So the big question is, can you use the ORD-DEL flights to avoid paying for a continent? At first, I thought an ASIA-NAM-SAM-NAM-ASIA would be 3 continents. (using the transit thru NAM-SAM exception that allows 2 entries in a continent). But was unsure about whether one had to actually touch each of the 3 IATA zones. If you have to actual visit each IATA zone, then the ORD-DEL flight is useless since you would not be able to visit each IATA zone.

N.B. Just read in one of the above posts that you have to visit each IATA area. So, my argument is that one cannot use this flight since you by-pass IATA area 2 (Europe-Africa) and you cannot backtrack between IATA areas.

As for awards, currently AA requires a trans-atlantic crossing for trips to India. However, for Sri Lanka the requirement is for trans-pacific crossing.

I assume you're talking about an all-partner award, not a oneworld award....

One thing about this, the xCIR2n fares have the following restriction:So in this particular case, DEL is out.

Spoke with AA RTW desk. Granted no new rules are published yet but this was a educated guess from the agent - ORD/DEL will be considered trans-atlantic and it will be possible to create a RTW itinerary without Europe.....

my info from the best agent at the AA RTW desk told me that ORD-DEL is a trans-pacific flight for RTW purposes. Also, cannot use it for circle pacific routes and that RT to DEL will be less expensive (how much less?) on the nonstop than going thru london.