Although I'm sure few users here will have faced our exact situation (flying from Brazil to Africa and back, using miles), perhaps they have experienced something similar and the experience could help us think of solutions. We've looking at a trip that would require a domestic Brazilian trip from FOR to GRU on TAM before getting another Star Alliance airline (probably South African). But TAM apparently allows a max of 90 day advance booking on domestic flights (yes, this is part of an international flight, but both United and Continental agents said the 90 days would apply since FOR-GRU is a domestic flight-- at least that was their reading of the notice they quoted me, and they were not able to put us on the TAM flight). This makes advance planning for a long interntional trip difficult. We've in FOR, where the only Star Alliance airlines are TAM and TAP, and TAP shows no availability (TAP flies FOR-LIS non-stop).

One Continental agent suggested booking the trip starting at GRU and then, when/if the TAM flight opens to mileage use, adding that (at a $170 pp charge, plus any additional miles required). We could buy FOR-GRU tix but then would be under the very small domestic baggage weight allowances for domestic flights.

Pretty esoteric, I realize, but if someone has faced similar obstacles with other partner airlines (even TAM, perhaps at the Brazilian end of a trip from the U.S.), it could be useful. Thanks!