Here is another question. With this transfer thing, I think I can do one through north america too right? so could I get to SYD from LIM through LAX?

Yes, same idea - less than 24h in N. America. Also, not stated in the rules but applicable, only one connection is allowed in N.A., thus LIM-xLAX-SYD is okay, but LIM-xLAX-xSFO-SYD isn't, even if it's less than 24h from arrival at LAX to departure at SFO.

This is the itinerary I have come up with:

BOS-DFW-EZE-UIO-LIM-xLAX-SYD-HKG-BKK-DEL-xLHR-NBO,JNB-BCN-BOS

I would like to go directly to SYD from south america but I haven't been able to find any flights. I know there are a couple but they never seem to have any seats. What are my chances of getting on one of those flights? Or what are my options if I choose SCL-SYD for example but can't get a flight?

Thanks again!

If you're looking to maximise miles (maybe not since you want S.Am to SWP direct despite having spare segments) then obviously HKG-DEL-BKK-xLHR is over 3000 miles more than HKG-BKK-DEL-xLHR.

And LIM-xJFK-SYD is nearly 2000 miles more than LIM-xLAX-SYD.

MM does not like the intineray, but that may be an error in the programme.

As posts above you will have more chance EZE-SYD on QF if you want to to South America - Australia

If you choose SCL-SYD for example but can't get a flight you stay in SCL (for ever). See SERFTY's post 15 above: Inventory does not equal itinerary.

Have a look again. I just checked some dates for you in Feb 2010 and many of them show L9 at the moment where there was nothing just a couple of days ago. Same applies to March as well.

Interesting, I will have to check that out. I don't care much for maximizing miles since I really don't use a frequent flyer card (although I plan to get one for this trip).

I know that the itinerary doesn't pass MM but it's because MM doesn't count the transfers correctly (I think!)

This is FT and you say you don't care about Frequent Flyer Cards????

Seriously, for such a long trip a Frequent Flyer card will be able to provide you with enough miles for a free flight here or there. In addition, you might want to think about a Qantas Club membership to give you lounge access for some of the flights. It is a few hundred $$ but might be worthwhile for such a tour.

Oh I care! I just don't care yet...

That's my next line of research. I was thinking about getting an Amex Platinum which gives several travel related perks including access to many lounges at airports.

Any advice on where to get started with that would be much appreciated!

Where do you normally live ?
After this trip what airlines are you most likely to fly with ?
What credit cards can you get / have that can earn freq flyer miles ?
If you from USA doing the AA Plat challenge may be worth while (see the AA forum)
Freg flyer programmes are for the long term: not just 1 trip.

I live in Boston, MA

I have a general question about the AA miles, do they expire? If so, then these miles will be expired by the time I would use them again (unless I use them during the trip, which is quite possible).

In fact, I just came up with another idea, let me know if this makes sense: It turns out that we were already planning to be in Mexico around the time that we wanted to start this, and the flight there was $500, then I found a flight from Mexico to Lima for $300. That got me thinking, what if we started this ticket in South America, it's much cheaper!

So, I can pay $800 to get to South America, and get the 6 continent ticket from there for $4,400 (instead of $6,000 from the US). But, even better, I can make it a 5 continent ticket ($3,900) and use the miles I have accumulated to fly back to Boston from South America!

Does that make sense?

The Amex Platinum gives you lounge access with AA, CO, DL and NW. The only airline you will be flying from this list will be AA. So this limits your lounge access.
This is why I was recommending to maybe join the Qantas Club (discounted rates available through Australia Frequent Flyer) because it gives you access for QF, BA and AA flights which will be a significant part of your travel. The alternative would be to join Priority Pass which also gives you lounge access at many airports accross the world.

In terms of credit card, I would actually recommend the SPG Amex card. I don't know whether you have any hotel preferences but the Starwood Amex card is giving you quite some benefits and will cut down you hotel costs quite a bit.

This makes a lot of sense. In fact, now you are really in the FT spirit. Many of us fly to other continents just to start their trips there. Moa999 has complied a list of cheap places to start a business class trip (DONE4) and you can see that it is almost as cheap to fly business from some locations than it is to fly economy from the US.
Also, make sure your trip is ticketed by AA. The ticketing airline will apply their fuel surcharges to each segment (even when the flight is operated by another carrier). So if the ticket is issued by BA for example those charges can easily add another $1000.

Yes! Getting the rules straight is the hard part, figuring out how to get around them is the fun part!

The goal for frequenty flyer miles would be to use the points to either stay in nice hotels every once in a while or grab a free plane ride while exploring a country. It seems like I might have a hard time getting reward travel in countries other than the US with AAdvantage though, is that true?

Can I transfer the AA points to another program that I could use locally?

How about hotels? Are there any that share with Qantas or AA?

I plan to have enough miles for the flight back from south america to Boston before the trip, so anything I earn on the trip will be slush fund.

My experience is limited, but I have redeemed several hundred thousand AA miles on the LHR-HKG route on BA with very little difficulty so I don't think it's that simple.

Yes - an to get status, Also that when you travel you have free airline/hotels lounge access, be first in line for upgrades and other various status based perks.