Thanks for the heads up... doesn't help me really but could help a friend out if they needed. I don't really know anyone that's traveling any time soon, just was thinking it might be nice having an extra $500 or something to spend on other crap :P

I assume AA miles are probably the same? (I remember back in the day cashing out a bunch on Points.com for cash and impulse bought myself a top of the line Panasonic Plasma TV... boy was that guilt free and sweet... and probably a horrible redemption of miles, but again I wasn't seeing myself traveling in the coming couple years so....)