I'm trying to figure out a decent CCPSTAR1 to help maintain 1K status. Because of the 50% EQM bonus on UA, we'd like to fly UA as much as possible (don't shoot me - we've got plenty of SWUs to upgrade to F). So far, the best I've been able to come up with is 21,364 miles SFO-ICN-NRT-SIN-MEL-SYD-SFO. All segments are on UA, except SIN-MEL on SQ, netting us 30,176 EQM. But I hate to see those extra 636 miles sitting on the table. Any ideas on maximzing EQM on this one?

Also, of these countries, which one would be cheapest to purchase the fare? (The CP calculator is just so tedious to use.) Since we'll need two of these, I can nest one inside the other, so one will be purchased in the US, and we should be able to purchase the other in the US, Korea, Japan, Singapore, or Australia.

Thanks.

Actually, I just ran the numbers on the *A calculator. The US is by far the cheapest because of the weak dollar. In order, as of today (11 March 2008),

Why not add some more travel with in the US? A short trip like RNO-SFO etc.

The only North American airports you can include on a CPAC are LAX, SFO, SEA, HNL, and YVR.

sfo-lax-nrt-sin-syd-mel-syd-lax-sfo is 21723 according to GCM and gets a lot more miles (thanks to minimum mileages)

There's no *A carrier to go from SYD to MEL, however. Or is it legal to include the UA flight in here? (I thought it was only valid as part of SFO/LAX-SYD-MEL.) If that works, I would do SFO-ICN-NRT-SIN-SYD-MEL-SYD-SFO at 21,967 miles.

UA flies SYD-MEL. I'm not 100% sure you can do ...-SYD-MEL-SYD-LAX/SFO, but if you can I think you might get more miles my way even though flown distance is less. There are more bonus miles on offer for sectors less than 500 miles.

I'll need to check the rules, but would SFO-LAX-NRT-ICN-NRT-SIN-SYD-LAX-SFO work? This allows you to pick up extra miles from the two extra NRT-ICN segs. What about SFO-LAX-HKG-SGN-HKG-SIN-SYD-LAX-SFO?

Aren't all of those combinations more than 22,000 miles?

They fly it, but it's illegal purchase that segment by itself. However, the *A calculator lets me use it as long as the MEL-SYD-SFO segment is also in the itinerary. Excellent!

Only by 82 miles, but it also adds lots of inconvenience. One other factor that I didn't mention is that by including ICN, my wife can write it off as a business trip since she has a client there.

Yes.

For the SQ flight (SIN-MEL or SIN-SYD), which is better - the 747 or the 777? The 77W surcharge doesn't seem worth it.

If you're taking the overnight the 77W is far superior: very wide seat and full lie flat. For the day flight it makes less of a difference. There's also the 380, but that has a hefty surcharge also.

CPSTAR fares only allow travel to/through the following cities in North America: SFO, LAX, SEA, HNL, YVR. SMF-SFO or RNO-SFO is a nice thought thanks to the low cost in miles for the 500 eqms (or 750), but is an invalid routing.

I like Kiwi Flyer's suggestion to take advantage of the LAX-SFO hops. You could try SFO-LAX-SEA-NRT-ICN (or vice versa), or SFO-LAX-NRT-ICN, or even SFO-LAX-SEA-NRT-onward or SFO-LAX-HNL-NRT-onward...let me see what the mileages come out to.

Here you go, 21973 miles, all on UA except for SIN-MEL:

SFO-NRT-ICN
ICN-NRT-SIN
SIN-MEL
MEL-SYD
SYD-LAX-SFO

Should net 31450 EQMs.

I can't get the *A calculator to let me go through NRT twice.

So far, the itinerary I have in #5 looks like the best. 21,899 miles (21,967 on GCM) and 31,181 EQM. And no domestic "F"...

The OP asked about 777 (without the W). Everything else being equal (schedule etc) I'd take 747. It has longhaul seating, the 777 has regional seating.

It's perfectly legal to go through NRT twice, as long as you don't stay 24 hours each time. If you specify the same city as a stopover twice, sometimes the calculator gets a little buggy.

The problem with your routing this is whether or not they'll actually let you book SYD-MEL that way. Please do tell if it's possible!