Neal,

I actually used one of those awards as late as last year (50,000 for a first class trip to Paris plus an upgrade to first). I had it ticked on TWA, but eventually AA picked up those routes so had a great flight SFO-JFK-CDG all in first class with TWA miles earned back in 1989 (many on the SJC-SFO route!). They also had a 90,000 mileage award for two first class international tickets.

CO had a similar BF award awhile back (free first class tickets with no blackouts). That same award just cost me 200,000 miles. Ouch!

ff