S80

Hi all, I'm looking at booking a long weekend away in London, and would like to maximize my time in F. For the dates I'm looking at, it's the same mileage cost to go from LAX-LHR RT as it is ORD-DFW/JFK-LHR. However, the ORD-LAX-LHR leg is not available as it very much violates the max permitted mileage. What is the best strategy for booking such a trip? Ideally I'd like to stick with AA due to BA's crazy fuel surcharges, and I'm looking to burn AA miles on this trip.

Based on my research, I'm somewhat protected if I just book a RT cash fare on AA from ORD-LAX, and just fly in/out with plenty of time should any delays occur. Does that violate any fare rules (such as Saturday nights), or should I book a cash fare with UA if I go this route? Is it possible to add on the ORD-LAX-ORD segments with AA after booking the over water legs? I tried to book it as a multi-city on AA.com, but based on a one way multi-city ORD-LAX-LHR being about the same as the RT, I figured it was worth a shot asking here first.

guv1976

FYI: ORD-PHX-LHR is only about 500 miles shorter than ORD-LAX-LHR, but is being offered as a single award:

fly747first

AA has many hidden rules that they don't actually publish or they are intentionally vague about it. For example, US - Indian Subcontinent awards are one-way 115K for First Class with a little asterisk indicating that travel must be over the Atlantic, but if you do a JFK - LHR (BA First) connecting to LHR - AUH (EY First) and finally connecting to AUH - MLE (EY Business), the system will split it into two awards and require more miles even though the itinerary is still within the 4-leg maximum allowed for international awards.

JJeffrey

Routing and MPM rules are rarely if ever enforced on all AA metal award bookings.

I've seen RDU-LAX-LHR offered as a single award. And my personal favorite, several years back when looking for a RDU-LAS award, aa.com offered me RDU-LAX-JFK-LAS all as a single award.

If ORD-LAX-LHR isn't showing available on your dates then it's because AA/aa.com hasn't made it available, not because it's going over the MPM.

S80

Thank you both for your knowledge! I eventually found an ORD-LAX-LHR RT with a ~20hr layover on the outbound and ~30hr return for a large sum of miles, so I just cashed out some Amex points for a direct BA flight out in J and return via LAX with AA in F using Etihad and then a cash reposition back to ORD in Y.