Last edit by: Prospero
AAnytime Awards (restricted to AA marketed and operated flights)
NOTE: There will likely be further changes. See Dynamic Award Pricing to be Expanded - AA announces 30 May 2019 link
Link to American Airlines award chart
Link to one world and other airline partner award chart
Link to HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion thread.
See this post (post #122) for more on the Level 3 increases introduced August 2016.
Link to The Points Guy article on the hidden Level 3.
If a seat is available for sale on an American Airlines marketed and operated flight, you can acquire it as an AAnytime award seat. AAnytime awards require more miles than the restricted MileSAver awards (for AA and required for partners); there are three tiers for the miles required for AAnytime awards seats; it can "cost" even more miles during high demand periods or on certain aspirational flights.
What you need to know
Awards cost $150 to redeposit ($25 for multiple / other travelers' awards taken from the same account); the fee is waived for awards taken from and returned to the account of an Executive Platinum member, when one wishes to pay more miles for a higher class of service or when significant flight or schedule disruption occurs).
Fees for redepositing a MileSAAver award are generally waived if they are "upgraded" to an AAnytime award. Downgrading from AAnytime to !ileSAAver requires redeposited and a new award ticket issue.
AAnytime awards do not earn miles, but are more flexible than MileSAAver awards, allowing easier changes and more perquisites (baggage, Same Day Flight Change, Main Cabin Extra and premium seat selection, two courtesy bags to 23 kg / 50 lbs, etc.)
NOTE: There will likely be further changes. See Dynamic Award Pricing to be Expanded - AA announces 30 May 2019 link
Link to American Airlines award chart
Link to one world and other airline partner award chart
Link to HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, discussion thread.
AAnytime awards
With no blackout dates, you can use AAnytime awards for any seat on an American Airlines or American Eagle flight for as low as 20,000 miles each way, plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
AAnytime award levels vary by date (including time of day) and region. There are select dates that require a higher number of miles (in addition to Level 1 and 2 awards, there is a hidden level 3 based on aspirational value and premium product and even some hidden level 4 award space released on Flagship transcontinental flights). When you search for awards while booking, youll see the applicable available award level.
With no blackout dates, you can use AAnytime awards for any seat on an American Airlines or American Eagle flight for as low as 20,000 miles each way, plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
AAnytime award levels vary by date (including time of day) and region. There are select dates that require a higher number of miles (in addition to Level 1 and 2 awards, there is a hidden level 3 based on aspirational value and premium product and even some hidden level 4 award space released on Flagship transcontinental flights). When you search for awards while booking, youll see the applicable available award level.
Link to The Points Guy article on the hidden Level 3.
If a seat is available for sale on an American Airlines marketed and operated flight, you can acquire it as an AAnytime award seat. AAnytime awards require more miles than the restricted MileSAver awards (for AA and required for partners); there are three tiers for the miles required for AAnytime awards seats; it can "cost" even more miles during high demand periods or on certain aspirational flights.
What you need to know
- AAnytime awards are only offered on AA marketed and operated flights
- Miles shown are for one-way travel
- Book a one-way trip or combine awards for round-trip or multi-city travel
- AAnytime awards mean as long as there is a seat available for sale, an AAnytime award can take it (but miles cost can be very high)
- Each award is subject to taxes and carrier-imposed fees starting from $5.60 per person, per award. These taxes and fees vary by itinerary and are based on trip origin and destination. The exact amount of taxes and carrier-imposed fees that will apply will appear when searching for a particular itinerary.
- For flights offering only two classes of service, the Economy and Business / First Class awards apply. For flights offering three classes of service Economy, Business / First and First Class awards apply.
- NOTE: AAnytime miles "cost" can vary in accord with flight demand, even on the same day
- For flights offering only two classes of service, the Economy and Business / First Class awards apply. For flights offering three classes of service Economy, Business / First and First Class awards apply.
- Each award is subject to taxes and carrier-imposed fees starting from $5.60 per person, per award. These taxes and fees vary by itinerary and are based on trip origin and destination. The exact amount of taxes and carrier-imposed fees that will apply will appear when searching for a particular itinerary.
- AAnytime awards mean as long as there is a seat available for sale, an AAnytime award can take it (but miles cost can be very high)
- Book a one-way trip or combine awards for round-trip or multi-city travel
- Miles shown are for one-way travel
Awards cost $150 to redeposit ($25 for multiple / other travelers' awards taken from the same account); the fee is waived for awards taken from and returned to the account of an Executive Platinum member, when one wishes to pay more miles for a higher class of service or when significant flight or schedule disruption occurs).
Fees for redepositing a MileSAAver award are generally waived if they are "upgraded" to an AAnytime award. Downgrading from AAnytime to !ileSAAver requires redeposited and a new award ticket issue.
AAnytime awards do not earn miles, but are more flexible than MileSAAver awards, allowing easier changes and more perquisites (baggage, Same Day Flight Change, Main Cabin Extra and premium seat selection, two courtesy bags to 23 kg / 50 lbs, etc.)
AA Anytime / AAnytime award / awards [master thread]
#17
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Exactly. AAnytime awards book in Y if economy and book in F if first class (that's the whole point - if there's a seat on the plane, you can have it with an AAnytime award). Someone once posted the technical mechanics behind the mileage block on award tickets that generally prevents mileage accrual or sticker/mileage/cert upgrades on AAnytime Y awards. Back in the day when the VIP2s (SWUs issued to EXPs without capacity controls) booked in F or J, a similar block generally prevented the class of service bonus miles.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 382
AAnytime not available when seats are for sale?
