Am now doing regular travel between SYD and YYZ and even though I have to take an extra flight and some time (but since it's not urgent for me to take direct flights), the Circle Pacific option in D or A class is a screaming bargain (versus the direct with AC).

What I can't wrap my head around is the massive difference in price depending on where you start in this itinerary:

SYD-HKG-YYZ-JFK-SYD

All prices in AUD for D class:

SYD - 9,990
HKD - 6,270
YYZ - 9,331
JFK - 11,496

I do enough travel to HKG and given the future travel plans I have with 6 - 8 trips in the next 6 months, it seriously pays even for a repositioning flight.

What gives?

As an aside, does anyone know if AA RTW will book a circle Pacific ex-HKG, even though the only flight they'd claim on AA metal would be YYZ-JFK, and the AA codeshare on QF107 from JFK-SYD? I highly doubt it, so I thought I'd have to book through Cathay. Do they have a RTW desk in either HKG or SYD? Otherwise, I'll have to go through my Canadian travel agent.

Cheers,

ACN

Can you perhaps change the HKG-YYZ segment to HKG-JFK-YYZ and then fly the AA codeshare on CX metal HKG-JFK?

Don't know if the AA RTW desk 'does' xCIRxx tickets at all (since they aren't RTW tickets)

Yes they do. They do all the oneworld fares. I booked a Circle Pacific fare originating in Tokyo through the AA RTW desk.

The AA GSA in HKG (Walshe Group in Central Plaza, Wanchai) are reasonably effiicient too - I've used them a few times for reissues of AA RTWs set up by the RTW desk.

Not OW, but with *A there are fares SYD-JFK-YYZ return for less than US$4400 all in.