A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Danger]

There are some glitches. It's randomly possible to have flights credit to 2 programs when changing FF numbers. Before anyone gets upset, this is for flights that are ineligible in one of the programs - so no double earning.
I find it useful to use finnair MMB to change the FF number. I also track using My Flights which will often show 2/both FF numbers against a booking. that's a prompt to call or ask an agent to remove whichever number.

How do I login to the AY website with a Sabre booking reference? I thought you could only login with an Amadeus PNR.

 

[Danger]

I'm furious.

I originally had my AAdvantage number against a reservation but now the program has been butchered I'm giving it the flick. When I checked in for the first three flights on my itinerary I asked the agent (a Menzies Aviation contractor) to remove my AA number and put in my QF number. She produced boarding passes with the QF number but all the flights have credited to AA. From past experience I know how difficult it's going to be to get it fixed.

I don't understand how this happens.

It's happened again!

I specifically told the AA agent to delete the AA number and insert only the QF number. By the time I'd landed (full credit to AA on that point, at least) the flight had posted to AA. When I spoke with an agent at the Admirals Club he told me that my AA number was in the reservation twice and my QF number seven times.

I hope to come by this incompetent agent when I pass back through this airport in a few days and give her a piece of my mind.

 

[wandering_fred]

It's happened again!

I specifically told the AA agent to delete the AA number and insert only the QF number. By the time I'd landed (full credit to AA on that point, at least) the flight had posted to AA. When I spoke with an agent at the Admirals Club he told me that my AA number was in the reservation twice and my QF number seven times.
I hope to come by this incompetent agent when I pass back through this airport in a few days and give her a piece of my mind.

Part of the issue may be that each segment (as well as a global entry for the ticket) can have a frequent flyer account assigned. If you wish to have different programs for a selection of segments, the global entry should be removed and individual segment entries inserted...

And the best plan is? Make certain your TA understands the assignment strategy when you purchase the ticket...

And the next improbable task while wandering


Fred

 

[moa999]

I hope to come by this incompetent agent when I pass back through this airport in a few days and give her a piece of my mind.

Tis a risk you take when you try and optimise your use of the FF system.
If you keep it simple things tend to work.

As for the agent, I suspect they were never trained on the intricacies of the multiple FF fields, and have just done there best to help

 

[Danger]

Part of the issue may be that each segment (as well as a global entry for the ticket) can have a frequent flyer account assigned. If you wish to have different programs for a selection of segments, the global entry should be removed and individual segment entries inserted...

And the best plan is? Make certain your TA understands the assignment strategy when you purchase the ticket...

And the next improbable task while wandering


Fred

In three and a half years of making circa 90 bookings with my QF number and then changing to my AA number after check-in, I found only one QF agent who knew about the multiple fields and how to do it properly.

Tis a risk you take when you try and optimise your use of the FF system.
If you keep it simple things tend to work.

As for the agent, I suspect they were never trained on the intricacies of the multiple FF fields, and have just done there best to help

I respectfully disagree.

I don't think it should be a risk.

The booking was made with my AA number but once AAdvantage was butchered I made an instant decision to give them the flick.

As for the agent, I explicitly said the AA number needs to be deleted, not just the QF number added. It seems she didn't manage that.

 

[medhead]

Does AA sell awards on CX flights? The website suggests the partnering AAdvantage award airlines are:

airberlin, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Finnair, Qantas, and Royal Jordanian Airlines
So no CX.

 

[drron]

Those are the airlines you can book online.The others,CX,JL etc you have to ring.
With CX check on QFF if awards are available.

 

[netgrom]

Does AA sell awards on CX flights? The website suggests the partnering AAdvantage award airlines are:

airberlin, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Finnair, Qantas, and Royal Jordanian Airlines
So no CX.

Yes, as they are both OW they are partners. Much like QF and BA, they are both OW but that doesn't mean they are friends or direct partners anymore

 

[Finale]

I would like to book JAL F from LHR - HND - NRT - SYD. Since LHR - HND is released earlier (and gone fast), is it possible to call and hold LHR - HND and then wait a day then add NRT - SYD sector? Not sure if AA will drop the first sector before booking a new itinerary and it mightn't go back into inventory. And will this be 1 award? Thanks!

Just wanted to confirm that there is no issue with this. I put BCN-LHR-HND on hold yesterday then today I added NRT-SYD as soon as the flight showed up on BA at 10am Japan time. Ticketed after a couple of hours. 115,000 miles + 147.50 tax or around $2800 - $2900 AUD. Still good value. The agent added a phone booking fee or something and quoted $187.5 pp first. I told her it shouldn't be that high and it dropped to $147.5.

Decided on JL as we werent impressed with QF F service last trip and it is much easier to get JL flights.

 

[Digger11]

Just wanted to confirm that there is no issue with this. I put BCN-LHR-HND on hold yesterday then today I added NRT-SYD as soon as the flight showed up on BA at 10am Japan time. Ticketed after a couple of hours. 115,000 miles + 147.50 tax or around $2800 - $2900 AUD. Still good value. The agent added a phone booking fee or something and quoted $187.5 pp first. I told her it shouldn't be that high and it dropped to $147.5.

Decided on JL as we werent impressed with QF F service last trip and it is much easier to get JL flights.

Hi, I'm no expert so excuse my dumb question, but does that mean you are swapping Airports in Japan (HND to NRT) ?

Why woulD you want to do that ?

Is the whole trip with JL ?

cheers

Digger

 

[Finale]

Hi, I'm no expert so excuse my dumb question, but does that mean you are swapping Airports in Japan (HND to NRT) ?

Why woulD you want to do that ?

Is the whole trip with JL ?

cheers

Digger

Yes we have to grab the luggage at HND and go to NRT. BCN - LHR is BA business. The rest is JL F.

