Trying to get an idea about how these rtw awards work... (specifically Delta, but are other Skyteam FF Awards similar?)
So something like this would be (insane and grueling) but legal?

AUS-ATL-MIA-CAY on DL/AF
CAY-PAR-BKO on AF
BKO-PAR-FCO-TIP on AF/AZ
TIP-FCO-PAR-MRU on AZ/AF
MRU-PAR-TAS on AF
TAS-CDG-HAN on AF
HAN-ICN-MNL on KE
MNL-ICN-DFW-AUS on KE/DL

though looks like MRU-TAS connection isn't possible with the current schedules.. flight arrives from MRU at 19:00 and the flight to TAS leaves at 19:30, obviously requiring a > 24 hr stopover. Do they allow bending the rules a bit for flights like this? What if the next flight isn't for several days for infrequent destinations

My understanding from when I tried putting together a RTW ticket (before deciding it wasn't really worth the money- the one in Y was something like 10% off the total of discounted restricted round-trip fares to wherever I wanted to go) is that you can't really do 3-segment flts between places. They wouldn't let me do CAN (AF) CDG (OK) PRG (OK) KRK, unless PRG was counted as a stop. So I don't think your itin is allowed by the ST RTW rules, though it's worth checking (and DL staff might interpret them in a way different from that the AF people I spoke with did). If I were you I'd substitute TUN for TIP and go overland (assuming you can actually cross the border!).

Although our RTW is an award res, we are being permitted a 3 segment portion... PPT-LAX-ICN-SYD.
It's not considered backtracking, either, because it's the most direct SkyTeam route available.
I'm unsure if the rules for a revenue RTW are different than this scenario.

Yeah.. I was wondering that, there are several places where you need 3 or more flights to get to (even in the US it is necessary: FAT-SLC-CVG-PIT for example). Although my itin has 4 3-segment flights I wonder if they would allow that.

You shouldn't have any trouble with that.

Is there any online mileage chart for the RTW awards?

you can try the websites of skyteam members...most of them have a full mileage redemption chart... I know www.csa.cz/en have one!

They're not necessarily aligned - which I find quite odd.

For example, it seems that it's 80K miles for a business class return from Europe to the US with Alitalia, but 90K on Delta.

For the RTWs, though, the price seems to be the same everywhere:

140K / 220K / 300K for Y / J / F

Be aware that SkyTeam does six stops in one direction, not eight. They may offer more stops for more miles, but the amounts you quoted are for six. I think they'll route you however to get you to your destination.

I'm doing an RTW award trip this fall, and at one point they had me going Cairo-Milan-Paris-Joburg. Because I had a very short time to change planes at CDG, they got me switched to a better schedule, and I get 12 hours to explore Paris.

I made what I think was a great investment and joined AwardPlanner--Randy's frequent flier travel agency. I told them what I basically wanted to do and when, gave them some options if something didn't work, and they put it together--something like 21 flights in all. For a trip of this much value to me personally, it was a great investment.

I've got information about my upcoming trip posted at the link below...

JP

Oops.. I do have 7 stopovers there not 6.

DL offers the F award for 280,000 miles.
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use/skyteam/rtw/index.jsp

The agents I've spoken with insist it's not worth the extra miles for the F compared to the relatively inexpensive J at 220,000.
That's what we're doing, the J, in Nov/Dec.

OK that's really odd as I went to check that exact URL before I posted, so either I am losing my mind, or Delta have just changed the number of miles they are charging.

Given that none of DL, OK, AZ or AM have a real First product (you fly F on US domestic segments with a ST J award), you're only really benefitting from on AF and KE legs.

Although, didn't someone say something odd had happened to KE first seats, like all of them getting pulled from reward inventory or something? Or am I losing even more of my mind!?

Very interesting info on Skyteam's definition of backtracking, bumpme ! You do indeed merit your screen name

So, instead of a CDG-PEK-ICN-YYZ-CDG (my main route, with 3 stops and 16,000 miles according to webflyer), I could do a CDG-PEK-ICN-SYD-ICN-YYZ-CDG (25,606 miles, 5 stops) at little or no additional cost ? Shortest service from Australia to Toronto on skyteam flights is via ICN.

I will book a rtw business trip next week, and I will ask for more information. I wonder how they consider an eastward traveller wanting to go from Brisbane to Buenos Aires. The logical route would be via KE to Seoul, then DL to reach the USA then continue to Buenos Aires. It would be a 17,720 miles trip BNE-ICN-LAX-ATL-SCL-EZE. More than 3 segments, so they could ask for a stop in either LAX or ATL. But the shortest Skyteam route in this case is BNE-ICN-CDG-EZE (17,240 miles). No more than 3 segments, less miles flown... According to the backtracking rules you quote, it would be allowed. I will definitely try to get more info about this

For those who have used the Sky Team Alliance, whom have you called to get your faring for the itinerary? On the other Alliances, I have called their Rate Desk, and the cost is prohibitive. I guess I need a good consolidator/bucket shop to handle this. AmI off base, or can anyone suggest some ideas which would ease the impact of the F or J Class heart attack!

Anyone have the costs of RTWs from CAI on Skyteam ?

Premium classes of interest of course