I discovered an interesting ramification of some of the changes AA has made with regard to PHX by dropping LAX and SJC service. We have no west bound service at all on AA metal.

If all flights now have to go to STL, DFW or ORD it makes connecting to any west bound destination require at least 6 hours in two aircraft. Hawaii included. For 180K award to live up to the terms of the program they will need to give up 2 F seats to these cities just to get a couple to a gateway ?

If I want to use a JAL or CX award it means 6 hours going east then west to get to California. ORD is an overnight due to a misconnect. Qantas included. Or you can buy the ticket to LAX so the value of thee awards is immediately diluted.

I am an AA newbie and I had hoped they might pick up on this aspect. Not everyone in PHX goes east all the time. Is he consensus of opinion that AA sees this or are they really willing to drop all of us here who have a need to go west every now and then. AA may rapidly not be an option.