise, the routing seems legal. US domestic on AA are in first class with a Biz RTW so you may get more tier points.

HNL can only be included in a OWE that includes Australia, as you must fly Australia-HNL either eastbound or westbound. So a 4 continent OWE is the minimum (your alternative is to buy a LAX-HNL-LAX ticket separately). There is no way around this current rule restriction (e.g. surface sector to/from HNL is not allowed), and in general it isn't advantageous to include HNL on a OWE routing.

THE D service HNL-SYD is absolute rubbish the worst flight on my whole AONE4 ,
i think the flight i was on 743 (the FA said it was near the end of it's flying life) so maybe its changed since 5 months ago.
you are better getting the skybeds from LAX

QF's 743's have been going through an upgrade process in the last few months. 5 months ago you likely still had the old (and very tired) cradle seats in J. With the upgrades, they are finally getting Dreamtime seats and half-decent IFE. Dreamtime seats would be quite acceptable on a 9 hour flight, even though the HNL-SYD journey is overnight. Many of us have endured (and many enjoyed) the Dreamtime Seats on much longefr routes than HNL-SYD.

Given the upgrades have been done, I expect QF plan to fly these birds for a few more years yet. But as it only operates 3 times a week, QF3/4 is not always going to fit the itinerary.

However, on a AONEx fare, there is going to be a huge difference in comfort and service between First Class LAX-SYD and Business Class HNL-SYD.

if it was just the seats i prob would have put up with it, def didn't feel like a "cradle" more like WT-
the staff were rude rude rude, from the second we walked on with , hand luggage - yes i actually had some luggage on a rtw, and the FA's were very happy to do F - all to help us out.
and suprise suprise QF getting the meal wrong , the only one on the whole trip. yes just scrape the crap out of the Y meals and slap it on a dish.
Fruit salad as a starter? i think that fruit is more of a desssert. but i wasn't dissapointed fruit salad for dessert too...
i felt very lucky

Fruit is actually a very healthy way to start a meal. Many dieticians recommend a serving of fruit 30 mins before eating a meal (or at least that is what Mrs NM keeps telling me).