AA Challenges - Questions and General Discussion

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The only one I'd suggest for a regular QF traveller is AAdvantage.

See this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....he-great-points-transfer-aadvantage-6802.html

Since the genesis of that thread, CC earn no longer counts for life time status, but more classes earn points. Get status and minimum points guarantees kick in.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

I will read both threads, thanks.

But what I'm trying to get at is:

1/ For the same money as you would pay for a AA run to get you to WP (say $2k), would you also be able to reach AA EXP ?
2/ For a largely QF traveller there as far more advantages being WP than there is being EXP isn't there especially in terms of earn rates ?
3/ Some deep discounts Y fares only earn 0.25 or 0.125 when crediting to AA so hard to build up a decent points balance with AA as a largely QF flyer ?

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

1/ For the same money as you would pay for a AA run to get you to WP (say $2k), would you also be able to reach AA EXP ?
2/ For a largely QF traveller there as far more advantages being WP than there is being EXP isn't there especially in terms of earn rates ?
3/ Some deep discounts Y fares only earn 0.25 or 0.125 when crediting to AA so hard to build up a decent points balance with AA as a largely QF flyer ?

I have not kept up with Aadvantage changes but I believe you will need either 100 sectors or ~66,660 flown miles in premium airfares or full economy airfares to achieve Executive Platinum.

One of the reasons I never seriously considered AAdvantage is I want to be Qantas Platinum as most of my flying is Qantas in short haul economy in E, O, N classes and I am not prepared to spend extra to ensure I am on an earning class. I may get there with 100 sectors but that is a bit of stretch.

 

[Speedbird001]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Well, yeh.
Even if ASAs go completely I would jump up and down, make a fuss, and write to AJ, etc, but at the end of the day, that would only remove one of the three main points that keeps me flying with QF.
I tried starting afresh with SQ but they don't make it easy with discount economy fares earning 10% of miles (or none at all), and no absolutely no ability at all to earn on redemption flights.

Do you have suggestions for alternative programs ? Believe me I am all ears if you do. Would be happy to throw QF away if I find an alternative that works out an overall better deal for me.

I suspect - and I apologise upfront now because I don't know for sure - that whilst AA and SQ may have inferior earn rates in economy, not to mention the absence of cynical status bonuses that QF offers for flying QF, the burn rates are inferior with Qantas, certainly compared to AA. Vital to check apples with apples. Net net, credit card points tip the balance to QF...reluctantly.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

1. Certainly EXP is harder to earn than QF WP, this is more about the earn/burn ratio which AAdvantage dominaters (QF has little competition here in Oz when compares to that wich AAdvantage has in the USA).

2 & 3 Not necessarily - the trick is to get status - AA Gold at least - after which there is a minimum earn on QF flights. More below and in that challenge thread I linked up thread.

e.g. A MEL-SYD flight in O Class: Earnings for: No status - 55 miles, Gold: 625, Plat/EXP: 1000.

Yeh but the 'harder to earn' is important. We all know what the payoff is, but I have to weigh up whether or not its worth it to chase EXP.

Another factor is CC spend, I only really earn 150k QFF points a year, half of that from flights/hotels and and the other half from day-to-day CC spend. So half of my earning would automatically just disappear if I switch to AA. Well, it won't disappear, but there's no easy way I know of to earn on a CC in Aus which will directly credit to AA. Not to mention those CC sign on bonuses that I have been chasing of late and will likely to continuing to do. Those alone will add 100-150k QFF points a year if I can maintain my streak.

When you say the trick is to have status, wouldn't AA already recognise my QF SG status ?

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Thanks everyone for your contributions to this thread.

I'm partway through this other thread now http://www.australianfrequentflyer....he-great-points-transfer-aadvantage-6802.html
and thoroughly enjoying it. It's good stuff.

Just had a idea come into my head.

I'm planning a trip to the US next year and the reason for the trip was primarily to get QF WP however I may now have other ideas.

For the Platinum challenge is there a minimum amount of flights you actually have to take ?
If not - then surely I could credit the MEL-LAX-JFK return Y flights to AA (as long as its booked in an appropriate booking class) and the journey being 20,000+ miles should get me to AA Platinum as it would be 10,000miles even at the 50% booking classes ? ie. G,N,S,M,V,L.

And then still credit my AA status runs to QF so then I return back with both QF WP and AA Plat ?
Would that work ?

