I have some experience of AA vs. CX ticketing through the US and the AA experience has been much better. I had a 18 flight DONE4 (including backtracking in Europe/Mid east and flights within Oz after returning to my origin - SYD) and AA ticketed it without any problems. It took a week for CX to admit I could make a similar booking - I am just waiting for it to be ticketed finally...

Next time I will book direct myself with the AA desk (This was being done through a US based TA for various reasons). QF wouldnt come to the paryt at all...