The American Airlines devAAluation is coming. For awards booked March 22, 2016 or later, you will need a lot more miles. This affects all awards from First Class all the way down to off peak economy.

If you book an award by March 21, though, your award is locked in, and will not be affected by the devAAluation. On March 21, you can book through February 16, 2017.

What are great awards you can book at the last minute to take travel in February 2017?

Australia
Argentina
Southeast Asia
Japan

The first two are in the middle of summer.

According to Airline Route, British Airways has begun operating its 787-9 Dreamliner on three routes from London-Heathrow:

Delhi
Abu Dhabi/Muscat
Kuala Lumpur

In 2016, it adds a ton of 787-9 destinations including several in the United States:

Austin from February 1
Newark from April 2
Philadelphia from April 9
San Jose from May 4
Houston from August 1
Boston from October 1

The British Airways 787-9 Dreamliner is exciting both because it is a brand new plane and because British Airways features First Class on the plane, which the British Airways 787-8 doesn't have.

These flights have fuel surcharges, but

American Airlines is releasing up to six Business Class award seats between Los Angeles and Sydney in its best Business Class beds. The westbound award space is within one week of departure. The eastbound space is within one month of departure.

This award space is easy to connect to from anywhere in the United States, and you can connect elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand on Qantas. These connecting flights do not add to the Business Class mileage price of 62,500 American Airlines miles each way.

In November, American Airlines announced a massive devAAluation of its award chart for awards booked on or after March 22, 2016,  negative changes to status, and revenue-based award mile-earning on paid flights.

Let's take a close look at the changes coming to off peak awards.
What are Off Peak Awards?
American Airlines offers discounted economy Saver awards to many regions of the world during seasons of low demand.

American Airlines does not offer discounted awards in premium cabins or discounts on "AAnytime" (non-capacity controlled) awards.
What Changes Are Coming?
Here is a chart of the changes.

In November, American Airlines announced a massive devAAluation of its award chart for awards booked on or after March 22, 2016,  negative changes to status, and revenue-based award mile-earning on paid flights.

Let's take a close look at the changes coming to off peak awards.
What are Off Peak Awards?
American Airlines offers discounted economy Saver awards to many regions of the world during seasons of low demand.

American Airlines does not offer discounted awards in premium cabins or discounts on "AAnytime" (non-capacity controlled) awards.
What Changes Are Coming?
Here is a chart of the changes.

American Airlines has increased the bonus on the purchase of AAdvantage miles through January 4, 2016. You can now buy up to 150,000 American Airlines miles and get up to 115,000 bonus miles, for a total of 265,000 miles, for 1.81 cents each.

The bonus miles are tiered, based on how many miles you purchase. There is a new bonus of 115,000 miles for buying 150,000.

American Airlines miles cost 2.95 cents each plus a 7.5% excise tax, and every purchase has a $30 processing fee.

If you are a registered member of the AAdvantage program, you might be able to earn 7,500 bonus American Airlines miles for test driving a Cadillac before December 31, 2015. Check your email to see if you received the following promotional offer that this FlyerTalker did:
Hello xxx,
AAdvantage Number: *******Cadillac shares your passion for travel.

Until December 31, 2015, you can book American Airlines flights to Europe, Brazil, Argentina, or Chile for 16,000 ThankYou Points or Japan for 20,000 ThankYou Points each way with no fuel surcharges.

Etihad Guest's generous chart for American Airlines flights plus the current transfer bonus from ThankYou Points to Etihad miles combine for an unbeatable offer.

The Citi

Retention bonuses are not automatically offered by the Citi AAdvantage cards, but are still possible to get if you call and speak with a Citi representative. All it takes is a little of knowledge of what they want (or don't want) to hear.

First Class on the Etihad A380 is one of the nicest suites in the world, and I am looking forward to flying it next month.