Also - is there a way to credit the points from a JASA/FASA to AA ? Perhaps book over the phone then before you fly call up QF and get them to put your AA number in there ?

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The 'cheap' JASA/FASA's book into U and P class on QF. Travel in these classes (as well as Z and X) on QF flight numbers does not earn anything with AAdvantage (although one might put yon AAdvantage Number into the booking to take advanatge of an AA status).

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

The 'cheap' JASA/FASA's book into U and P class on QF. Travel in these classes (as well as Z and X) on QF flight numbers does not earn anything with AAdvantage (although one might put yon AAdvantage Number into the booking to take advanatge of an AA status).

Thanks.
How about the other thing I mentioned ?
Can you do an AA challenge without even taking an AA flight ?

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

It seems that you must book AA flight numbers to credit flights for an AA challenge ? Is this still the case ?
Is it possible to book say MEL-PER using AA flight numbers ?
It seems that in Lindsay Wilson's 'great points transfer' thread he was able to:

1. Get QF flight numbers credited for his AA challenge, and
2. That he was getting the J EQP multiple (i.e., 1.5) for flights that he upgraded using his QFF points.

But that thread is from 2006, so are the above two points still the case today ?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You can execute the "challenge" without setting foot on an AA aircraft and without using an AA flight number.

See the "challenge" thread I linked to in post #5 it has been kept updated as parameters have changed time since originally written.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You can execute the "challenge" without setting foot on an AA aircraft and without using an AA flight number.

See the "challenge" thread I linked to in post #5 it has been kept updated as parameters have changed time since originally written.

Thanks serfty,
I had another look at that challenge thread.

Another couple of questions please:
1/ I notice now that CC spend does not count towards status. I know this is probably a long shot, but do bought miles count towards status ? If so how are they calculated ? 1 mile = 1 point ?
2/ Do the points that I attain as part of a challenge count towards a higher status level in the same qualifying year ? As in, if I go for the platinum challenge and manage to get say 20,000 points, do I then need 80,000 more to reach EXP ?

Thanks, appreciate the help

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Is it possible to credit JASA/FASA flights to AA ?
If it is, you could probably hit EXP about as fast as WP by flying a few international flights in J, once you have AA Plat.

 

[JohnK]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Is it possible to credit JASA/FASA flights to AA ?
If it is, you could probably hit EXP about as fast as WP by flying a few international flights in J, once you have AA Plat.

You would still need ~66,660 flown miles.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

You would still need ~66,660 flown miles.

AA Plats get 100% bonus so its more like 40,000 miles ?
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Another question for those in the know.

Say I start the AA Plat Challenge and I amass say 20,000 eqp in the 3 month period.
Does that mean that I now need an additional 80,000 eqp to hit EXP or do I have to start from 0 again because the 20k was for the Plat Challenge ?

Thanks.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Just as an example.
If I'm flying on MH MEL-CDG via KUL in J and I already have AA Plat.
That comes to 20,820 miles.
Great Circle Mapper

Because I'm flying in J I get 1.5 EQP per mile flown so that's 31,230 EQPs.
Due to my AA Plat I get 100% bonus of the base miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com
So that's 31,230+20,820 = 52,050 EQPs.

And then as I am flying in J do I get an additional 25% cabin bonus as per here ?
American Airlines oneworld partner

If so that will add another 5,205 giving a total of 57,255 EQPs ?

Is that correct ?

Also my understanding is that the cheapest J fares on MH book into Z class which is the class that some people here have complained about not getting credited properly to QF ?
Do AA also have this problem of not automatically crediting MH flights ?
I may have to keep the boarding pass etc just in case.

 

[anat0l]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Just as an example.
If I'm flying on MH MEL-CDG via KUL in J and I already have AA Plat.
That comes to 20,820 miles.
Great Circle Mapper

Because I'm flying in J I get 1.5 EQP per mile flown so that's 31,230 EQPs.
Due to my AA Plat I get 100% bonus of the base miles.
American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status Bonus | aa.com
So that's 31,230+20,820 = 52,050 EQPs.

And then as I am flying in J do I get an additional 25% cabin bonus as per here ?
American Airlines oneworld partner

If so that will add another 5,205 giving a total of 57,255 EQPs ?

Is that correct ?

Also my understanding is that the cheapest J fares on MH book into Z class which is the class that some people here have complained about not getting credited properly to QF ?
Do AA also have this problem of not automatically crediting MH flights ?
I may have to keep the boarding pass etc just in case.

