Originally Posted by Brandy
Open your eyes and READ!
The EXACT same listing is NOT available under 25K requests. But IS available under 40K requests. That is inflation.
The flexibility you talk about is based on CHANGING your request.
Therefore my original statement is correct.
Um, that Boston flight was 25K. AA generally has plenty of 25K domestic awards when I check availability (again, some flexibility is called for). I have had great luck in claiming regular award travel internationally, and my experience is not unique.
If you are expecting to pull a regular award on a specific flight at a specific time on short notice then you are being unrealistic. The programs have never had that level of availability.