Thanks all.

So I'm definitely ruling out EK and QR due to nightmare schedules and flying with kids is a bad combination. AY is a potential but I'm leaning towards the direct BA flight.

I have on hold my preferred BA DEL->LHR on hold. I have a couple of options I think

1) wait for the hold to be released automatically. search again and book the one way flights at £127 pp tax

2) talk to the AA rep and ask them to release the on hold tickets and then book the flights at £238 pp tax (if that number is indeed right - seems very high to me. I guess it would be higher as per the telephone-ticketing charge but ... double seems excessive)

thoughts? especially on 1) ... when tickets on hold are released are they immediately put back in the system for me to grab?