Can someone double check this, because my impression is that the elite status bonus miles (e.g. 25% for GLD, 100% for PLT/EXP) doesn't count towards your EQPs?

As for your calculation, the way that I read it, it goes:

• 20820 miles is the GCM distance, then
• Miles earned as a PLT (i.e. redeemable miles) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) + 20,820 * 25% (class of service bonus miles) + 20,820 * 100% (elite status bonus miles for PLT flying MH) = 46,845 miles
• Elite Qualifying Miles (for status purposes) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) = 20,820 EQMs
• Elite Qualifying Points (for status purposes) is 20,820 (EQMs) * 1.50 (elite qualifying points for MH in J) = 31,230 EQPs
• Elite Qualifying Segments is 1 EQS.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Can someone double check this, because my impression is that the elite status bonus miles (e.g. 25% for GLD, 100% for PLT/EXP) doesn't count towards your EQPs?

As for your calculation, the way that I read it, it goes:

• 20820 miles is the GCM distance, then
• Miles earned as a PLT (i.e. redeemable miles) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) + 20,820 * 25% (class of service bonus miles) + 20,820 * 100% (elite status bonus miles for PLT flying MH) = 46,845 miles
• Elite Qualifying Miles (for status purposes) is 20,820 * 100% (base miles for MH in J) = 20,820 EQMs
• Elite Qualifying Points (for status purposes) is 20,820 (EQMs) * 1.50 (elite qualifying points for MH in J) = 31,230 EQPs
• Elite Qualifying Segments is 1 EQS.

Looking at it again, you are correct in that the 25% cabin bonus only applies towards miles accrued and not EXPs.
Not sure about the elite bonus status miles (100% for PLT) - we'll wait for others' responses.

Why is Elite Qualifying Segments just 1 ?
I would have thought 6 ?
Looks like its pretty hard to qual/requal based on EQSs rather than EQMs or EQPs ?

 

[anat0l]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Looking at it again, you are correct in that the 25% cabin bonus only applies towards miles accrued and not EXPs.
Not sure about the elite bonus status miles (100% for PLT) - we'll wait for others' responses.

Why is Elite Qualifying Segments just 1 ?
I would have thought 6 ?
Looks like its pretty hard to qual/requal based on EQSs rather than EQMs or EQPs ?

Whoops I read the GCM mileage you gave as the one-way mileage. Silly me.

In that case, EQS count will be 4 (two flights required in each direction). AFAIK EQS count is not subject to any bonuses - it is simply one per eligible sector flown.

EQS is more for those that fly plenty of cheap Y fares which earn less than unity for EQM or EQP. For example, someone who flies weekly SYD/MEL discount Y (on an eligible AAdvantage earning class) return in Australia on QF could be a AA EXP. On QFF, they would only be a Gold.

 

[Nizar]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Whoops I read the GCM mileage you gave as the one-way mileage. Silly me.

In that case, EQS count will be 4 (two flights required in each direction). AFAIK EQS count is not subject to any bonuses - it is simply one per eligible sector flown.

EQS is more for those that fly plenty of cheap Y fares which earn less than unity for EQM or EQP. For example, someone who flies weekly SYD/MEL discount Y (on an eligible AAdvantage earning class) return in Australia on QF could be a AA EXP. On QFF, they would only be a Gold.

Cheers yeh 4 is what I was supposed to have said !

Do you know if JASAs/FASAs can be credited to AA ?
I would just book it as per normal on the hotline then before taking the first flight I can input my AA number on my file either from Manage My Booking or by calling QF ?

 

[anat0l]

Re: [Confirmed] QF removing [cheap] ASAs [from web booking engine Jun 26] was 10Apri

Do you know if JASAs/FASAs can be credited to AA ?
I would just book it as per normal on the hotline then before taking the first flight I can input my AA number on my file either from Manage My Booking or by calling QF ?

I'm sure this question has been asked and answered before (in another thread, perhaps). I have no experience, but it would depend on the booking class of the ASA.

The Classic priced JASA, for example, books into the Classic Award bucket, U. This is a non-earning class on AAdvantage. On the other hand, there are obviously the much more expensive JASAs; I believe these book into revenue classes (someone correct me here if not), so they would likely earn if credited to AA.

The seasoned here can advise how to modify your elite number on your booking to AA.