Hi There,
I had naively thought that if AA was willing to sell me a ticket on an AA-operated itinerary, then AAnytime awards would also be available on that itinerary. But I recently tried to book PDX-KOA one way on October 6. AA will sell me a ticket for money on an all-AA coach itinerary but not offer an AAnytime award on that same itinerary (at least not online).
What am I missing? Does it have something to with the number of segments or the degree to which the trip is circuitous? I was under the impression that none of that mattered for AAnytime awards.
Thanks very much,
saunders111
I had naively thought that if AA was willing to sell me a ticket on an AA-operated itinerary, then AAnytime awards would also be available on that itinerary. But I recently tried to book PDX-KOA one way on October 6. AA will sell me a ticket for money on an all-AA coach itinerary but not offer an AAnytime award on that same itinerary (at least not online).
What am I missing? Does it have something to with the number of segments or the degree to which the trip is circuitous? I was under the impression that none of that mattered for AAnytime awards.
Thanks very much,
saunders111
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,927
I don't know if this applies in your case or not, but when a lower cabin is technically sold out but there's room in a higher cabin to "roll" passengers, AA may continue to (over)sell the lower cabin, but won't allow AAnytime Awards in that case (because the lower cabin is indeed sold out, just being intentionally oversold now).
#22
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 382
I don't know if this applies in your case or not, but when a lower cabin is technically sold out but there's room in a higher cabin to "roll" passengers, AA may continue to (over)sell the lower cabin, but won't allow AAnytime Awards in that case (because the lower cabin is indeed sold out, just being intentionally oversold now).
I guess I get it. On expertflyer, the flights I am looking at have everything Y and below zeroed out. But AA.com is still willing to sell coach tix on those flights because there are seats available in F, A, or P. So your explanation makes perfect sense for this case.
Annoying though! Not really AAnytime, I guess!
Thanks,
saunders111
#23
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,509
AAnytime is linked to Y availability, isn't it? Since that's where it books if the flight is Y0, there would be none available since there aren't any seats to sell.
Are the coach fares you're seeing instant upgrades that book into A or P? If not, perhaps it's a lag issue - I wonder if it would hold or ticket a paid reservation and if so, in what fare class?
Are the coach fares you're seeing instant upgrades that book into A or P? If not, perhaps it's a lag issue - I wonder if it would hold or ticket a paid reservation and if so, in what fare class?
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,939
AAnytime used to mean "anytime" and would give you last seat availability. But AA revamped its award calendar back in April and "AAnytime" is now effectively just a marketing name. I'm not sure they have said so officially but it appears that last seat availability may have gone away.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
AAnytime used to mean "anytime" and would give you last seat availability. But AA revamped its award calendar back in April and "AAnytime" is now effectively just a marketing name. I'm not sure they have said so officially but it appears that last seat availability may have gone away.
#26
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,509
AAnytime used to mean "anytime" and would give you last seat availability. But AA revamped its award calendar back in April and "AAnytime" is now effectively just a marketing name. I'm not sure they have said so officially but it appears that last seat availability may have gone away.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
AAnytime used to mean "anytime" and would give you last seat availability. But AA revamped its award calendar back in April and "AAnytime" is now effectively just a marketing name. I'm not sure they have said so officially but it appears that last seat availability may have gone away.
#28
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,509
AAnytime went from 25k (2x saver) to 20-30k, with a few dates at 50k. I think I've seen the 50k (4x) level pop up twice when booking to SAN, both times around events with extreme demand.
#29
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
Hi There,
I had naively thought that if AA was willing to sell me a ticket on an AA-operated itinerary, then AAnytime awards would also be available on that itinerary. But I recently tried to book PDX-KOA one way on October 6. AA will sell me a ticket for money on an all-AA coach itinerary but not offer an AAnytime award on that same itinerary (at least not online).
What am I missing? Does it have something to with the number of segments or the degree to which the trip is circuitous? I was under the impression that none of that mattered for AAnytime awards.
Thanks very much,
saunders111
I had naively thought that if AA was willing to sell me a ticket on an AA-operated itinerary, then AAnytime awards would also be available on that itinerary. But I recently tried to book PDX-KOA one way on October 6. AA will sell me a ticket for money on an all-AA coach itinerary but not offer an AAnytime award on that same itinerary (at least not online).
What am I missing? Does it have something to with the number of segments or the degree to which the trip is circuitous? I was under the impression that none of that mattered for AAnytime awards.
Thanks very much,
saunders111
Have you tried calling AA to book the itinerary you want?
#30
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: AA EXP MM/UA MM/Marriott PLT Premier-LT PLT
Posts: 383
Quote:
Originally Posted by unhappyflyer
Let's be a bit more accurate, while last seat award is still available, AA dramatically changed the pricing. The pricing used to be 2x anytime but can now , and often does, require 4x pricing for popular travel periods or even 5x I believe.
AAnytime went from 25k (2x saver) to 20-30k, with a few dates at 50k. I think I've seen the 50k (4x) level pop up twice when booking to SAN, both times around events with extreme demand
Originally Posted by unhappyflyer
Let's be a bit more accurate, while last seat award is still available, AA dramatically changed the pricing. The pricing used to be 2x anytime but can now , and often does, require 4x pricing for popular travel periods or even 5x I believe.
AAnytime went from 25k (2x saver) to 20-30k, with a few dates at 50k. I think I've seen the 50k (4x) level pop up twice when booking to SAN, both times around events with extreme demand
as roughly all mainly leisure destinations during all traditional family/school break periods.