A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[rogerkambah]

There is! Courtesy of pointhacks: Learn how to buy miles for cheap Business & First Class flights

TKS MEL_Traveller

Looks like I'll purchase more to extend the life of what I've got.

 

[Croupier]

My problem is that I have pile of miles due to expire at the end of July and I have to use or add to them. I can't see myself using any by then so I think I'll have to buy some more.

Is there a page that compares the current offer due to expire on April 13 with previous offers over time?

Geeze so close to expiration if I had a stack of miles going to expire a month or 2 before I would find the cheapest Avis or budget hire car rent for one day and collect 500 miles but I think your out of time for that, best option would be buy the minimum 1000 miles as Mel_Traveler suggests.

 

[rogerkambah]

My miles aren't due to expire until the end of July.
The AA offer to purchase more miles expires on 13 April (US time so effectively the 14th). I expect there will be another offer before the end of July if I don't take up this one.

Geeze so close to expiration if I had a stack of miles going to expire a month or 2 before I would find the cheapest Avis or budget hire car rent for one day and collect 500 miles but I think your out of time for that, best option would be buy the minimum 1000 miles as Mel_Traveler suggests.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Advice pls from AA experts - which flt LAS-HNL would you suggest based solely on hard product:

 

[knasty]

The 32Bs are a nice aircraft.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For first class the 752 really depends if they have angled lie flats or not. The standard configuration is pretty uncomfortable, but the A321 is not much better for such a long flight (but the seats are newer).

It would be helpful to know the date of travel to be able to look at the actual seating chart for the 757 flight.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

It would be helpful to know the date of travel to be able to look at the actual seating chart for the 757 flight.

Sep 24, 2017.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sep 24, 2017.

On that day the AA694 is scheduled to operate with a 752 with three rows of First class (you can check by clicking 'seats' for the flights in question) - those are standard 38-39 inch pitch (full fleet details here: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/planes/planes.jsp)

Some days the 694 is operated with four rows of F - those are angled lie flats.

If you're in coach, the A321 is probably a better ride.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep you can see seat maps for all flts that day - F/J cabin - but I know nothing of AA hard product 321/737/757/319 - hence Q re hard product only.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yep you can see seat maps for all flts that day - F/J cabin - but I know nothing of AA hard product 321/737/757/319 - hence Q re hard product only.

The only 'real' difference is whether the aircraft has flat beds (angled) or not. Short haul not an issue - 738/319/320 all same same. Perhaps flat beds not important to you, but it is a longish flight, and the meal service is limited and over pretty quick. Leaves a long time to get uncomfortable and bored.

 

[earlyriser]

I purchased points yesterday right before the promo finished, lined up flights and then foolishly decided to sleep on it. Of course, this morning it is gone and I am now forced to re-think.

I notice there is no availability to the US in January 18. Can someone with more experience than me let me know if this is because they are likely all snapped up or may there be a release at a later date?

 

[serfty]

When are you planning to travel/

note that if you see an award, you can select the flights (even seats) and hold them in booking for 5 days while you 'sleep on it'.

 

[earlyriser]

Thanks. I did not know that although the booking was not clicking through yesterday and the "sleeping on it" was in relation to getting on the phone to try to book. Perhaps it was phantom availability.

Looking to travel in January.

 

[Danger]

Thanks. I did not know that although the booking was not clicking through yesterday and the "sleeping on it" was in relation to getting on the phone to try to book. Perhaps it was phantom availability.

Looking to travel in January.

Don't beat yourself up.

If you were looking at flights on QF, there's every chance it was phantom availability anyway.

 

[tizey]

Got a question with the current bonus of 25% Bonus Points that has started up when transferring from Hotel Points to AA.

I will be redeeming 3 Flights & Nights Packages very soon (Accomodation opening up), at the top level for 120,000 points (+ extra 30,000 if I go AA). Thats a total of 450,000 AA points if I go with AA.

My gut feel before the promo was to go with United which would net me worst case 396,000 points (as they have a standing 10% bonus), or hopefully another bonus opens up soon to net a further 40,000 points (so maybe a max of 436,000) to use across Star Alliance members.

Award chart is very similar - 85k points to Europe in J, 40k points to Japan in J one way. AA has a bit of an advantage as I can book some HNL-MEL flights at a lesser points rate than I could using VFF Miles.

I've spent months researching availability on Star Alliance members, and feel comfortable with what is available as it stands, and who with. AA I dont really know that well at all.

TL;DR - which program would you prefer to have ~450k miles in... AA or UA for redemptions from MEL-Europe in J?

Vast majority of points will be redeemed going to/from Europe in J (specifically, Zurich where we have family) from Melbourne... and most likely booked as soon as flights open up (330+ days).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

United... easy availability, particularly TG, and all done on line. TG has a good hard product now from MEL. The main alternative with AA points would be redemptions on etihad/Qatar... the former would be two redemptions.

 

[almelb]

I have a question about redeeming AAdvantage miles for a flight as a gift for a friend. Is this within the rules? I couldn't find this information when searching through the AAdvantage website and the forum here. Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the thread and hope it is OK to ask the question here.
Thank you for your help everyone.
Cheers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a question about redeeming AAdvantage miles for a flight as a gift for a friend. Is this within the rules? I couldn't find this information when searching through the AAdvantage website and the forum here. Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the thread and hope it is OK to ask the question here.
Thank you for your help everyone.
Cheers

It's within the rules, but also note that it is not allowed to sell or barter miles. There have been reported cases where a 'gift' of miles has resulted in an account audit and the closure of the account. It depends what the gift is... as long as you are getting absolutely no payment you should be fine.

 

[drron]

I have a question about redeeming AAdvantage miles for a flight as a gift for a friend. Is this within the rules? I couldn't find this information when searching through the AAdvantage website and the forum here. Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the thread and hope it is OK to ask the question here.
Thank you for your help everyone.
Cheers

Perfectly allowable.I have upgraded non family members.Nothing received but thanks and not audited.It is within the rules.

 

[Shanye2233]

I have a quick question . On the points hack website he mentioned using qantas points to book JAL F at a discounted rate but I can't find any discounts does anyone know what he is speaking off .

The reason why im asking here is just in case the knowledge isn't common .