this is a new feature for AA and you can book car rental or hotel at very good prices mileswise vs DL or UA....UA wanted twice the miles for same car rentals...hotels were same story. only thing I don't like is the fees and taxes added on by the car rental places are not revealed or included...am currently in talks with AA and Budget to find a price quote on exactly what I will owe, so I dont show up at the counter to be ripped off. The budget people wouldnt talk to me and made me get AA reservations to call them, then they played games, hung up on them refused to answer their calls...ect. ect.
It may take a while to get to the true cost. As far as the Hotels go the only charge not include is the dreaded resort fee. I booked 2 nights at the waikiki sheraton princess keaulani for 27k for high floor ocean view rates started at 10.5k a night which is better than 10k a night SPG points considering you can trade 20k SPG for 25k miles also 10k spg would only reserve a standard room whereas we booked 4 catagories up with AA. still have to pay the $12.50 resort fee but it includes parking which used to run $20 a night so it's a good deal. It's a nice way to use the extra miles from the citi card offers considering we only need 125k for F to Europe....they have little else appealing domestically from ATL so getting 15 nights car rental for 28k and 27k for 2 nights at a low end spg hotel will keep about $600 im my pocket for our hawaii vacation.....plus I'm keeping all my SPG points for next time.
I wouldnt be surprised to see the cost in points increase after the initial launch, they will become as greedy as DL or UA with the rates once the word gets out....and like the other carriers they claim discounted rates for elite will be part of the deal.