What about new routes that are just added (like the ORD to ATH) Will that get loaded whenever or does AA have a policy/SOP to how they do it...any thoughts?

Only people who work in the right department at AA might know if they have a policy/SOP, and they won't talk.

AA looks at each new route differently, there's no "simple" rule applied. And it looks at things differently this year than a year or two ago. So with history not necessarily being relevant, and time travel not being possible, how are we supposed know future availability on a new route, other than by waiting and either constantly checking or using a paid service (such as ExpertFlyer or the paid version of AwardNexus) to notify us of availability?

The "good" news with AA metal: You know, as a "backup", that AAnytime awards will be available as long as there are seats for sale in that cabin - -except for the Premium Economy cabin, for which there are no awards yet.

And, btw, that's an even bigger unknown: Once AA makes awards for their Premier Economy cabin possible (on panes that are already in the schedule now), when will that award availability be released? Certainly no history at all on that! :eek:

So, having doing this fun "game" right now, I can confirm that AA (their metal) flights are still released at midnight CST, 331 days prior to your desired flight date. However, I can confirm that for the 2 weeks surrounding my date, what they release at 331 days is AAnytime rewards (double + price) and then 2 days later, they release the MileSAAver rewards.

So unless you have so many miles you feel like donating them to poor old Doug Parker, my experience says 329 days

Thanks for this info. To make sure I have it right, wouldn't that be 331 for AAnytime and then 329 for MileSAAver? (This is helpful as I will soon enter this zone for 2020 travel needs).

Whoops, yes that is correct (hadn't had my coffee yet!)!

For example, I can see AAnytime for Feb 12 and 13, 2020 right now and Feb 11, 2020 MileSAAver just appeared at midnight (CST) today, while yesterday it was all AAnytime....and every day has been doing that for about 2 weeks. I guess they throw the red-shirt award out there for two days to see if there are any desperate takers before letting the rest of us give it a go at normal prices.

Nevermind, just got hit by another joyous invention called married segments discussed in another thread.

When AA loads Biz class awards?
 

It seems like this discussion and details refer to when ECONOMY Awards are loaded. (Anytime @331 days and Mile saver @ 329 days). Does anyone have any details on when BUSINESS CLASS AWARDS (Anytime and MileSaver) are loaded?

Thanks

That's not when Saver awards are loaded, that's the earliest when they may be loaded. On any particular route, awards may be loaded that for out, or just a day or two out, or anywhere in between, or never.

I'm not sure if it's exactly the same thing as married segments (divorced segments?), but I had the same issue.

AA was selling nonstop flights for A -> B and B -> C, but wouldn't sell A -> C on an award.

I did see the same thing as up thread where at 331 days out AAnytime availability opened up, and then a couple days later the SAAver opened up.

But partner flights (aka JAL) open up for booking at midnight central?

It should perhaps be noted that AA is occasionally willing to sell tickets for money on a flight but does not offer AAnytime awards on that same flight... I'm told this is related to overselling the coach cabin when room is available in the front.

See for example:
Coach tix for sale but no AAnytime award

Take care,
saunders111