Well, after days of non-returned emails & phone calls, I can now answer my own question. No, they haven't changed - just highlighting CO awards & at higher point levels, you can still use other airlines, however the only first class award is within the 50 U.S. & the ticket has got to cost less than $1500. Whoppee. Wish I knew this before racking up those points... Anyway - and a heads up - after all these years of being told I had the travel awards, they informed my today that I had 'Ultimate Rewards Express,' which doesn't include the travel awards. The Travel Awards come at an extra $20 per year fee. I got transferred twice to higher supervisors & finally got someone to agree to convert my card to the travel program without losing the points. If any of you have the Chase awards, I'd make sure it's for the program you want travel or gift/merchandise certificates (which I didn't want). Anyhoo, just a heads up.

Needless to say, all future purchases will be made on my Citibank AA card...