The second item I missed was pointed out by
thois (see post #272 in this thread -
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...t-query-7.html)
Even though the wording of the back-track rules for a second visit to Europe/Middle East has been re-written (see post #324 upthread), rule 4(h) still has the wording regarding excluded inter-zone flights to/from the UK, namely (my bolding):
(h) A minimum of 3 and maximum of 16 segments, including surface segments between any 2 airports, are permitted for the entire journey. Free flight segments within each continent are limited as follows:
Africa 4
Asia 4
Europe Middle East 4*
*not more than 2 of which may be between the UK and ALBANIA, ALGERIA, BULGARIA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, MIDDLE EAST, MOROCCO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA west of the Urals, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UKRAINE.
*segments between Europe and Middle East are not permitted if travel includes Africa and the itinerary utilises the backtracking provisions in Para 4(e) 3.1.3.or 3.2.3.
North America 6
South America 4
South West Pacific 4
In the new rules, paragraph 4(e) no longer has 3.1.3 or 3.2.3 (or 3. anything in fact), so the continued inclusion of the restriction would appear to be pointless and is probably due to sloppy editing when the rule was changed in April. BUT
thois reports that the AA fares section is still disallowing inter-zone flights and is referring to this rule - go figure
