I'll be travelling LAX-EDI (can also go SNA/ORD/MAN-EDI if I need to) in Nov, thinking that to maximize points/mileage I should consider buying a round the world ticket and come back to the US via DEL/HKG/PVG or something along those lines. I have a couple of questions:

1) If I purchase a business class ticket will I get the 1.5 EQP's as an AA EXP on all the segments? My goal on this trip would be to maximize EQP's (qualifying points) rather than QM's (qualifying miles)

2) Is it possible to go LAX-LHR-EDI (or SNA/ORD/MAN/EDI) -LHR-DEL or HKG or <wherever> LAX (or ORD-SNA)?

3) If so, where can I plan an itinerary as I can't seem to plan RTW's or anything like this itinerary on AA'a site?

4) I'll be staying for two days in EDI but on everything else probably won't leave the airport unless there is a particularly long layover/connection. Will I be considered "in transit" or do I have to go through customs at each stop (other than LHR on the way out, of course) i,e, will I need to get a visa for DEL/HGK/PVG or whichever country I go through on the way back to the states

Thanks a lot for any assistance

Yes. You would also have up to 6 flights and 2 stopovers available in NA, so you could have a trip to ORD or NYC or where ever any time in the 12 months after the first flight (subject to the 16 segement limit on a DONE3)
Use the AA & Oneworld timetables as a starting point and put all into a spreasheet or list.

A flight LAX-LHR-EDI-LHR-LAX may be cheaper than a a DONE3 RTW.

Mostly in transit, but varies by country (and airport set up).

I agree, however returning to the US via asia (i.e the "long way" )maximises my qualifying points which would be the point of buying a RTW. Thanks for the other information, you too Kiwi Flyer ^

Assuming you are a US Citizen then I think that transit through HKG would be far easier than DEL or PVG...

Clearly if you have time you should max out your miles on a DONE3 (max 17 segments by the way, not 16 as someone stated earlier) by doing something like a LHR-DXB-LHR mileage run in Europe and a couple of runs in Asia (HKG-KHI/DPS/CMB/NRT, depending on how easy you want it to be...)

If there is D availability, yes.

When did it stop being 20 segments?

It didn't. The 16/17 figure refers to the practical 'free' segment max on a ONE3.

Thanks for all the information guys, unfortunately I won't have a lot of time to do mileage runs within europe/asia (yes, I know it'sacrilage to say so on this forum ) What I'm hearing then is, as a US citizen, it's best for me to go LAX-LHR-EDI-LHR-HGK-LAX, making sure that I'm booked in "D" space on the segments I'm travelling in order to get 1.5 QP's. Does anyone know if I can stay "in transit" in HGK or do I have to pass through customs when arriving there? (need to know if I should get a visa or not). Thanks once again everyone

Yes, you can stay in transit in HKG, no customs, no immigration, no visa, and the Wing/Pier to while the hours away.

How much would a DONE3 ex-LAX cost? I'm having a hard time believing it would be more cost effective than just buying an LAX-EDI fare.

Also, what does a "10-day minimum stay requirement" actually mean?

Good catch. In the OP's case it means HKG-LAX must be taken >10 days after LAX-LHR.

IceTrojan I'm not expecting the fare to be any less than LAX-EDI, if anything I expect it to be more. My goal here is to maximize QP's on this trip

Viajero Do you know of a way around the 10 day minimum stay requirement for the HGK-LAX leg? Would I have the same 10 day minimum requirement if I returned via PVG or DEL or some other destination?

Some origins don't have the 10 day minimum (eg SWP). However easiest is to do a separate ticket to return home (eg from BKK) and then go back and resume the DONE3 later (up to 1 year later). That would also give you the opportunity to fit in more asian flights. Of course increases your initial cost even more.

No minimum stay requirements if purchasing the DONEx in Australia, so that is one way. And it gets you even more miles. No less absurd than purchasing a ticket that you cannot use and doesn't meet your requirements.

Maybe your best bet is to buy a cheap AA ticket in coach, and a separate DONEx to be used later, when you can fly all the sectors. You can route LAX-ORD-GLA until the GLA flight stops operating, after that cheap fares are probably for LAX-ORD-DUB-EDI or LAX-ORD-MAN-EDI.