Afang is right, with some modification z(historic, mostly). AAirpass is an AA product, largely designed for businesses whose employees travel frequently on business. It involves totally full-fare travel, in any class. Thus, it's classes of service are basically Y, C, and F.
There are a lot of other details, but AA priced the product strategically, mostly to wealthy corporations, looking at the eyes of travelers who use the high-frequency, high-fare routes like LGA-ORD. Pre-paid travel on these routes is cheaper for them. On certain long-haul routes like HNL-ORD, it is actually more expensive in AAirpass miles than if you walked up and bought an F ticket. Thus, their marketing model breaks down on these runs.
For Premium class on JFK-LAX, where the price is over $2,000, AAirpass is much cheaper. I use it a lot on transcon P class.
AAirpass was (and still is) fantastic for those who bought lifetime versions 7-10 yrs ago. I did it and have been pleased. My purchase was for 55,000 yearly miles for lifetime (at the time, I figured I'd ust need 50,000 to make Platinum, the highest level available then). Needless to say, I paid over 6 figures for the deal, but believe I have recouped it.
They even sold a lifetime, unlimited product for a million dollars--you could travel the airline for life, with a companion, all year, in F, anywhere. Figure!
Anyway, no more lifetime deals. They sell 2 and 5 year ones at twice the price, per mile, that I paid. I bought 'em for my family before the price went out of sight. Told my spoiled kids they have no hope of being renewed. They're out of nest anyway.
So, don't eat your heart out. I did great buying the lifetime when I did, but I missed Microsoft in '86. If you had that, you're probably not on the board--you're chartering Gulfstreams.
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AAExecPlat; Lifetime AAirpass; 3MillMiles; UApremier-PassPlus