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You can check award-seat availability on AA from BWI/DCA anytime at aa.com; for travel after May 15, the SAAver seats -- if you can find them -- will cost 30K AA miles per person, each way. Check the FT MilesBuzz! thread for information on current sign-up bonuses for Citi/AA credit cards (plural). You may be able to get the bonus on each of two cards if you apply for both on the same day, one right after the other. Your wife may also be able to get the same deal.

Of course, there's no guarantee that award seats that are available today will still be available two or three months from now when your bonus miles post.

Also, be as flexible as possible re: your routing. Can you leave from EWR/JFK if you have to? Can you fly into BRU or LHR, and take the train to Paris? Are you willing to connect in MAD, if need be?

Remember that aa.com will only show award-seat availability on AA metal; for availability on 9W JFK/EWR-BRU, or on IB JFK-MAD-ORY, for example, you can call AA and ask. Also, remember that on awards between North America and another zone, you can stop over at the North American gateway (like NYC, MIA. DFW, etc.) This can be useful if, for example, there are award seats available from BWI/DCA to a gateway on one day but not the next; and award seats are available from the gateway to Europe on the second day but not the first.

Good luck!