I remember when last year's ex-CAI fare was disappearing, MH still had theirs published much later than others, and AA was issuing on the MH fare. Also similar happened when ex-Japan increased, I think it was MH and CX that remained lower for quite some time and I recall people saying that AA was issuing on those. Since AA does have a fare ex-JNB/CPT/DUR, etc. maybe they won't do it now, but it's worth trying to tell them that the QR fare is much lower and ask to have that one used. Should that fail, MRU isn't too far away and is in that range too on all carriers.