on a 4th call to what turned out to be the right supervisor in customer service, AA WAS finally able to convert my originally booked mile saver flights BOS-AUA back to the non stop for the 35k pp mile award! It took 4 phone calls... 1st csr said to email, I did it thru the AA website. 2 and 3 tried but said no, and the email said to call yet again so I did and got a super on a weekday. He helped. It worked.

For travels with children on such flights, this is key. non stop.

Yes, though, if I were to go to Australia again I would do a stop or stopover.