Originally Posted by
Lookin4Points
Since you have the email documenting the date that the reservation is on hold until, you should call AA web services at 800-222-2377. They can look it up with your expired PNR. If it was all AA then they would be able to reinstate the reservation. Since it is a partner award, they'll have less options.
To follow up on this, a biz class seat opened up on the next day for the same leg. I booked it, and looked it up on the Etihad web site with the Etihad PNR (*). That worked, so I think I'm set.
Etihad also shows me complementary chauffeur service. I thought that was only for paid customers, but apparently not. It's only in Abu Dhabi, so not really useful for transit, but worth noting if I ever do an extended Abu Dhabi halt sometime.
Thanks for all the comments.
(*) I don't remember if an Etihad PNR shows up when the flight is merely on hold at AA.