AA is having a weird and unexpected value renaissance for me. We fly a lot of MCI-PHX, which has annoyingly high fares at certain times in the year, even outside of Feb-March (the highest peak period). Yet AA often has it for 7500 miles each way. It's a boring, unsexy use of miles...but it's about 3 real cents per mile in cash we would have otherwise spent. The 7500 miles books as a regular coach ticket, not a Basic Economy fare, which is added bonus if I'm booking it for other family members who have no elite status.

No idea how long this will hold true, but as long as it does it's where my AA miles are going. (BA has had it for 9000 miles at times but it 's less reliable than AA itself since partner awards are sometimes a little tighter.)