Alas end on end ticketing with one side being an award flight is the goal that is likely to never be reached. I have had a TA add the connecting AA flight (ticket) to a CX ticket where I didn't want issues with mis-connects. Both tickets were purchased as one transaction. If priced as one ticket, the cost would have been astronomical due to standard fare class used in conjunction with premium long haul flights.

Oh well, being retired means overnight stops are useful...

Happy wandering

Fred