Whoot! Sharing to celebrate by great find with last minute tickets on points:
I'm flying to Madrid Monday for a two-week trip. I booked American Airlines tickets in Premium Economy at a good price a number of months ago. This close to travel sometimes the airlines discount the points price of seats (while hiking the cash prices), and I just scored the tickets round trip in Business class for 68,000 points and $250—a great deal! (Iberia Avios, which I trasfered over from Chase).
The money I spent on the original ticket isn't refundable but is issued as a credit, which I'll have no problem using. Especially as come March I'll be working to requalify for my AA status. (Yes, timing up some funds could be considered a cost of this play.)