Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
Perhaps there is an ongoing problem with AV->AA bag connections, with AV frequently losing/delaying bags and AA having to pay out because of the way lost bag compensation works on multi-carrier itineraries. If AA felt this was a big-enough problem, perhaps they put in this (unofficial) rule so as to reduce the amount of money they're paying out. I doubt that the individual GA just made up the rule on the spot.