Well here's my attempt at a convenient AONE4 that satisfies 2 asia trips I need to make with a US one I need in between.

caps on stops
trip 1
nrt-BKK-SIN-HKG-jfk-SDQ
trip 2
-LAX-jfk-SDQ-
trip 3
mia-lhr-DXB-LHR-CPT-jnb-VFA-JNB-(hkg)-NRT

questions are:
1) SDQ-LAX: seems there is AA1549 which flies SDQ-SJU-DFW-LAX all on the same flight number. As per the rules it would seem that would count as only one segment, however, would it also count as the one transcon even though it has stops? SDQ-LAX doesn't appear on the transcon list either, I don't know if that counts, too.
2) Can I make those 3 stops in Asia? Something tells me I can't, in which case I could buy BKK-SIN r/t separately, also having the benefit of dropping the itinerary to 16 segments.
3) transit HKG on JNB~NRT is ok? (similarly, transit LHR for JNB~NRT ok?)
4) I think I have maximized full F service wherever I can.
and...5) looks like positioning SDQ-NRT in B upgraded to J plus this itin (in either A or D) is 100,985 EQP towards EXP unless I've missed something.

Any feedback/tweaks would be greatly appreciated. I realize I can add another destination in Europe for possibly 4k more but that trip is already pretty darned long away from the kids. Could swap Africa for a few days in SYD on the front end I guess but it seems such a waste to go all the way to Oz for only SYD.

Thanks!

1. I don't think they'd count it as a transcon; however it appears to be a seasonal flight that goes away in early April; not sure of your dates. Even if they wouldn't allow it you could still fit your 6 NA segments in: JFK-SDQ-DFW-LAX-JFK-SDQ-MIA.

2. You can only stop over (>24h) twice in the continent of origin.

3. JNB-xHKG-NRT is fine; JNB-xLHR-NRT is not.

4. Depends on season - no F on AA Caribbean sectors (only J) nor on BA flights in S. Africa, and F on JNB-HKG is seasonal.

Well, here's how I see it. Your HKG-JFK sector is fine, but good luck getting CX to allocate A space on the non-stop. Best bet is to waitlist, then hope for a day of departure clearance. JNB-xLHR-NRT is OK, but remember that only one transit through LHR is permitted. With regard to North America transcon flights, only the city pairs specifically enumerated in the rule are prohibited, and I don't think that SDQ is on the list, so you should be OK.

No, it is not OK. A second entry to Europe is allowed under specific conditions, and JNB-xLHR, after LHR-CPT, is not one of them.

ExpertFlyer shows at least 2x A availability on 3/18 3/19 3/22 are those not available to just anyone?

The alternate route is eastbound, and helps shorten the last trip a bit, too. (also QF seems to have a lot more A inventory to all US points of entry)

nrt-BKK-SIN-SYD-jfk-SDQ-
-dfw-LAX-jfk-SDQ-
mia-lhr-DXB-lhr-IST-LHR-NRT

it would be helpful if I could do that the other direction though:
nrt-SYD-BKK-SIN-x(hkg)-JFK...the validator accepts that, but is that correct? I can leave NRT for SYD on the first trip and then immediately come back to Asia? Somehow it doesn't sound right.

If that could be switched to do SYD before Asia, then that would make 3K more miles than Asia before SYD.

CX is increasing frequency on HKG < > JFK so one would think A availability is going to be less of a problem.

nrt-SYD-BKK-SIN-x(hkg)-JFK... is patently not allowed because of the violation of the second Asia entry rule. Which validator said it was okay?

MileageMonkey 0.95015

I'm in the F lounge at JFK right now waiting to depart on CX 831 in F. I've had to change the date of this flight numerous times over the last few weeks and have had no problem in general getting A inventory. You will need some flexibility though as some days do show A0 for all three flights (even F0), but I would contend the perceived paucity of A seats on the non-stops is belied by my recent experience. I've also been doing some checks for further out in the year for my next AONE4, and getting A inventory is generally not a problem. That third daily flight has improved matters, the capacity reduction in F notwithstanding.

Sorry, I thought that I said that. Agreed, after you've been through LHR once, another visit, even for a transit is not allowed on the same *ONE* ticket.

Yes, it is allowed, as long as it complies with the rules of the Europe double entry.

Thanks for the replies.

A couple more: If I DONE4 this instead of AONE4 I could still do TATL on AA <gasp> and eVIP or mile my way up to F but for the SYD-JFK what J would be best? QF, CX xHKG, JL/QF xNRT and then eVIP AA from there? BA CW is all lie flat now right (thinking of LHR-NRT at the end)? CX, too? Or am I stuck QF period not being able to retransit Asia?

Also, is there that much difference in hassle between the 16 segment eticket and a paper ticket? Land segment, while counting against total 20 wont count against the Eticket right?

(Oh, I'm obviously heavily leaning toward the second itin that goes to OZ instead of Africa)

SYD-JFK on QF is considerably shorter travel time than any of the other routings (up to a day shorter). So there really is no comparison in terms of business travel. If your time has no value and you just want "best J", the answer is still QF esp. if you snag one of the A380 flights that QF will have later this year. From NRT AA F is roughly comparable to CX J via HKG, and no better. JL F NRT-JFK can be quite nice (not sure if all of their flights have been converted to the new F by now). But for DONEx travel I think QF SYD-JFK is the best choice; good luck getting D inventory though, esp. at month end or quarter end or even on peak days of the week.