It is not working for us. We booked our 11/24 tickets on 1/21/17. If we change our flights and leave by 1/21/18 we avoid any transfer fee but there are personal complications that get involved so we can't go until later in the year. We have to pay a fee to bank the miles. Punished for booking early.
Need to edit this since I just got a call from AA that suggests I not cancel until I know when I want to go and rebook with no penalty but do this before we are scheduled to leave. Happy with that