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Starting tomorrow, March 22 (I don’t have any information on the exact minute), American Airlines’ award prices, off peak dates, and definitions of regions change.
Today you can book travel through February 15, 2017 to take advantage of the current award chart, which is much cheaper to most regions in Business and First Class. Or book tomorrow to take advantage of a few price decreases and more favorable regional definitions to a few places.
Here are the posts you need to read right now if you have American Airlines miles:
- Massive DevAAluation of American Airlines Chart March 22, 2016 (Comparison of today’s and tomorrow’s charts)
- Changes to American Airlines Off Peak Awards Coming March 22, 2016 (Comparison of today’s and tomorrow’s off peak date ranges and off peak award prices)
- These Five Countries are Changing Regions on American Airlines Chart March 22
- How to Lock in Pre-Devaluation American Airlines Prices for Awards Booked in 2017
- Should You Make Speculative American Airlines Bookings Today to Beat the Devaluation?
Bye-bye amazing award charts! 🙁
When I was booking an award earlier this morning the booking agent told me tonight at midnight is the cutoff. I can’t verify that anyway but that is what she mentioned to me. Just as a heads up for everyone.
Midnight ET? Their headquarters is in CT, so maybe midnight CT. Or maybe midnight in the departure city. That’s what I just don’t know.
I assume central time as they are based out of Dallas but not sure. It didn’t seem as if they were hiding anything. I’m pretty sure they would tell anyone who was willing to call and ask.
Could one theoretically make a booking in let’s say business class, and then just keep changing the date/deferring it to later and later (as long as there’s availability) until you reach Summer 2017 since it’s free to change the dates as long as the origin/destination are the same? Cause I know we can’t book for summer 2017 now, but could that work? Or do they limit the number of times you can change the date?
No, travel has to happen within 12 months of making the booking, so nothing past March 21, 2017.
The search results did indeed change to new prices around 12 CT, I can confirm that. Their pages are still showing old charts though.
Data Point:
Last week I booked two first class flights on Etihad from Sydney to Abu Dhabi for January 2017 on Etihad’s 777 for 60,000 points/flight. The idea was to change the flights to an A380 when award space was released. I found award space today on an A380 from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi, so I called AA Australia to inquire about changing the flights. I was informed that changing the airport would result in a price increase to 100,000 miles/flight. The rep did tell me that if I change the date, but not the airport, the price wouldn’t change.
Change it to SYD-MEL-AUH and it shouldn’t reprice. Let us know the results.
[…] midnight Central Time, the American Airlines devaluation […]
Scott: Would you please detail again how to access Cathay Pacific specific flight award availability from the BA site? Thanks.
Search the route that interests you like on any award search engine. https://milevalu.wpengine.com/how-to-search-ba-com-to-book-british-airways-and-american-airlines-awards-like-a-pro/
Got it, Scott…
Thanks again for all your hard work.
Tomm