You can book now, but if you book and try to change the award to one departing 21 days or fewer days out than the day you purchased the award, the fee is $75 to do that. It's pretty much as others have said, but the crux is 21 days or less of purchasing the award ticket (there was a loophole, but it has been plugged) that will trigger the AA $75 fee.
You would be allowed a free bag if you had AAdvantage status, had a AAnytime award fare or a card (AAdvantage Executive) that allowed waived baggage frees (the Executive card also provides a year's membership in the Admirals Club and waives all foreign exchange fees, so ti is of value to some of us).
It's probably more economical to fly, rail or bus to Toronto than spend miles...
Originally Posted by
jonny1
i already booked(ticketed) march 16th flight from ORD to NYC today.
so if i want to travel on march 15th, will amex allow it and charge me $75?
i stay 2 days in NY at friend's place and then probably take a bus or fly to toronto, i will stay 2 days at NF and fly from toronto to chicago.
i haven't used my advantage miles yet on those trips