Originally Posted by
anabolism
My suggestion is to search for ANY route that has C available for the dates you want, including routing via LAX, DFW, ORD, etc and connecting in LHR or elsewhere. Personally, I do not book long-haul coach and hope C space opens up since it is now prioritized by 12-month rolling EQD instead of time of request.
To amplify upon anabolism's sage advice, nowadays the customer has to do the research. If you're looking for, let's say, ORD-FCO, the AAgents are trained to check the one obvoius non-stop flight. If you want the AAgent to check connections, you have to specifically ask: can you please check ORD-MAD? Can you please check DFW-FRA? Can you please check JFK-CDG? Can you please check via HEL on AY? etc. Nowadays it's easier to check these routings yourself with a tool such as expertflyer. Of course there are still a few GREAT AAgents who harken back to the glory times of yesteryear, and who will help a customer find award inventory. These AAgents are rare, and that's a blessing: it makes us appreciate them even more.