AA (Qantas Award) prolonged Requested status

[Rich]

This is a minor one compared with all the other problems everyone is having, but I would appreciate any advice.
My family has a QF award booking on AA in March - DFW to MCO via AUS. At the time we booked within 24 hours the first leg was removed after a flight change allegedly (though nothing had changed). This was only something I saw on the app, no follow up from QF.
After I called, Qantas put a request in to AA to have it reinstated. They told me it would take 7-10 days. I have contacted QF and AA a few times and no one can help. QF say AA have to release the tickets, AA staff can't seem to do that. AA said if I was their customer they would just cancel the booking and rebook me, but that suggestion is falling on deaf ears with QF.
So on Thursday (4 weeks after booking), I contacted QF again and they requested the release again saying it would take 1-2 days. They assure me that I don't need to worry as it has been ticketed but I am not convinced about anything they tell me.
I have ticket numbers from the PDF, but my FF account says "Requested" for the first flight, "Confirmed" for the second.
Requesting an email itinerary (PDF equivalent) from AA gives me no details of flights but it does say "Ticketed".
TripIt says booking is confirmed, but CheckMyTrip says "Unknown".
ExpertFlyer says there are 7 award seats on both fights (and all the other flights that day that Qantas offers). This could be a sign my 5 seats haven't been allocated or maybe they are and AA just added another 5 to the pool.
I don't want to end up paying USD1400+ for flights that I can get for 60000 points. I am wondering if I should just do a new booking and if it works argue with Qantas that they should cancel the original booking without the points penalty. Anyone have any better suggestions?

 

[madrooster]

I am wondering if I should just do a new booking and if it works argue with Qantas that they should cancel the original booking without the points penalty.

I would say do this. Easier and tidier answer.

 

[Rich]

I would say do this. Easier and tidier answer.

Thanks madrooster.
I called today, got someone in Manila and she did it. It is amazing it takes so many attempts (3) to get someone to do what AA suggested.
The nerve-racking thing was she left it to me to re-book (which I did successfully) plus I was cut-off mid cancellation. However she called me back straight away and it is all looking good. I just have to watch out for the points and $ refund of the first booking.
Expert Flyer still shows 7 award seats available, so maybe AA just keep reporting that as a maximum.
That's 1 good Manila story for me (it appears) and 2 recent good South Africa stories.
We have a 2 3/4 hour transit in DFW after flying in from Melbourne. Fingers crossed we are not late. Although I could have asked to add this booking as part of our overall booking (for less points), given all the hassles with Qantas not reissuing tickets when things change, I want to keep things separate if possible.