Oct 23, 2015, 3:05 pm
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, you’ll 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, you’ll 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 ($25 for multiple / other travelers' awards taken from the same account); the fee is waived for awards taken from and returned to the account of an Executive Platinum member, when one wishes to pay more miles for a higher class of service or when significant flight or schedule disruption occurs).
Fees for redepositing a MileSAAver award are generally waived if they are "upgraded" to an AAnytime award. “Downgrading” from AAnytime to !ileSAAver requires redeposited and a new award ticket issue.
AAnytime awards do not earn miles, but are more flexible than MileSAAver awards, allowing easier changes and more perquisites (baggage, Same Day Flight Change, Main Cabin Extra and premium seat selection, two courtesy bags to 23 kg / 50 lbs, etc.)
AA Anytime / AAnytime award / awards [master thread]
Jan 20, 2015, 10:47 am
#61
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Jan 20, 2015, 10:50 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP - Marriott LT Platinum - National Exec Elite
Posts: 1,112
Perhaps a large group that group travel has not assigned seats?
AA won't sell anymore than the 3 on the website - so seems there's a lot of unassigned seat travelers.
AA won't sell anymore than the 3 on the website - so seems there's a lot of unassigned seat travelers.
Jan 20, 2015, 12:23 pm
#63
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: St. Louis, MO - AA PLT/2.98MM (Lifetime PLT), Delta PM, SPG Gold, AMEX Plat
Programs: TW Elite (RIP), CO OnePass
Posts: 1,923
One of the blocks allows only GLD / PLT / EXP to reserve prior to day of travel (Premium), while the other allows the seats to be reserved by GLD / PLT / EXP or purchased by non-status passengers prior to day of travel (Paid). On ExpertFlyer, these are designated by the "P" and "$P" symbols on the seat map.
If you look at the seat map on the flight, only 7 unclaimed seats are not "P" or "$P" and all of those are non-aisle seats in the 5 seat center section.
It is quite possible that there are a significant number of passengers without seat assignments because they cannot reserve the Premium seats, choose not to purchase a Paid seat assignment and did not want to choose a middle seat.
Greg
Jan 20, 2015, 1:27 pm
#64
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
There are two types of seat blocks which can be placed on economy seats -- I believe they are called Z-Block and Q-Block, but I don't know which is which.
One of the blocks allows only GLD / PLT / EXP to reserve prior to day of travel (Premium), while the other allows the seats to be reserved by GLD / PLT / EXP or purchased by non-status passengers prior to day of travel (Paid). On ExpertFlyer, these are designated by the "P" and "$P" symbols on the seat map.
If you look at the seat map on the flight, only 7 unclaimed seats are not "P" or "$P" and all of those are non-aisle seats in the 5 seat center section.
It is quite possible that there are a significant number of passengers without seat assignments because they cannot reserve the Premium seats, choose not to purchase a Paid seat assignment and did not want to choose a middle seat.
Greg
One of the blocks allows only GLD / PLT / EXP to reserve prior to day of travel (Premium), while the other allows the seats to be reserved by GLD / PLT / EXP or purchased by non-status passengers prior to day of travel (Paid). On ExpertFlyer, these are designated by the "P" and "$P" symbols on the seat map.
If you look at the seat map on the flight, only 7 unclaimed seats are not "P" or "$P" and all of those are non-aisle seats in the 5 seat center section.
It is quite possible that there are a significant number of passengers without seat assignments because they cannot reserve the Premium seats, choose not to purchase a Paid seat assignment and did not want to choose a middle seat.
Greg
Jan 27, 2015, 3:26 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 165
AAnytime Award "Y" - Can it earn miles?
I tried to search for this and I'm sure its answered somewhere, but when I look to book an AAnytime award it books into the Y fare class. Does this mean that it would be eligible for a complimentary upgrade for a Plat/Gold?
Would this fare show up as Y and then possibly earn miles?
Would this fare show up as Y and then possibly earn miles?
Jan 27, 2015, 5:16 pm
#70
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
Do AAny aadvantage awards earn miles?
I just did a search for DFW-MXP for Christmas 2015 travel. While there is not much in terms of saver awards, I noticed that AAnytime economy awards book into Y class? (i think that's full fare revenue economy) So would that mean I would earn miles on such a ticket, even though its booked through AAdvantage?
Jan 27, 2015, 5:19 pm
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,822
I just did a search for DFW-MXP for Christmas 2015 travel. While there is not much in terms of saver awards, I noticed that AAnytime economy awards book into Y class? (i think that's full fare revenue economy) So would that mean I would earn miles on such a ticket, even though its booked through AAdvantage?
Jan 27, 2015, 5:29 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823
Jan 27, 2015, 5:33 pm
#73
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Because those are already used (for capacity controlled awards) and there are no more letters to use. Y is the inventory, an internal inhibitor prevent them from accruing miles.
Jan 27, 2015, 5:41 pm
#74
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW,OVB (Russia)
Programs: AA HH Gold SPG Gold BA
Posts: 1,823