OTOH it is always worth checking to see if the first/biz ticket (TUS-LAX) on AA is less than than the add-on that Cathay would charge when comparing PE tickets starting in LAX versus TUS. Things may have recently changed. Whether it is my complaint to CX last year about why the AA add-ons for E and R class CX fares would be speculation. Cash fares from interior origination cities can now be less than from the gateway.

My issue this year is/was the lack of award seats on the connecting AA flights.

Happy wandering

Fred