Got it ticketed!

Was actually able to ticket it through Amex for sub $3300, DME - LHR - JFK - LAX, with a double stopover in JFK so essentially I tacked on a RT AA FF ~$1000, wow!

I was wary of booking out so early, but this actually aligns perfectly with my travel, because I was already planning on taking a Europe summer trip and will be relocating to NYC come July. The JFK-LAX RT is on Xmas Eve and the Sunday after new years, so guaranteed travel for me. Going to change the outbound down the line to coincide with a spring vacation, might drop the DME leg we'll see.