I have paper DONE04 originating CAI 4/23/09 already issued (& held) by Emeco in CAI. I was to fly CAI-LHR-LAX-MIA on 1 day, but the AA flight from LHR-LAX is now earlier & is a misconnect. I have to re-route the flights from LHR (I can't change first segment of issued ticket, right?) Looked at taking BA -> MEX, YYZ, YYV, etc., but no easy way to get to MIA on same day. Best thing to overnight in LON? Suggestions???

Overnight in LON by all means; just don't spend more than 24 hours there as the £80 APD would become payable.

There are overnights from LAX to MIA - AA1254, dep 21:30, arr: 05:20.

BA154 - BA269 - AA1254

(or AA276, dep 22:20, arr 06:10)

But if I flew BA269 LHR-LAX, no mileage credit!

Oh sorry - you didn't specify that you needed to earn AA miles.

I can't find anything either - the fundamental problem being that there are no non-BA flights to the US leaving Europe at a time you can catch them and then get to MIA. The one that is close is AA047 LHR-ORD at 12:50, but I guess that a 75 min connection from T5 to T3 is a little optimistic. Obviously you could overnight at JFK or ORD rather than LHR if you preferred.

Are we to presume LHR is required? Otherwise what about CAI-MAD-MIA, and save your transcon for later.

That was the point of his comment about being unable to change the first segment once ticketed.

But if the ticket was issued under the old rules then I think cancellation is free of charge so you could just cancel and issue a new ticket with the new routing (and it might be cheaper now given reducing fuel surcharges).

Right - my mistake.

If it's a paper ticket then maybe it's a 20-segment one, in which case a cancel and reissue might turn it into a 16-segment one, a bad proposition.

Looks like an overnight is in the offing - take your pick.

It is a long shot, but:

If you call AAdvantage Customer Service (or the EXP desk) and explain the problem to them, they may be able to pre-arrange for "Original Routing Credit," as the change in carrier is involuntary, and due to an AA-schedule change.

If it works, you could take the BA flight, avoid the overnight, and get your miles.

It's free to ask... good luck.

Checkerboard

This forum really is THE BEST. Thanks, fellow travelers, for all the help & thinking through of this small problem.

1) It is an "old" ticket issued before rule change with 20-segments.

2) I don't see any non-stop flights CAI-MAD on 4/23/09 on OneWorld planner; they all go through LON.

3) Checkerboard, your suggestion is GREAT. Nothing to lose with a few phone calls. Usually, if you call EXP about RTW ticket, though, they direct you to RTW desk, but I can try.

4) Have thought about the expense of over-nighting in LON. If I stay < 24-hrs there are no big taxes, right? I will be anxious to get home to MIA, as I will have been traveling for a while: BKK, AKL, SYD on my current RTW. Fly > 24-hrs. 4/20/09 from MEL to CAI where I stay for 36-hrs and pick up that new RTW ticket from Emeco, so when I leave CAI on the 23rd would be nice to get to MIA rather than another hotel after a mere 5 hour flight CAI-LHR.

is a connection via LAX necessary??

What about routing via Amman?

CAI/AMM/JFK or oRD/Mia- not sure of times though- you would have to overnight in AMM

ORD is possible, but in 2 months AA47 (LHR-ORD) is gone, so would have to overnight in ORD. But possibly cheaper than LHR.

Source? ExpertFlyer is showing it for the day the OP wants, albeit with a 75 minute connection at LHR from the CAI flight.

I swear AA47 LHR-ORD was gone from OneWorld Timetable/planner yesterday, but now updated version has it. This looks like best option, just to reroute through ORD.

Thanks again, guys.

I called AA RTW desk, and they have put me on the BA flight from LHR-LAX. RTW assures me I will get mileage credit (he put notation in record) and the BA flight shows up in my AA.com reservations.
Thanks for your input. At least I'll get to MIA from CAI in 1 travel day without any ticket fees. And I have kept a written record of my conversation today for further reference should there be any problems getting mileage.

Thanks for your suggestions, gang. Merry Christmas.