This award was booked via AA and they told me as long as I stay less than 24 hours in a city (and to the minute) its considered a connection, not a stopover. I'm going from HNL-HKG via LAX and spending the night in LAX with only a 15 hour layover at LAX and still they are only charging me the mileage from HNL directly to HKG, nothing via LAX at all. But its still considered 2 segments towards the 16 maximum. Its a great thing and helps break up a trip with out costing you!