I have no choice basically. My partner wants to fly F only.

- We don't want to fly QF based on last experience. QF is difficult to get anyway.

- BA is another option but tax is too expensive and BA F product doesn't look that great.

- Qatar was our second choice with a direct flight from BCN to DOH in business then F to Sydney but that was difficult to get as well especially BCN-DOH morning flight. JL F seems better value with 2 F sectors.

- For Star Alliance, we burnt SQ miles for F on the way there so there isn't enough to come back. I have plenty of United and Lifemiles miles but only F option is THAI.
And THAI hasn't released many seats next year to/from Europe. Pretty much just Munich. THAI isn't that reliable also and to avoid 10+ hour connection, we have to
do a morning flight to SYD which only runs 3 times a week with old F seat.

- Ideal flight would be Emirates but no points to use.

- Good availability on JL flights (including from CDG).

- Lastly, I love Salon on JL!

Not sure if I missed any other available options.

 

[Digger11]

thanks, great reply.

Quite similar to some of my past and future trips.
I mix United and AAdvantage schemes depending on where and when i am going.

Flew Thai over to Europe and Qatar back on points last time, and both very very good, only business as Qatar was First but they changed the plane to a 2 cabin one.
Thai had lots of availability for when I flew in April this year, hope it hasn't changed.

Have also used Air New Zealand to L.A. United to L.A. and Qantas to London, and were all fine, I am not choosy (as long as I am not in Y).
Even went Philippines J to Manila, and that was fine.

Looking at MEL to BCN next year to get on a transatlantic cruise , but it is stili > 330 days out so can't book anything yet.
There seems to be occasional availability for Qantas First, Qantas First ,B.A. Business going MEL -DXB - LHR - BCL.
Might look at the via Japan route, but I think my wife will make us stopover there as she loves the place (could be because she was born there !). This would cost me a lot of points to stopover I guess.


cheers

 

[Finale]

I put BCN-LHR-HND on hold yesterday then today I added NRT-SYD as soon as the flight showed up on BA at 10am Japan time. Ticketed after a couple of hours. 115,000 miles + 147.50 tax or around $2800 - $2900 AUD.

I just checked checkmytrip.com and it is only showing BCN-LHR-HND. BA MMB is showing the same. Using JL PNR on JL site, NRT-SYD is showing fine and got seats assigned. Rang AA and they confirmed everything was good. Rang JL and they confirmed everything was good as well. Should I be worried about checkmytrip not showing NRT-SYD sector? Not sure if this is normal. Thanks.

 

[junbugging]

Should I be worried about checkmytrip not showing NRT-SYD sector? Not sure if this is normal. Thanks.

That'll be fine. It's because of JAL not using the same flavour of Amadeus yet. The first JAL flight shows because you're connecting from BA.

Same happens for me with ADL-SYD-NRT/HND-LHR despite me having booked it all at once. First flight shows because I'm connecting from QF, second flight doesn't.

 

[serfty]

I have avoid booking/service fees for AA awards in the past by:

1. Putting the first flights on hold.
2. Waiting until the next day when a connecting award became available.
3. Calling up and having it added to the booking - finishing the call and leaving on hold.
4. Going back online and completing the booking.

 

[Guvner]

thanks, great reply.

Quite similar to some of my past and future trips.
I mix United and AAdvantage schemes depending on where and when i am going.

Flew Thai over to Europe and Qatar back on points last time, and both very very good, only business as Qatar was First but they changed the plane to a 2 cabin one.
Thai had lots of availability for when I flew in April this year, hope it hasn't changed.

Have also used Air New Zealand to L.A. United to L.A. and Qantas to London, and were all fine, I am not choosy (as long as I am not in Y).
Even went Philippines J to Manila, and that was fine.

Looking at MEL to BCN next year to get on a transatlantic cruise , but it is stili > 330 days out so can't book anything yet.
There seems to be occasional availability for Qantas First, Qantas First ,B.A. Business going MEL -DXB - LHR - BCL.
Might look at the via Japan route, but I think my wife will make us stopover there as she loves the place (could be because she was born there !). This would cost me a lot of points to stopover I guess.


cheers

I did MEL>SIN>LHR>BIO this time last year on QF/BA. Booked 4 award seats via AA. Stopover 1 night in SIN. Plenty of availability back then.

 

[serfty]

I just checked checkmytrip.com and it is only showing BCN-LHR-HND. BA MMB is showing the same. Using JL PNR on JL site, NRT-SYD is showing fine and got seats assigned. Rang AA and they confirmed everything was good. Rang JL and they confirmed everything was good as well. Should I be worried about checkmytrip not showing NRT-SYD sector? Not sure if this is normal. Thanks.

As your booking is ticketed with AA, their PNR (SABRE) should show all the flights.

As long as the PNR's for the other airlines show their flights you should be OK.

Sadly, JAL PNR's can be hard to look up online and often calling is the only way - to confirm on the call, get them to recite the ticket number (starts with 001- for AA).

 

[Digger11]

I did MEL>SIN>LHR>BIO this time last year on QF/BA. Booked 4 award seats via AA. Stopover 1 night in SIN. Plenty of availability back then.

Was your stopover less than 24hrs to meet the rules of continuous travel ?

 

[Guvner]

yes. 20 hrs from memory.

 

[dfcatch]

I have avoid booking/service fees for AA awards in the past by:

1. Putting the first flights on hold.
2. Waiting until the next day when a connecting award became available.
3. Calling up and having it added to the booking - finishing the call and leaving on hold.
4. Going back online and completing the booking.

That often no longer works IME.

It seems the system recognizes that an agent added the segment and then won't allow you to finalize it online.