... I wouldn't agree that saying that travel must terminate at the same point and then saying that origin-destination surface segments are permitted means that that surface segment at the end must be counted in the mileage ...
I would ... a "surface segment" is a "surface segment"!
... You may be right that we got lucky, but we've done these several times with AA without issue.
OK, you've been flying "Arc Pacifics".
(Don't stop on my account
)
I really don't have an issue; to me the rules are there, the rules could be considered confusing and if such confusion benefits the traveller all the better!
I guess YMMV on this one ...