Yes, the 20%/30% bonuses don't appear to apply to flights at all. Not AA or partners. The listed partners for the bonuses are: AA vacations, Simply Miles, Advantage eShopping, Advantage Dining, and AA Hotels.

Strategizing the bonus timing is more complex than simply delaying spend for a month or two between status years. Too many real-time factors in a year of spend to predict in advance exactly when those thresholds will be met. Especially with the variation in when LPs actually post, (if relying on that, vice more predictable cc spend).

I can see FTer's applying it broadly as needed however - for example if you're down to a few months in the status year, and with getting to 100K, you'd be within easy reach of PPro with the 30% bonus with a 3-day weekend booked at a mid-range level BAAH hotel.