seawolf

BA does not offer fee free changes using Avios. Any changes will trigger a change fee which is currently $55USD. For mileage redeposits, BA will collect the lesser of $55 or the amount of taxes collected when it was ticketed. So if you use Avios for LGA-YYZ which is only $2.50 in taxes, the amount to redeposit this award will be the lesser of $55 or $2.50.

Not necessarily. As mentioned before, when award inventory is cancelled, the airline will determine whether it is still it it's best interest to make them available for awards again. Furthermore, award space being available on an AA flight for AAdvantage members does not equal to that same award space being made available using Avios.

Often1

Do not ever count on this. When the hold is cancelled or expires, the seat availability is returned through the IM system. What bucket the seat goes into is determined by IM at that moment.

Exec_Plat

I do all my 'creative' stuff with the help of an agent. He can do much of what AA (or any airline) can do, and stuff they wont do. If they need to they can call the EXP/CK desk and have them lay their hands on it.

But to the point of this thread NEVER assume ANYTHING (seat, fare or inventory) will 'go back into the bucket' once released. Airlines change inventory minute by minute- a fare that you grabbed and held last night might have been rebalanced 20 minutes after you book. You can hold than inventory class (award or fare code) even after they have decided to sell no more but once you release it you are subject to how they want to sell fares at that moment.

An agent can hold that segment, add to it, extend holds, etc...even ticket and cancel 24 hrs later....

Going to an agent was a watershed moment in my hacking. Of course you need the right agent.