Originally Posted by RichieMc

You won't be able to reduce the cost by adding stops. Most of the good fares (BUD-US West Coast @ £1400 or so) require 180 days advance purchase. You can do DUB-LAX for just under £1800 but this requires 60 days advance purchase, so this would mean leaving at the end of June and coming back mid July. Not sure how flexible you are on dates. Being AA operated doesn't matter for TPs anyway.