I'm planning my first RTW in economy, and was wondering if anyone had any advice on choice of airlines. I'd like to visit Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and a few cities in the States finishing with Toronto to get the bmi flight back to Manchester.

Not so familiar with Dubai and Maldives but I can defintely recommend SQ for sectors from Maldives-SIN-NZ. In NZ, you've only got Air NZ to choose from. You can fly Air NZ from AKL-LAX and in the US, you've got either UA or US. Haven't flown US though so I can't really advise what they are like, perhaps others here can advise. Since you're *S, you can request for Economy Plus on UA flights.

I flew bmi once..... LHR-CDG and thot that it was a pretty good airline. though the check-in staff tore off the wrong ticket coupon on my colleague's ticket and he didn't know until we got to CDG to check in for the next flight. Had to pay EUR3000 for his 1-way back to TPE...and that's in Y!

I'm planning a RTW in May/June in Y too and will pass through NZ and then onto US....and UK too

I'd suggest using OS to get to DXB via VIE - they will be the carrier that can take you DXB to Male nonstop after your visit to DXB, so there's a certain logic in keeping the three segments on the one carrier.
(I say this as I'm not sure of the status of DXB-MLE flights on OS - they are permitted on the RTW product, but I'm not sure if they can be "sold" just from DXB without an arriving International flight on OS). The other alternate is LH through FRA - I think the MUC flight to DXB (which has better timings than the FRA flights) ceases over the Northern summer.
From Male you can get to SIN with SQ which is also a good choice as well as a logical one.
Take your pick between NZ and SQ between SIN and N.Z. - NZ has good comfort/service levels in Y and SQ has the personal entertainment units at the seat as their major respective "plusses".
Not much choice to get from N.Z. into Nth America except using NZ, but as mentioned before, their Y product gets good reviews so it's not a loss in using them.
Take your pick trotting around Nth America - US UA AC - they're all much the same domestically. Go with the carrier that either wastes the less miles for you (if you're strapped for miles) or the one that can add the miles for you (if you have the miles to spare and want to earn more for the FF account!).
Beware of Ted's, Skidoos and Jungle Jets however.

Cheers.

Decided to scrap DXB and MLE, and do the following

MME-LHR-NRT (BD-NH)
NRT-HKG (NH)
HKG-SIN (SQ)
SIN-SYD (SQ)
SYD-CHC (NZ)
CHC-WLG (NZ)
WLG-AKL (NZ)
AKL-HNL (NZ)
HNL-LAX (UA)
LAX-LAS (UA)
LAS-ORD-LGA (UA.TED-UA)
LGA-BOS (US)
BOS-YYZ (AC)
YYZ-MAN (BD)

Total: 28828 miles

Anyone spot any problems with this routing?

Anyone any opinions on the LHR-NRT with NH?

If you're flexible I'd suggest the NZ domestic legs either in the weekend or middle of the day (ie not early morning or late afternoon). Will be less full, easier check-in, etc.

If you get to *G status by the time you get to NZ be sure to check out the lounges [insert link to NZ lounge thread here]. SYD, WLG and AKL in particular are very good. Or else befriend someone else who has access and can invite you as guest

If you want to catch up with other FTers in NZ there is a itinerary thread in the NZ forum.

If you had a few more miles to spare I'd suggest a visit to the pacific islands since you have come this far anyway it would be a shame to miss them. OTOH with the introduction of Pacific Express fares you could add a side-trip (ie separate to the RTW) for a reasonably low amount.

Hope this helps.

Cheers for the advice Kiwi Flyer.

I've had some advice from the ANA board that LHR-NRT on NH isn't that impressive and that I should chnage to LHR-CPH-NRT using SK. (Although I'd probably do EDI-CPH or instead).

Any any experience of NH or SK longhauls, and which is better?

I haven't flown NH long haul, but I have flown SK's 340 long haul and it's a fairly nice product. The added bonus is that SK treat *G like royalty (for some reason) and almost every SK trip I've been on has been upgraded in some way or form. eg: on BKK-CPH - Y oversold(as usual) - I was bumped to Y+. CPH-CDG NOT oversold and they still bumped me to C (?! ). etc. Food is fairly decent for Y and good service, and the ISV is nice in the 340.

Oh I see you're just using the SK longhaul at the start of your journey, so status won't come into it. Well, I'd still likely go for it - if even for it being a slightly shorter long haul sector from CPH rather than LHR (but that's pretty minor). I'd definately rate SK Y over LH Y.

Right how weird is this, the NH board are saying go SK, and the SK board say go NH! So what should I do. Out of NH and SK, which are better for long haul flights?

I should have my *G by the time I do this, so which provides the best service and the best chance of getting an upgrade?

Cheers for the advice so far.

With respect to the OS VIE-DBX suggestion be aware that this is generally operated by Lauda as a charter flight and you will get no milage credit at United's Milage Plus for it.

Right, here's the final itinerary...

01AUG LHR NRT NH202 1935 1510
04AUG NRT HKG NH909 1005 1335
06AUG HKG SIN SQ859 1330 1705
08AUG SIN SYD SQ219 0930 1850
11AUG SYD CHC NZ182 0950 1450
13AUG CHC WLG NZ452 1430 1515
15AUG WLG AKL NZ446 1500 1600
17AUG AKL HNL NZ10 1150 2230
19AUG HNL LAX UA52 1245 2108
22AUG LAX LAS UA1488 1541 1645 [OPERATED BY TED]
25AUG LAS DEN UA1406 1118 1403 [OPERATED BY TED]
25AUG DEN LGA UA406 1550 2117
29AUG LGA BOS US2126 1200 1303
31AUG BOS YYZ AC8017 1410 1553 [OPERATED BY JAZZ]
03SEP YYZ MAN BD714 1825 0610

Anyone got any comments?

Am planning this routing to visit China in Sept 2005. Is it more efficient and less expensive (in biz class) to go the RTW route? Thanks

If I understand your question correctly, RTW's in Business Class can potentially save you money over point to point Business Class fares, but it greatly depends on routings, destinations and no. of points in your itinerary. Potentially, the savings are large... but the devil is in the details.

Gaucho100K: Thanks for the edifying info. I suspect that the specifics will tell the tale. Thanks again.

Yipee!! Got the tickets.

Had to change the route slightly due to time constraints, now doing


LHR SIN SQ231
SIN SYD NZ182
SYD CHC NZ452
CHC WLG NZ446
WLG AKL NZ10
AKL HNL UA52
HNL LAX UA116
LAX ORD UA680
ORD LGA UA2930
LGA BOS US2130
BOS YYZ AC8017
YYZ MAN BD714