The other side of 'no premium award availability' seems to be that AA/BA are making lots more I seats available. Perhaps they've finally realized they aren't going to fill the seats at J-fares in the present business climate, stopped trying so hard to prevent a business traveller from paying I prices, and were surprised to learn that there was a discount-biz audience they didn't know was there.

Did someone mention upthread the recent award availability survey by a respected publication (whose name is mired in my 'senior' brain)? Decent sized sample, and did show AA being quite miserly.