A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[casanovawa]

I've had an AAdvantage membership for years, but after signing up never used it... But have seen a few things mentioned on this site so might do more with it now...

1) I see on the AA redemtion chart that flights betwen the US and South Pacific are 37500 in economy and 62,500 in business one way... i am thinking i might take up the business class offer next year, do people know what sort of taxes and charges i would be looking at attached to the 125,000 points return in business?? Another option i though of was to fly to the US (buy ticket to Europe) and business award return via Europe, so not sure how taxes would go in that scenario..

2) also tax/charge related, my sister lives in the US and wants to come back at the end of the year if she can afford to... flying economy it would be 75,000 return from norfolk, virginia... now with the current bonus offer i could get 55,000 for $1000 and she would only need another 20,000 (16,000 plus bonus 4,000) =$400... anyone know what sort of taxes/charges i would be lookign at to redeem that trip?

3) I have read a couple of posts alluding to some american credit cards being pretty generous in awarding ff points on sign up, does anyone know any good US offers at present or is there a place on another site similar to AFF that registers such offers i could let her know about?

Thanks

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

hmmm, i may have made a start to answering question 3, does this offer of spending $1000 within 4 months and getting 40,000 AA points earn an equivalent one way flight to Australia from the US?

https://creditcards.citi.com/credit-cards/citi-platinum-select-aadvantage-visa-signature-card/

 

[JohnK]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Can't help you much with your questions but do take note that taxes and surcharges on AAdvantage award tickets are very minimal. Most times they are not very significant to even worry about.

 

[simongr]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

The tax to watch out for is the ex-UK APD in Biz that is running at over $200...

 

[NM]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Can't help you much with your questions but do take note that taxes and surcharges on AAdvantage award tickets are very minimal. Most times they are not very significant to even worry about.

This is primarily due to AA generally not charging fuel surcharges on award tickets. However, be aware that AA now does include fuel surcharges on award flights operated by BA. Of course neither BA fligts nor the UK APD are likley to come into play for the OP's questions.

 

[NM]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

1) I see on the AA redemtion chart that flights betwen the US and South Pacific are 37500 in economy and 62,500 in business one way... i am thinking i might take up the business class offer next year, do people know what sort of taxes and charges i would be looking at attached to the 125,000 points return in business?? Another option i though of was to fly to the US (buy ticket to Europe) and business award return via Europe, so not sure how taxes would go in that scenario..

Its going to be in the order of a few hundred dollars. Its going to include the Australian departure tax plus airport charges along the way. Note you will also likely have an award redemption fee which varies depending on which AA office you call. Calling the USA incurs a lower redeption fee than calling their Australian office.

2) also tax/charge related, my sister lives in the US and wants to come back at the end of the year if she can afford to... flying economy it would be 75,000 return from norfolk, virginia... now with the current bonus offer i could get 55,000 for $1000 and she would only need another 20,000 (16,000 plus bonus 4,000) =$400... anyone know what sort of taxes/charges i would be lookign at to redeem that trip?

Taxes and charges will be similar to the previous question - in the order of a few hundred dollars.

3) I have read a couple of posts alluding to some american credit cards being pretty generous in awarding ff points on sign up, does anyone know any good US offers at present or is there a place on another site similar to AFF that registers such offers i could let her know about?

To qualify for US-based credit cards you must have a US Social Security number and a suitable US-based credit reference. You may also require US residency status and mailing address.

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hmmm, she has been working over there now for two-three years, not a green card, but another category for skilled professionals... So I assume she would have some of this stuff if not most, she just married a US guy several months ago so maybe he could take it out if she couldn't, and if they both can sounds like she has the trip in the bag....

 

[drron]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Just to give you an idea of taxes.last month I booked one way F awards for myself and mrsdrron JFK-NRT.Taxes etc were $US6.60 per ticket.Though if you have to pay via the BNE call centre you have to add a $A60 fee to do that.
Were 62500 points each.

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

sounds good re taxes....

so if flying either QF or BA back from Europe they would add fuel surcharges etc on the award, but maybe not if you flew Japan Airlines or CX???

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I see casanovawa's latest question hasn't been answered and I have some AAdvantage newcomer questions of my own so hopefully someone can help us both.

I've joined AAdvantage but I'm having trouble getting my head around the dynamics of it. At this stage, I'm crediting only (some) domestic QF flights to AAdvantage.

Can someone point me to some basic, base level information on the program?

Does AA have a points earning calculator like QF?

If I fly, say, PER-MEL (1681 miles) in a flexi saver or fully flexible QF Economy ticket, what's the AA points earning?

Would it be fair to say that, particularly as a QF WP, flights booked as red e-deals and super saver fares are better credited to QF?

How do Elite Qualifying Miles and Elite Qualifying Points differ?

Is any one-way flight on the domestic QF network 12,500 AAdvantage points?

And is status with AA earned points or miles or segements (not a combination)?

 

[futaris]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/AAdvantage_Program_Basics_(AA)

Anywhere between Australia and Australia/New Zealand, is 10k in economy.

