...was re-accommodated the following morning when they wanted me to fly PHX > LAX > JFK. I balked at that idea for obvious reasons... I called into the Elite Services desk again and offered the routing PHX > YVR > JFK with the latter leg being operated by Cathay Pacific. AA really didn't want to pay for that ticket and suddenly found availability on the noon PHX > JFK aboard AA. Not only that, they gave me an OPUP to F. .
I can't imagine in a million years that AA would agree to switch you from PHX-LAX-JFK...to an international connection on partner Cathay PHX-YVR-JFK. How would that have been faster than going back to LAX the way they wanted you to go LAX to JFK? what did you tell AA why you didn't want to go to do the almost hourly LAX to JFK flight and preferred to fly clear to vancouver first?
it's good that you were able to get on the JFK non-stop from Phoenix eventually.