I am afraid you need to send it back to CAI for refund. TA issued tickets are only refundable through the same TA because of the commisson involved. Airlines could only refund airlines issued tickets. EMECO, although GSA for AA, is considered as an agent.

Don't forget there is a good amount of commission rebates outside of the US. You could easily get 5-7% back when purchasing through a TA. If the airlines were to allow refunds of TA tickets, you could do a profitable business buying and refunding tickets.

In stead of a refund, you could use it as a credit against a new AA ticket and get a MCO for the residual. Only AA could do that as no TA would touch a ticket from another TA. Sometime the airlines would check with the issuing TA first before allowing this, but at least you don't need to send the ticket back.