The OP shows SFO Bay area as location - hence could get AA card. The OP said - flew flights to try to get the $2K spend but just missed. If buying international J in the past - then should be buy domestic F. So clearly someone who was calculating just to try to make it, was not an overachiever.

Some past business travelers may not be coming back. There was also plenty of time for spending the $15K on the CC - those that did not likely kept using AmEx or Chase. AA wants you to move that over to Citi or Barclay. Some here on FT - don't use the AA cards much since they calculate better mile value using other cards.

If someone plans to buy lots of international J, then they won't have trouble getting EXP back - and for that matter don't really need EXP.

The name of the game is spend big - on flights and AA credit cards.

For granting exceptions - AA could look at how you charged past tickets. If you were restricted by your company on CC to use, AA knows that too - since you would be on a discounted corporate fare. So they can take all that into consideration.

There are people out there now - who have already spend big on their AA cards (like several $100Ks) and already earned EXP with tiered bonuses. This is the business spender AA wants.