With AA's one-way awards each segment is priced separately. I doubt it will be too hard to get a single ticket to price out at 40K and it shouldn't be too hard to show the agent that Europe is just a connection.
YMMV.
have you ever flown to/from TLV using this 40k method? and did you have either more then 1 bag or only 1 that weighed more then 32 lbs and they didnt hassle you or make you pay more?
1- the agents couldnt care less if Europe is only a connection, what they do care and look at is if its a single tkt so will AA tkt it as 1 itin, TLV-Europe-US or brake it up. If AA will brake it up and its offically 2 tkts , then it will really have to be a persons Lucky day not to get hit with any bagggage fees. Yes I know numerous people who have purchased tkts as 2 tkts even on the same res and were told pay up or leave the bag or take out 20 lbs of weight
all I was saying is I dont think its wise to play this game just to save 5-10k miles (depending on a 1way or roundtriptkt). Also if a rt then youd have to hope that for the US-TLV part they also check it in all the way
this is just 1 time Id rather pay up the additional miles and not worry what will be at checkin or if the bag is lost
also if at TLV they dont tag it all the way thru then hopefully the person has a lot of time on their layover since they will have to go thru Passport control and get their bag/s and then recheck them in
Just too many "ifs" and I dont like the odds