AA pays out lots of money for LY award flights but LY doesn't pay out a dime for AA award flights.
What's your surprise?
Either way no way to know who cut if off.
Yea, but they get the mileage liability off their book, and they pay very low rates.
Besides, most non OW partners aren't redeeming on AA flights cuz their FF programs are very small. Not just LY.
I don't think that's the reason.