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 8, 2012, 10:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 4
AA Anytime / AAnytime award / awards [master thread]
I fly YVR-DFW-BWI on a coach award ticket and I have Gold status. For the heck of it, I asked at the gate on DFW-BWI if there were any business class seats available since I have status. The gate agent upgraded me without asking if I wanted to use 25,000 miles (what I was told over the phone it would cost to upgrade -- can't use 500-mile upgrades on an award ticket) or 500-mile upgrades.
When I looked at my account a few days later, I saw that neither miles nor 500-mile upgrades had been deducted. Even better, I earned miles on the DFW-BWI leg, including the 25% Gold bonus!
A lucky one-time occurrence or a strategy to finagle miles out of award tickets?
*flew. Forgive me.
When I looked at my account a few days later, I saw that neither miles nor 500-mile upgrades had been deducted. Even better, I earned miles on the DFW-BWI leg, including the 25% Gold bonus!
A lucky one-time occurrence or a strategy to finagle miles out of award tickets?
*flew. Forgive me.
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 23, 2015 at 2:43 pm Reason: Restore original post title
Jan 8, 2012, 10:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
I fly YVR-DFW-BWI on a coach award ticket and I have Gold status. For the heck of it, I asked at the gate on DFW-BWI if there were any business class seats available since I have status. The gate agent upgraded me without asking if I wanted to use 25,000 miles (what I was told over the phone it would cost to upgrade -- can't use 500-mile upgrades on an award ticket) or 500-mile upgrades.
When I looked at my account a few days later, I saw that neither miles nor 500-mile upgrades had been deducted. Even better, I earned miles on the DFW-BWI leg, including the 25% Gold bonus!
A lucky one-time occurrence or a strategy to finagle miles out of award tickets?
When I looked at my account a few days later, I saw that neither miles nor 500-mile upgrades had been deducted. Even better, I earned miles on the DFW-BWI leg, including the 25% Gold bonus!
A lucky one-time occurrence or a strategy to finagle miles out of award tickets?
Welcome to FT!
Jan 8, 2012, 11:05 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
It's entirely possible they will discover the error of the gate agent's ways during an audit and revoke the miles you earned.
Don't be surprised if this happens, but feel free to be smug should it not.
Don't be surprised if this happens, but feel free to be smug should it not.
Jan 8, 2012, 11:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFWex-BOS
Programs: AA PLTPRO, 2MM, Bonvoy PLT, NYT Monday crossword puzzle solver extraordinaire
Posts: 1,456
Last March, I was booked DFW-ORD-CDG, in J, on a MilesAAver award. DFW-ORD went MX, meaning I would have missed my ORD-CDG connection. I went immediately to the AC, where the AAngel rebooked me on the afternoon nonstop to CDG (the flight I wanted all along, but could never book as a saver award).
A couple mornings later, in Paris, I looked at my AAdvantage account on my iphone, and saw I had earned miles for my flight. IIRC, AAngel had moved me from a U fare to D, award to paid J. Either she didn't notice my original fare inventory, or it was easier for her to simply stick me into a paid fare. I don't know which, and don't care. I was happy to see the extra ~9k RDMs in my account.
Oct 30, 2012, 7:57 pm
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin TX
Programs: AA PLT, ICH Plat
Posts: 1,965
Changed Award Booked in Y - Will I earn miles?
I know this has been covered but could not find the thread.
Milesaver Award tkt change due to Sandy cancellation.
My new ticket shows Y
I believe I may earn miles, but trying for EVIP is a NO-GO.
Is that correct?
Milesaver Award tkt change due to Sandy cancellation.
My new ticket shows Y
I believe I may earn miles, but trying for EVIP is a NO-GO.
Is that correct?
Oct 30, 2012, 8:05 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,948
If you try for an upgrade you will bring attention to the ticket and the agent will very likely see the underlying booking. You *might* earn miles - only time will tell.
Oct 30, 2012, 8:25 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Inasmuch as AAnytime awards book into Y, and AA can tell that this is not "real Y" I think it unlikely that you will get mileage credit.
FYI, a pretty much identical question appeared in the "Newbie" thread, where this likely belongs as well.
Cheers.
FYI, a pretty much identical question appeared in the "Newbie" thread, where this likely belongs as well.
Cheers.
Nov 6, 2012, 8:58 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 279
No, IME this is a common occurrence for an award flight to show as Y. The only time I had the privilege of earning miles on an award flight was when I missed the flight and the GA mistakenly issued a ticket for the next flight into regular inventory.
Nov 6, 2012, 9:15 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP 3MM
Posts: 1,773
Y fare code is a legitimate fare code for award travel (AAnytime). If there is no T availability following IRROPS, you get booked into the next available award code. Most likely it is a Y award fare code that doesn't earn miles but, as always, YMMV.