Been considering the NRT option for a while due to the uncertainties surrounding CMB.

Am aware of the need to present proof of onward travel.

My xONEx would be paper - don't see how i can get it down to 16. I'd have to get to NRT on an award ticket from MEL. It costs the same getting one way vs getting return AA All Partners award. Is it possible to book dummy return segments or will the AA computer detect double bookings (since the return portion of the award will obviously coincide with part of the xONEx) and cancel everything including the xONEx flights?

Alternatively, could i simply print out a copy of my xONEx itinerary from AA.com and get some form of validation letter with tix number from AA to prove that the itinerary is indeed ticketed and ready to be picked up at NRT (ie just a few feet away from the immigration hall...)?

Then again I inexplicably lost my eticket receipt on my flight to the US in Dec and was panicking over what to show the immigration officer at ORD. I entered fortress USA without the need to show proof of onward travel as the officer simply asked when I was leaving and to write down my return flight details on some questionnaire, and allowed me through!!