So the big question is, can you use the ORD-DEL flights to avoid paying for a continent? At first, I thought an ASIA-NAM-SAM-NAM-ASIA would be 3 continents. (using the transit thru NAM-SAM exception that allows 2 entries in a continent). But was unsure about whether one had to actually touch each of the 3 IATA zones. If you have to actual visit each IATA zone, then the ORD-DEL flight is useless since you would not be able to visit each IATA zone.

N.B. Just read in one of the above posts that you have to visit each IATA area. So, my argument is that one cannot use this flight since you by-pass IATA area 2 (Europe-Africa) and you cannot backtrack between IATA areas.

As for awards, currently AA requires a trans-atlantic crossing for trips to India. However, for Sri Lanka the requirement is for trans-pacific crossing.