Why is this cluelessness and why is it so surprising? If I bought a ticket from Philadelphia to Vancouver and had happen what happened to the OP, AA is well within their authority (and obligation) to reroute me on another carrier or come up with a different suitable solution. The fact that the rules of the fare differ from those of most tickets is immaterial at that point. If I had a valid reservation from A to B and AA was unable to offer the service then I would expect other arrangements to be made. In any event, I certainly would not be surprised that they were.