Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"in my experience it is not at all easy to get protection on two separate tickets like that-- American and US are still operating as separate airlines."
AA's policy is too ensure protection on missed connections between AA and any oneworld carrier -- even on separate tickets:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Bookin...tkt_policy.jsp
But I certainly don't blame you for preferring the nonstop in these circumstances.
Out of curiosity, is ba.com showing award availability for PHL-YYZ, PHL-YOW, or PHL-YQB?