JonNYC - the big caution here is that AA RTW is not to be relied upon handling changes to a mindpearl issued and ZAR priced ticket. I sound like a broken record, but the desk ended up repricing my ticket between USD and ZAR based to my detriment as USD/ZAR moved, I had add/collect of over $1300 moving to supposedly low cost YQflights. I should have stuck with Mindpearl on changes so that my ticket exchanges wouldn't be revalued in USD.

The other point I have is that QR is not low YQ and that includes AA issued tickets. On multiple occasions AA also confirmed YQ collection on almost all airlines, including their own TATL flights.

Given all that the pricing difference AA vs BA, the latter being more organized and transparent (cannot believe I'm writing that) if you need to go to Europe first just accept BA, forget QR and AA RTW desk.