I have an upcoming trip with some leisure and some business. I have LAX-MAN to see family and then a business trip to Riyadh. Then returning to LAX. As an AA PLAT trying to gte back to EXP I really want to maximize elite qualifying miles and bonuses. The trip will be in paid business class. I was planning on LAX-ORD-MAN on AA and then possibly GF LHR-BAH-RUH as an AA codeshare. I don't have much flexibility on that leg since I have to leave and arrive on 3/3 (so can't go on BA thru DXB for example, or RJ thru AMM). Then on the return there are several options. I can go thru LHR on GF (via BAH) or BA (via DXB) (both as an AA codeshare) and connect to AA LHR-LAX. Or I can go on CX via HKG. There is a nonstop RUH-HKG on a 777 with regional business class (yuck) or I can get to DXB and then take a 333 with old business class. From HGK-LAX should be new business class. The only other OW alternative is to overnight in AMM and then take RJ back to the U.S. thru ORD or JFK.

Advice? The routes are fairly similar in timeline. CX is more comfortable with better service if done thru DXB. LHR is a nightmare of course. Any alternatives I have missed?

I think I read somwhere a Global Explorer ticket can include AA codeshares on GF (?). I'm assuming that would be cheaper as a RTW than two one ways.

Any thoughts appreciated. RUH isnt the easiest place to get to.

You might consider a DONE3 (Oneworld Explorer) with a route like LAX-ORD-MAN-LHR-BAH-LHR-XXX-HKG-XXX-XXX-XXX-HKG-JFK-DFW-SAN-XXX-XXX-LAX, then buy a separate RT on Gulf between BAH and RUH. The nonstop BA flight to BAH would require an overnight at BAH; via DOH you'd get in after midnight. Then the morning GF flight to RUH, returning either in the afternoon or the evening. Then back to LHR and onward to HKG - lots of miles and points. "XXX" means optional segments within the rules of the OWE, e.g. MAN-LHR-BAH-LHR-FCO-HKG...

You'd also have 5 remaining segments in N. America (two stopovers and one transcon) and can't pass through LAX or co-terminals (hence SAN.)

RUH is just plain terrible.

How much time do you have before/after 3/3? You say you have to arrive and leave that same day, which will limit you even more. However if you have some time to spend before or after, you can take the more leisurely route by flying to DXB, AUH, BAH, DOH, KWI or even MCT. The problem with flying east out of the region is that like CX many carriers use (also SQ) use their regional business class seats on flights that are long-haul. Comfort will be hard to find, but as Gardyloo mentioned, on a DONE3 you can go back via LHR to HKG in more comfort (and much more time).

I'm not an expert on Global Explorer tickets, but I suspect you may not be able to book AA codeshares on GF.

Thanks for the ideas! I have 7 days in the England before heading down to the Gulf. My constraint is that I need to leave LHR on 3/3 and arrive into RUH that day for en early morning meeting on the 4th. I will have a couple of nights in Riyadh and then have 3 or 4 days leeway to get me back to LAX.

It looks like the Global Explorer is your best bet, although in business class only the 34,000-mile product is available, priced about the same as a 4-continent Oneworld Explorer ($8400) if originating in the US.

The GlobEx allows travel on GF metal using either GF or AA codes, so if you can get it ticketed with AA nos. (not sure if that's doable or not given the MAN stopover) you could get up to 51K Q-points for your EXP quest.

If you start at LAX you can't come back to/through LAX until the end of the trip, and if you want to use as many of the allowed miles as possible (and given your time constraints you don't have a lot of time to run around Asia or such) then a route like SAN AA ORD AA MAN (AA/BA) LHR (AA/GF) BAH (AA/GF) RUH (GF) BAH BA LHR BA SIN CX HKG CX LAX AA JFK AA ORD AA SAN would get you close to maximum mileage yield over the course of the year's ticket validity. (I.e. you treat LAX as a stopover rather than origin/destination.)

I suspect the GlobeEx will be cheaper than separate round trips between the US and UK, and UK and middle east, but I would check it.