It's also worth using AwardNexus.com to locate the reward flights you want. Once you've got them, phone BA and book them over the phone.

The BA booking engine will show non-BA flights when BA can't offer a flight on their own metal but it can be temperamental.

Might also be worth looking at Asia ? Japan would be 50k miles from North America in Economy and you could fly with CX or JAL, both of which would be superior to AA.

BAH