Oct 23, 2015, 3:05 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AAnytime Awards (restricted to AA marketed and operated flights)
NOTE: There will likely be further changes. See Dynamic Award Pricing to be Expanded - AA announces 30 May 2019 link
Link to American Airlines award chart
Link to one world and other airline partner award chart
Link to HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion thread.
See this post (post #122) for more on the Level 3 increases introduced August 2016.
Link to The Points Guy article on the hidden Level 3.
If a seat is available for sale on an American Airlines marketed and operated flight, you can acquire it as an AAnytime award seat. AAnytime awards require more miles than the restricted MileSAver awards (for AA and required for partners); there are three tiers for the miles required for AAnytime awards seats; it can "cost" even more miles during high demand periods or on certain aspirational flights.
What you need to know
Awards cost $150 to redeposit ($25 for multiple / other travelers' awards taken from the same account); the fee is waived for awards taken from and returned to the account of an Executive Platinum member, when one wishes to pay more miles for a higher class of service or when significant flight or schedule disruption occurs).
Fees for redepositing a MileSAAver award are generally waived if they are "upgraded" to an AAnytime award. “Downgrading” from AAnytime to !ileSAAver requires redeposited and a new award ticket issue.
AAnytime awards do not earn miles, but are more flexible than MileSAAver awards, allowing easier changes and more perquisites (baggage, Same Day Flight Change, Main Cabin Extra and premium seat selection, two courtesy bags to 23 kg / 50 lbs, etc.)
NOTE: There will likely be further changes. See Dynamic Award Pricing to be Expanded - AA announces 30 May 2019 link
Link to American Airlines award chart
Link to one world and other airline partner award chart
Link to HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion thread.
AAnytime awards
With no blackout dates, you can use AAnytime awards for any seat on an American Airlines or American Eagle® flight for as low as 20,000 miles each way, plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
AAnytime award levels vary by date (including time of day) and region. There are select dates that require a higher number of miles (in addition to Level 1 and 2 awards, there is a hidden level 3 based on aspirational value and premium product and even some hidden level 4 award space released on Flagship transcontinental flights). When you search for awards while booking, you’ll see the applicable available award level.
With no blackout dates, you can use AAnytime awards for any seat on an American Airlines or American Eagle® flight for as low as 20,000 miles each way, plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
AAnytime award levels vary by date (including time of day) and region. There are select dates that require a higher number of miles (in addition to Level 1 and 2 awards, there is a hidden level 3 based on aspirational value and premium product and even some hidden level 4 award space released on Flagship transcontinental flights). When you search for awards while booking, you’ll see the applicable available award level.
Link to The Points Guy article on the hidden Level 3.
If a seat is available for sale on an American Airlines marketed and operated flight, you can acquire it as an AAnytime award seat. AAnytime awards require more miles than the restricted MileSAver awards (for AA and required for partners); there are three tiers for the miles required for AAnytime awards seats; it can "cost" even more miles during high demand periods or on certain aspirational flights.
What you need to know
- AAnytime awards are only offered on AA marketed and operated flights
- Miles shown are for one-way travel
- Book a one-way trip or combine awards for round-trip or multi-city travel
- AAnytime awards mean as long as there is a seat available for sale, an AAnytime award can take it (but miles cost can be very high)
- Each award is subject to taxes and carrier-imposed fees starting from $5.60 per person, per award. These taxes and fees vary by itinerary and are based on trip origin and destination. The exact amount of taxes and carrier-imposed fees that will apply will appear when searching for a particular itinerary.
- For flights offering only two classes of service, the Economy and Business / First Class awards apply. For flights offering three classes of service Economy, Business / First and First Class awards apply.
- NOTE: AAnytime miles "cost" can vary in accord with flight demand, even on the same day
- For flights offering only two classes of service, the Economy and Business / First Class awards apply. For flights offering three classes of service Economy, Business / First and First Class awards apply.
- Each award is subject to taxes and carrier-imposed fees starting from $5.60 per person, per award. These taxes and fees vary by itinerary and are based on trip origin and destination. The exact amount of taxes and carrier-imposed fees that will apply will appear when searching for a particular itinerary.
- AAnytime awards mean as long as there is a seat available for sale, an AAnytime award can take it (but miles cost can be very high)
- Book a one-way trip or combine awards for round-trip or multi-city travel
- Miles shown are for one-way travel
Awards cost $150 to redeposit ($25 for multiple / other travelers' awards taken from the same account); the fee is waived for awards taken from and returned to the account of an Executive Platinum member, when one wishes to pay more miles for a higher class of service or when significant flight or schedule disruption occurs).
Fees for redepositing a MileSAAver award are generally waived if they are "upgraded" to an AAnytime award. “Downgrading” from AAnytime to !ileSAAver requires redeposited and a new award ticket issue.
AAnytime awards do not earn miles, but are more flexible than MileSAAver awards, allowing easier changes and more perquisites (baggage, Same Day Flight Change, Main Cabin Extra and premium seat selection, two courtesy bags to 23 kg / 50 lbs, etc.)
AA Anytime / AAnytime award / awards [master thread]
Jul 23, 2017, 4:30 pm
#196
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
The difference is not great enough to base a route decision on other things being equal or better.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:36 pm
#197
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
I've wondered about that. In the real world, how much difference can you tell? It seems like MCE on 77W has a tiny bit extra width, MCE on the 772 is just 2 more inches of legroom.
