With less and less routes offering first class, coupled with reduction of segments (max. 20) and the fact that surface sector is now counted as flight segment, the value of an AONE5 ticket diminishes over time ... The means, I have even more challenges to face in formulating an AONE5 trip for next year. Maybe you can help - but first a few basic requirements:

- ex-USA (can be anywhere in the US)
- no Africa
- no IPC
- no PPT
- no surface
- number of first class flight segments should be maximized

So far, here's what I have put together using the oneworld tool - I think the itinerary is over 60,000 miles:

JFK-GRU-SCL-EZE-GRU-NRT-BKK-HKG-SYD-AKL-BNE-MEL-LHR-DOH-LON-KEF-LON-MEX-DFW-YVR-JFK

Any comment/suggestion is much appreciated.

...NRT-SIN-HKG... is obviously a few more miles
{second idea removed: invalid}

JFK-GRU-SCL-EZE-GRU-xJFK-HKG-NRT-SIN-SYD-AKL-MEL-LON-DOH-LON-KEF-LON-MEX-YVR-SFO-JFK adds around 2K miles, also uses the F cabin on YVR-SFO if in season. Also one fewer J-only services (BNE.)

I'm not sure but IIRC this time next year LA's GRU-SCL service will be 2-class only.

Oh yes - sorry - I keep forgetting that... try MEX-YVR-JFK-whatever the longest non-transcon is.

There's a ton you can do with this, but it's all a tradeoff - you have to give in one area to gain in another. What is more important - miles, destinations, or F?

You can get 73,500 with these tweaks, but you may not like the destinations or less F. This is without even touching your NA segments which can definitely be optimized. Also, SWP segments aren't worthwhile if you want to maximize miles (you should add more NA segs) but I don't know if the SWP segments are places you really want to go.

JFK-eze-ccs-scl-gru-NRT-sin-nrt-SYD-AKL-BNE-MEL-LHR-dxb-hel-dxb-lon-MEX-DFW-YVR-JFK

What places MUST stay and how much true F do you require?

One of those would have to be a connection.

Edit: Optimizing the NA flights of an ex-NA OWE is very difficult, because of the 2 stopover rule.

For example if you're OK with losing most of the SWP segments and you can use the seasonal MIA-ANC flight, you can get 82,000 with quite a bit of F.

lax-lhr-dxb-hel-dxb-lhr-syd-nrt-sin-nrt-dps-nrt-gru-eze-ccs-scl-lax-mia-anc-dfw-lax

That's not valid since the DXB-HEL AY flight is one that is not permitted per the fare rules (its a subclass of AY flights that is 1 class 200+ Y seats on a 757). Also, I believe the MIA-ANC flight was a quirk that happened only for a month this year. No guarantee that it will be there next year.

Also, the JFK-GRU-SCL-EZE-GRU-xJFK-HKG routing that the OP initially listed violates the return to country of origin rule, even if it is a transit. I believe the 1-coupon JAL flight GRU-NRT would also be invalid.

Not in this case.

Unless it's changing, keep in mind that the NRT-GRU flights don't have the sky solo seats. They are the older first class.

Thanks for all the inputs so far ... I think I can also be more specific (in addition to my original post):

- BKK, BNE, HKG and JFK - a must (visiting friends and family)
- multiple LHR is a must (am based in LHR)

Seems like your SA segments can definitely be optimized. Try:

JFK-eze-ccs-scl-GRU-NRT

The JFK-EZE, I don't think first class is available though.