Unfortunate but not surprising. A few years ago my brother had a conference in Sydney and used 440,000 miles to bring my SIL in Business Class. Someone noted earlier that you may now have to pay that for a TATL. I'd already decided that Australia was off my list- unfortunate since I'd love to visit Australia/NZ- but both mileage redemptions and the sticker price for Business Class are out of control and I will NOT fly Coach on that route. I'm 70 and life is too short.

Looks like my AA Executive card on its way to me in the mail as I type this will not be renewed a year from now, but I'll spend enough to get the 60,000 LPs and use it for AA purchase. Earn 'em and burn 'em.