I have a bit of a dilemma and it starts from needing to get home from SCL to MEL (my final leg).
Plan A was to fly
SCL-SYD-MEL via Qantas. However, award seats won't open for us bronze members until 1st April and they might already be booked out by that time.
Plan B was to come home via SFO/LAX by doing
SCL-MIA-SFO-MEL but it seems like Qantas is either not releasing or holding off any tickets in mid-Jan (possibly school holidays).
Plan C now is to go via Dallas and Tokyo (
SCL-MIA-DFW-HND, NRT-MEL). However, this would put me over the 35k mile limit and I would have to cancel one of my smaller legs earlier in the RTW trip. The SCL-MIA-DFW route (or is there a SCL-DFW direct?) isn't available to me yet but I could book DFW-HND and then NRT-MEL.
As a side question, is it possible to make a 11.05am JAL flight from DFW-HND if I land at 9am from the MIA-DFW flight? They appear as separate legs on the Qantas website so I'm expecting they would also be separate tickets and I have to re-check in my luggage?
Should I do the following?
1. Book DFW-HND and NRT-MEL now.
2. Book SCL-MIA-DFW as it becomes available next month. This does not qualify for the OneWorld award and so I will pay extra points. Alternatively book SCL-DFW if available to maintain OneWorld award requirements.
3. If SFO-MEL appears then cancel the above and rebook. OneWorld Award requirement is met and I get my points refunded.
4. If SCL-SYD-MEL appears then cancel the above and rebook. OneWorld Award requirement is met and I get my points refunded.
5. If neither of SCL-SYD-MEL or SFO-MEL appears, then cancel one of my smaller legs earlier in the trip. OneWorld Award requirement will then be met and I get my points refunded.
Appreciate any other suggestions.
Here is my itinerary for reference:
1. MEL-ADL-KUL
2. KUL-AMM
3. AMM-CAI (this will need to be cancelled if I go with Plan C, luckily it's a fairly short one)
4. ZRH-MAD-EZE
5. SCL?