I wouldn't say that. Have flown AA in 1st and Biz TranscPac and TransAtl many times. It is ok. I prefer Qatar but would certainly fly AA again if that was available on dates I needed.
Not phantom. I use my AA points on Qantas flights as can get flights not visible on QFF site. Is simply another 'legal' rort Qantas has discovered. There is no end to how low they will go if it serves them. I simply cannot seem to be able to use my QFF points on anything that is not just Syd-Mel...