Jul 24, 2017, 7:02 am
#198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
U.S. carriers are obligated to publish web pages - by aircraft, by cabin - due to a DOT regulation to give parents using infant car seats fit information.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...seatdimensions
Aug 3, 2017, 4:07 pm
#199
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
Since saver tickets are scarce, I am debating anytime awards for an upcoming one-way trip PHX-PVG. The short version of my question is -- is it worth redeeming at less than $0.02/mi?
Option 1: Anytime award PHX-LAX-PVG on AA for 140k miles each (two tickets)
Pro: Leave from home city, and a general consensus that AA J > DL J from a previous thread of mine
Con: Second ticket needs to purchase 6k miles at booking time for ~$180
Option 2: DL J LAX-PVG for ~$2300 from Amex IAP
Pro: Save my AA miles for future saver value
Pro(?): Earn 9700 Skymiles as an exception fare
Con: I need a positioning flight (~100 WN each) and hotel (~$130 corp rate at Crowne Plaza)
Option 3: AA J LAX-PVG for $2600
Pro: Paid fare earning 18,200 RDM (will be gold by this) & 13k EQM
Con: Still need the positioning flight & hotel
After deducting the $180 from the paid fares, since I'm short on the miles, I equate our 280k AA miles with $4750 on DL ($0.0169 per mile) or $5350 on AA ($0.0191 per mile)
How would all of you fly?
Option 1: Anytime award PHX-LAX-PVG on AA for 140k miles each (two tickets)
Pro: Leave from home city, and a general consensus that AA J > DL J from a previous thread of mine
Con: Second ticket needs to purchase 6k miles at booking time for ~$180
Option 2: DL J LAX-PVG for ~$2300 from Amex IAP
Pro: Save my AA miles for future saver value
Pro(?): Earn 9700 Skymiles as an exception fare
Con: I need a positioning flight (~100 WN each) and hotel (~$130 corp rate at Crowne Plaza)
Option 3: AA J LAX-PVG for $2600
Pro: Paid fare earning 18,200 RDM (will be gold by this) & 13k EQM
Con: Still need the positioning flight & hotel
After deducting the $180 from the paid fares, since I'm short on the miles, I equate our 280k AA miles with $4750 on DL ($0.0169 per mile) or $5350 on AA ($0.0191 per mile)
How would all of you fly?
Aug 20, 2017, 11:29 am
#201
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
Can/do AAnytime awards go higher?
If an anytime award US-Europe currently shows 135k miles one way, is there a chance it will increase (not counting a chart-wide devaluation)? I'm looking at doing a o/w for 135k and some days of the week it shows 180k. I know some days are marked as a higher level, but thought once the day is set, it is set. If that is incorrect, please let me know. I hate burning 135k but missing that and having to pay 180k would really suck.
Aug 20, 2017, 12:22 pm
#202
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Of course, since AAnytime awards slide based on demand. Yield Management practices govern much of what AA does, and that's certainly true of AAnytime awards.
Aug 20, 2017, 2:51 pm
#203
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
The flight still has "C" 7, but paid fares are north of $2k or I'd go that route.
EDIT: looks like they shut that down pretty quick. C is now zeroed out for the entire month I booked.
Last edited by chicago747; Aug 20, 2017 at 3:03 pm
Aug 20, 2017, 3:03 pm
#204
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Have we ever confirmed that this is true on a per-route basis? My recent experience booking tickets into BNA for the eclipse would seem to strongly contradict this notion since AAnytime tickets were quite reasonable.
Aug 20, 2017, 3:18 pm
#206
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 514
Well, if JonNYC doesn't know I'm going to proceed under the assumption that no one does. No matter how it turns out, 6 one way awards booked in Saaver J is pretty much on par with my Cubbies winning it all last year 
If I have to pay up on the last one I'm still ahead.
If I have to pay up on the last one I'm still ahead.
Aug 21, 2017, 10:38 am
#207
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,360
Just noticed this on AA's website:
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...abin-extra.jsp
REALLY?!
*For travel ticketed in booking code Y on or after August 30, 2017, you'll no longer get complimentary Main Cabin Extra or Preferred seats. This includes AAnytime awards booked in Main Cabin.
REALLY?!
Aug 21, 2017, 10:56 am
#208
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT, HHonors DIA
Posts: 125
Just noticed this on AA's website:
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...abin-extra.jsp
REALLY?!
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...abin-extra.jsp
REALLY?!
Aug 21, 2017, 11:02 am
#209
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Just noticed this on AA's website:
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...abin-extra.jsp
REALLY?!
Source: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...abin-extra.jsp
REALLY?!
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...-fare-tickets/
Pathetic: American Cuts Free Main Cabin Extra On Full Fare Tickets
American has just announced that they’ll no longer be offering complimentary Main Cabin Extra seating to full fare passengers...
American has just announced that they’ll no longer be offering complimentary Main Cabin Extra seating to full fare passengers...
Dec 27, 2017, 12:32 am
#210
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
AA has variable pricing on aanytime awards?
Due to my grandmother's passing a few days before Christmas, I found it best to use miles for a last minute booking rather than the $700+ r/t fares. Outbound was cool, we lucked out and got two saaver economy @ 12.5k each. But on the return, I found that December 26 awards exceeded the "AAnytime Level 2" rates of 30,000 "contiguous 48 US states"... They wanted 50,000 per person one way!
Considering I used 70,000 for a saver J seat to Shanghai, I came back a day early on Christmas for the 30,000, which was already pretty crazy. But I didn't think AA did variable awards like Delta.
Considering I used 70,000 for a saver J seat to Shanghai, I came back a day early on Christmas for the 30,000, which was already pretty crazy. But I didn't think AA did variable awards like Delta.