For the next year or so, I wouldn't be wanting to plate to QR.

Since JFK is a transit point, not a stopover, why not route LAX DFW DOH BCN? Flight mileage is similar, if that was the goal.
Then you can keep the BNA-DFW-LAX or even switch to the nonstop if they don't mind the late arrival.

There's no rule about "extreme" routings. You are allowed to backtrack within a continent (excluding Hawaii).You are allowed six North American flights. You are allowed one transcon flight in North America. I'd call back and get someone else. Ask for Rebecca.

The rules do not make a distinction between transfer(transits) and stopover (+24hrs). Just a minimum number of stopovers in the itinerary.
Nor are extreme itineraries mentioned in the rules.
They are making up rules.

because of the current political conflict? Even if they reduce their schedule, wouldn�t they put you on someone else and/or give you a free change following a schedule change or cancellation?

My understanding is that plating on qr is very advantageous as they have very low fuel surcharges.

It's been interesting to watch the evolution of this rule. Now it's by state rather than city. AA used to have a LAX/MBJ nonstop in both directions, which I flew as a turn more than once as it wasn't on the exclusion list. If they resume some type of LAX-Caribbean nonstop, I wonder if anyone will think to add it to the exclusion list. History, of course, suggests that it will take a while, if they think of doing it at all. That was the genesis of the cheap xONEx fares ex-SEZ a few years ago when BA resumed SEZ/LHR service.


I love Rebecca! She's great!!


Exactly. This is why when I call AA to book by tickets, I give them the itinerary flight by flight, and don't distinguish between stops and connections. As a result, I never run into married segment issues.

I can't imagine that avoiding married segments is as simple as outlining an itinerary, flight by flight.

The rules may not do so but there's certainly some POC availability throttling going on.

I can only give you my experience. SABRE, for example, searches flights differently depending on how you request them. YMMV, but I've never had a married segment problem, and I've never booked through the online tool.

Depends on how sensitive you are to the original flight dates. Late changes or cancellations would result in fewer alternative flights with available seats.

Not when using Sabre, especially with AA flights. My corporate travel agent told me he could work around married segments on UA but not on AA, that any way he tried to book them, when the second segment was added Sabre detected the married segments and he'd be unable to confirm.

There is certainly availability limitations when booking RTWs, aside from married segments. It seems likely it is point of commencement/origin, especially for us ex-OSL people, although there are reports here of limitations on JL flights with an ex-TYO origin, which wouldn't seem to make sense if it is strictly point of commencement/origin. AA RTW agents say there is a type of fare restriction, but TAs seem dubious.

Very few people want AA codes anyway. It's been a while since I've ran numbers but I think it's only advantageous for people crediting to QR and AY. Everyone else, including AAdvantage earners should be trying to code elsewhere where possible. It's quite easy on international and even domestic connecting to or from international. QR, AY, and / or JL codes are readily available now within the US, to parts of the Caribbean, and JL codes to Brazil.

What does QR plating have to do with anything at all? You're using a travel agent anyway. QR is one of the lowest YR/YQ platers available. I'm certainly not avoiding DOH or any other middle eastern airport now, but you don't even need a QR flight to plate on QR stock.

The context of the subdiscussion was about workarounds for married-segment inventory restrictions. My comment was in reply another comment and was illustrating that, at least in the experience of my corp TA who typically booked prime flights for business travel, for AA segments, workarounds were not possible in the way they were for UA segments.

I just ticketed my first DONE4. Kind of exciting.

Quick review of my experience with the AA RTW desk.

My initial booking call was quick and efficient, the agent put things on hold, and sent to the rate desk.

Around a day later, I got an email that it was approved, and I saw pricing. So I called back. Unfortunately this call actually took slightly longer than the other call. Mostly just me sitting on hold for long periods. I didn't realize they had to charge it in my home and credit card's currency USD, but I guess that's normal for RTW...

Somewhat annoyed with how long this took to simply pay for it. But based on past experience with AA, though not specifically the RTW desk, agents vary, and they do often have to contact other desks to get support. I guess that's just how it goes.

Thanks for the useful information here. Looking forward to my trip!