Yeah the fact that they won't release space close-in is really frustrating. YMMV, but 6 months out I find UA and AA to be essentially the same on saver award availability. A week from departure though UA wins all day long.

Big difference there is changing award routing on AA is free while changing it on UA will cost you for us non-elites. So if we weren't complaining about the lack of award availability we'd be complaining about it being there but the cost of the change fee being prohibitive (unless you have the flexibility to book close-in). Unless it was booked with SQ.