Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
If using Avios for the MLI-ORD flight, one does not have to fly in on the same day as the ORD-DFW flight. If you can find Avios availability the day before, you can pay for an inexpensive hotel at ORD, and fly to DFW on the cash ticket the next day.