Earning on QANTAS flights, depends on the fare basis. See here. For example, an O class Red-E-Deal BNE-SYD will earn 1,000 AA miles, as a AAdvantage Platinum or EXP. A QFF WP will only earn 1,000 QFF points. Of course, depending on the route, fare basis and class, YMMV.

Status is earnt by segments, elite qualifying miles or elite qualifying points.

 

[dfcatch]

Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

A question from me...

Can you redeem QF Premium Economy awards with AAdvantage points???

I suspect the answer is no....but just wondering

 

[futaris]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No. You can redeem for Premium Economy on QANTAS, only from QANTAS Frequent Flyer, British Airways Executive Club and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. I don't think any other Oneworld program(s) allow you to redeem for Premium Economy.

 

[dfcatch]

Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No. You can redeem for Premium Economy on QANTAS, only from QANTAS Frequent Flyer, British Airways Executive Club and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. I don't think any other Oneworld program(s) allow you to redeem for Premium Economy.

Cheers Futaris.

Sorry for hijacking the thread guys

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I'm thinking of taking my child over to Sydney just for a day and pondering asking Qantas what the child fare over and back would be in late May... Another thought occurred to me though, if i was to buy AAvantage miles (10,000 for an economy award flight completely within Australia for $250) would it be possible to fly Perth to Sydney and then return within 24 hours so that it was only a transit and counted as just the one flight?

I know AA in the US might say for domestic flights anything over 4 hours is considered a stop over but i am not aware (and can't find anything on the Qantas site) that Qantas has any such stipulation for domestic fllights?

 

[futaris]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No. You can't fly nowhere, e.g. PER-SYD-PER in a day.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I'd appreciate some assistance with deciphering my AAdvantage account.



Is it correct that the difference between the 22,992 qualifying points and 18395 qualifying miles is a result of some of my economy fares being booked into the top earners (ie. B and Y on QF)?

Do the qualifying points only count towards tier status, rather than being something you can purchase awards with?

What are these 500 mile ugprade thingies and how do I get some?

How is it my miles with expiration are 19,395 but my qualifying miles are 18395?

I understand that 20k will get me a return economy award anywhere within Australia and New Zealand. Does this mean it has to be on a single flight (each way) or can I, for example, fly PER-xBNE-AKL and AKL-xMEL-PER for the 20k?

 

[futaris]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is it correct that the difference between the 22,992 qualifying points and 18395 qualifying miles is a result of some of my economy fares being booked into the top earners (ie. B and Y on QF)?

Yes. B and Y will earn 1.5x the qualify points.

Do the qualifying points only count towards tier status, rather than being something you can purchase awards with?

Only for tier status.

What are these 500 mile ugprade thingies and how do I get some?

500 Mile Upgrades

AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold members earn four 500-mile upgrades for every 10,000 qualifying miles flown.

500-mile upgrades can be purchased online at AA.com and during check-in at the Self-Service Check-In machines at the airport*.

Note that these are only useful on AA flights.

How is it my miles with expiration are 19,395 but my qualifying miles are 18395?

You had 1,000 miles last year (or earlier).

I understand that 20k will get me a return economy award anywhere within Australia and New Zealand. Does this mean it has to be on a single flight (each way) or can I, for example, fly PER-xBNE-AKL and AKL-xMEL-PER for the 20k?

You can fly as many segments as you want. I redeemed BNE-MEL-AKL-ZQN once...

 

[serfty]

I'd appreciate some assistance with deciphering my AAdvantage account.

View attachment 2996

[1] Is it correct that the difference between the 22,992 qualifying points and 18395 qualifying miles is a result of some of my economy fares being booked into the top earners (ie. B and Y on QF)?

[2] Do the qualifying points only count towards tier status, rather than being something you can purchase awards with?

[3] What are these 500 mile ugprade thingies and how do I get some?

[4] How is it my miles with expiration are 19,395 but my qualifying miles are 18395?

[5] I understand that 20k will get me a return economy award anywhere within Australia and New Zealand. Does this mean it has to be on a single flight (each way) or can I, for example, fly PER-xBNE-AKL and AKL-xMEL-PER for the 20k?

1. Almost certainly
2. Yes, 25K gives you AA Gold status, QMiles accumulate for a calendar year then reset
3. You can buy them but without status can only upgrade from high cost fares (Y, B ...) Earn status and you get 4 of them every 10K Qmiles - also from AA Gold status you can upgrade from most fares
4. You must have earned 1K miles somehow before January.
5. It's more accurate to state 10K can be used for a one-way economy journey with two of these for a return journey (17½K one-way in Business); can be up to 16 segments but I doubt you'll get than many.

More on status here: Qualification Requirements

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Many thanks, futaris and serfty. Very much appreciated. I'm particularly excited about the 500 mile upgrades (as I'm not far from Gold) and the super nice burn rate.



The rogue 1k miles I think may have something to do with a bonus for signing up to online statements or something.