If AA is going to be concerned about flying AA, codeshares will likely not suffice, -- they're going to want AA metal. But they also may not care. You'll have to try it and see. Don't ask them if they require AA segments, just call and book. If they don't like your itinerary, don't worry, they'll tell you.

With regard to ticketing procedures, if you're using AA RTW desk and purchasing in South Africa, make your rezzy with the AA RTW desk on the phone. Once your flights are nailed down/reserved, they're going to have to submit it to Dublin for faring. Tell them that you will be purchasing the ticket in South Africa, and you want it fared on that basis.

After the fare is stored, contact Mindpearl in CPT, AA's South Africa ticketing agent. You'll have to fax or scan and e-mail them your credit card and the information page from passport, as well as complete an AA charge authorization form which they will e-mail to you. They will then issue the ticket. If there are no open segments, you will be e-ticketed. If your itinerary includes open segments, you will get a hand-written ticket of the old fashioned red carbon variety.

If you've been e-ticketed, you're done. If paper ticket, you'll need to get it.

Unless you're going to be in CPT on a day when they are open and have time to go to their office from the airport, better procedure is to have them courier it to you. No point in risking scheduling mishaps. They won't do anything to assist with the courier service, I guess they don't want the responsibility. I arranged with FedEx here in the U.S. to pick it up at Mindpearl and ship it back to me.

This was the first time I bought from Mindpearl (previously, before the rand tanked, I used to buy these tix through BA at MRU), and the entire process went swimmingly. Couldn't have been easier.