After reading this thread I found something interesting on one of my AE bookings. On Dec. 27 I received notice that DOH-AUH-JNB flights that were part of a YYZ-DOH-AUH-JNB-CPT trip booked on Aeroplan were cancelled. I noticed that YYZ-DXB-CPT was available (with significantly higher points required likely due to dynamic pricing on the YYZ-DXB flight) so I called in and was able to change to YYZ-DXB-CPT, much more direct but about the same time due to a long layover in DXB. After reading this thread, I checked the EY website and both flights are still listed. Bizarre. The AE agent changed them without question even though the number of points required for AC/EK through DXB was significantly higher. I would assume he never checked the status of the DOH-AUH-JNB flights or if he did they came up as cancelled. Went from a 789 on EY to a 777 on EK with angled lie flat seats so maybe a bit of a downgrade, but far less flights. This was originally booked as YYZ-IAD-AUH-JNB-CPT. i can't recall why the original change happened but I have an email saying my booking was modified 9 days after I made it.