Thanks for the advice. I had some trouble with BA's website but I spent some quality time with the Qantas website figuring it would be the same or similar. I thought I was going to have a pretty easy time finding with the JFK-TLV trip, as there was plenty of availability over a three month travel span and I was able to put together about 10 potential two-week return itineraries using a good connection on RJ in J, with a few alternate itineraries on IB and/or AA through Madrid. After waiting to speak to an AM agent for about 75 minutes, I was told for each of these itineraries which came up on the Qantas website were unavailable to AM members and that they had no availability in J over a 5 month span, and offered only a Y+ itinerary on BA through LHR that had taxes and fuel surcharges about what a nonstop Y fare would be on DL or LY. I had slightly more success with the JFK-GIG trip, but not much more (and I can't say that the Qantas website had given me much hope) and was able to get them only Y seats through SCL with a 4 hour layover. As for HKG-JFK, every single flight I tried was "waitlist" in J or F save for one eastbound segment . . . I will try to book beyond HKG with plans to drop the final segment and maybe that will work out, but the agent I spoke to told me that it would cost something like US$250 to change a ticket once it was issued. I've been playing this mileage game for nearly 2 decades but I have to say this is the most frustrating program I've ever used, with a website that simply doesn't work, obscene telephone wait times, not particularly well trained staff, and most importantly terrible availability. Has really changed my perception of CX, which I really love to fly (but will continue to credit on AA).

The RTW cancellation gambit is an interesting idea and looking better and better as the clock ticks down. Am I able to book and cancel any award ticket and have the miles reinstated after they would expire and just pay the penalty in AM? If so, that could be the best hope at this point.

Many thanks to all again.