I have on hold a 19 segment AONE4 reservation originating in Africa and I am only planning on using one 'free' segment in Africa. To make use of the full 20 segments permitted (before 1st June 2008) I would like to purchase an extra North American segment (as I have already used up my six 'free' segments).

An agent at the AA RTW desk has just told me that the North American segment must be (1) the last (i.e. 7th) North American segment in my itinerary and (2) purchased in first class.

I don' think this correct and wonder what others would advise me to do? The Technical Rule sheet on the Oneworld web site says:

"Two additional flight segments within each continent, except the continent of origin, may be purchased.
Each additional segment at a charge of:
First Class USD550 / AUD750 / GBP350 / HKD4300 / EUR450 / JPY65000
Business Class USD400 / AUD500 / GBP200 / HKD3200 / EUR300 / JPY48000
Economy Class USD150 / AUD200 / GBP75 / HKD1200 / EUR100 / JPY18000
The fare class of the purchased flight segments may be lower than that of the oneworld Explorer."

My intrepretation of this is that I should be permitted to, for example, purchase the extra segment in economy (L) class even though I have an AONE4 ticket. Furthermore, the rules say nothing about the extra segment having to be the last segment in the itinerary for a particular region.

What I was planning to do was use the purchased segment as number six out of seven in my itinerary, and upgrade this AA flight to first or business class (as I am an AA Explat). My seventh flight in the North American itinerary is with CX (YVR-JFK) and I would not be able to upgrade it (as I have no status with CX).

I guess I should try another agent or two until I get what I want - or am I missing something here?