Mileage monkey says valid

CMB-HKG-AKL-MEL-PER//
PER-ADL-SYD-LHR-MCT-LHR-IST-MAD-MEX-YVR-DFW-DCA-DFW-LAX-NRT//
NRT-SIN-CMB

// mark major breaks
part one Jul / Aug 2008 extra AKL-CHC-AKL
part two Oct/Nov 2008 extra US segments DFW-IAH-DFW-MEM-DFW
add NRT-PER at end
with tickets PER-NRT-[USA]-NRT May/Jun 2009 ( to use 2 VIPs )
part three May/Jun 2009

speculation questions:
1. how long the ATW desk would allow reservation to be held before I would have to ticket in CMB (estimate 01 May)
2. whether AA would ticket on 001 ticket given only AA LAX-(or DFW)-NRT
3. chances of getting AA code shares LHR-MCT (does not say international connection only in the OW timetable)

I would have preferred MAD-PTY but the connections from PTY --> [USA] were not all that useful.... Suggestions on how I could visit PTY in place of MEX would be welcomed..... I have a cushion of about 6-7K Qpoints....


Maybe I can wander a bit

Fred

1. Depends on luck, charm and god only knows what else but the short answer is that it varies. On the question of CMB, however, I don't know what the current situation is.
2. Yes.
3. True, the OW seems to indicate that it is possible, but the bad news is that AA will not sell you a ticket and EF doesn't show it as an option. With those two negatives I'd say the possibility of getting the codeshare on its own is pretty slim.

Assume you are aware of this thread as well with new prices
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=788796

Yes I saw the thread with the announcement. A bit disappointed but not surprised and it is still the same order of price on a DONE4 as Japan. CMB is a bit more convenient for me to get to than Japan. As well I have friends I need to visit. Hopefully CX will continue to fly there for the next 6 months....

While I could just bail out and use BA in WT+ return to Canada later in the year, (ensuring PLT status for 2009) the utility of the VIPs does concentrate the mind. Last time round Mrs did use two of hers and No.1 son got the opportunity to use two of mine while I stayed at home I suspect if successful this time I sill supply the household as Mrs is using award flights this year.....and may need to purchase Gold for 2009.

So to find and budget the extra US$1800 or so....


And I am still open for Central American suggestions in place of MEX..... (please?)


Happy wandering

Fred

I have looked at it, but got nowhere because PTY is a destination that can only be reached from either DFW or MIA, which plays rather badly with the rest of your stops and the number of segments available. Is PTY or bust or are you open to suggestions about other places in Central America?.

If you let us know your must see places in USA/Canada, and the max number of segments allowed for the whole of NA it I'd be happy to delve further into it.

MAD-MEX-YVR-DFW-DCA-DFW-LAX

Thanks Viajero

The only place I really need to end up is DFW. The main criteria is that I get to the southern area of the North American zone from Madrid, I end up in DFW before I need to head to NRT and I don't lose too many of the miles I currently have in the schedule. My attraction to PTY is THE canal......

While I have been in MEX before it was a overnight and I didn't see much. And there are a couple of places which I remember being mentioned in my first year Spanish class many, many years ago Xochimilco comes to mind. CUN and similar don't really interest me, though the more laid back Caribbean areas might be worth a couple of days. I suppose I could use LHR instead of MAD but the schedules to the Caribbean don't seem that useful and I wanted a couple of nights in Madrid (though not critical).

The fact that AA code shares a lot of the MEX flights (eg all LAX and JFK) with Mexicana also does not help..... I have been to SJO (and the Liberia region of Costa Rica) before and SJU a couple of times. I do note a direct flight on AA SJU-SJO. (Pity it is not MEX or PTY). Surprisingly there is a direct YYZ-MEX flight on AA (but not the return). If miles were the only issue I'd use LAX-SJU.

YVR is a new destination. YYC seems to fit, but is the wrong time of year, which is even a better comment for ANC (along with limited/no flights?). DCA/BWI is needed but a purchased domestic ticket is easy from DFW or MIA on that route and I have enough AA stickers to handle the cabin....

I suppose LHR-BCN-AMM-ORD-MEX could be substituted for LHR-IST-MAD-MEX but overnighting in expensive hub cities (ORD) does not appeal.

But I've wandered enough.... Thanks for the thought.

Fred

I will look into it but meantime a comment: I usually overnight in ORD (done it many times) for close to peanuts through Priceline.

In trying to retain MAD, PTY, MEX and YVR, and provide a not too difficult access to DCA, I came up with the following:

MAD-PTY-DFW-YVR-MEX-ORD-JFK-NRT
MAD-PTY-DFW-YVR-MEX-ORD-LAX-NRT
MAD-PTY-DFW-YVR-JFK-DFW-MEX-NRT
MAD-PTY-DFW-YVR-JFK-MIA-MEX-NRT

Hope it helps.

Thanks again

I have never used priceline - partly because of my non USA address - though I do potentially have the same problem with AA online and have managed to solve that.... OTOH the only place I will admit to staying o/n for peanuts is BKK (3* - US$50) and that is a whole different price structure to anywhere in the USA.... assuming you want to find that the room you are in is cleaned regularly....

The segment MEX-NRT I missed - even though I picked up on the MEX-YVR portion. I guess because of my focus on using AA transPacific to ensure that they ticket in CMB...... Perhaps I will have to reconsider AMM-ORD with the AA codeshare, though that would mean a separate ticket to DCA/BWI. At least the Visit north america fares mean a max of UA$205++ each way forr that.

When the purpose of your trip is miles as well as making a couple of visits, the trade-offs sometimes become ... very interesting. But I wander

Thanks again

Fred

Easily fixed, PM me if interested.

You may want to check out ex SGN, since the prices appears to be the cheapest in Asia and + it is easier to get to from HKG and also from Aust (with Death Star)

Hmmm, JNB is still good, but these ex Vietnam prices look quite reasonable:

• DONE3 - USD6043
• DONE4 - USD6911
• DONE5 - USD7875
• DONE6 - USD8799

And ex JNB?:

• DONE4 - USD5201
• DONE5 - USD5898
• DONE6 - USD6901

Any recommendations on paying for a ticket out of SGN?

Do you mean a ticket to get to SGN or where to purchase the DONE4?

I think CX will be the only option as I don't think there are any other Oneworld prescence in SGN.

You can fly SGN-HKG then either Aust/JNB/Europe/US/Asia

Sure you waste a segment, but still a reasonable price for the DONE4.

Also JL/JO, I think.