I've found a possible route for my upcoming mileage run on AA. It would include ORD-PVG; and would immediately return PVG-ORD. The layover between inbound and outbound flight is only 2.5h. Based on what I'm reading that could be enough, but:
1) I'd like to confirm this with you: Should this suffice? I will not have any luggage.
2) Does it matter that my "connection" is in fact the return flight, and not just another leg on the first half of the ticket? Would that case be treated differently than if it's a real connection?

Thank you!