No. Take a look at the sticky; post #1 explains it all.

Yes, I am sure.

Shame, because that's exactly right. They are defined differently and the allotments are different. Maybe there's another city you can connect through instead.

Gotta reiterate the reply by gardyloo. Sign up for QF's program--their award availability tool on their website is extremely helpful and accurate. Im in the midst of my second OW220C, and their tool was invaluable to successfully getting it booked, particularly LHR-MRU on BA and for that tough final flight home, SYD-LAX <sadly happening February 20, 2007>. From my experience, it will show availability on QF, CX, AA, AY, BA and LA. It also lets you look at a surprising number of non-QF destinations. Departing city choices are extensive, though moreso for the returns. For example, you cannot look for flights originating from Santiago, Chile, but you can look at flights, say, for round-trip flights LAX-SCL. I just recently used it to check availability to Punatas Arenas, Chile, but I had to first put in LAX as departing city, then Puntas Arenas was one of destination choices. I've never used Expert Flyer, but for a OW award this seemed sufficient. I have zero miles in my QF account, but you can check for any type of award regardless.

thanks for the replies. looks like HKG-JNB and SYD-JNB are going to be difficult to get in U, but I will give both a shot at 300 days in advance and see what I come up with.

Two questions - are X tickets typically available on these routes (book now and hope U becomes available)?

Outside of leaving JNB and South Africa out of my itinerary, any other ideas for getting award tickets from SE Asia to JNB or southern Africa [I guess I could go BKK-LHR-JNB, assuming I could get a LHR-JNB BA flight]?

MAD-JNB on IB is frequently available, so XXX-LON-MAD-JNB is one such possibility. Also BA LHR-HRE-JNB is also usually available.

Thanks for all the feedback, especially the suggestion of signing up for the Qantas ff program. The award search tool is outstanding. Assuming that the availability they show is accessible by the AA agent, than I feel much better about my planned itinerary and the possibility of getting the award seats on the routes.

The QF site is pretty accurate except for CX. Its still useful for CX though, but you need to call to be sure and make sure.