A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[bernardblack]

It should not be a problem ... Its a oneworld to oneworld change with no variance to origin, destination or transits.

I can confirm that as of this morning, a different agent made the change for me successfully, and a couple of hours later I received the email confirmation once it had reached the top of the ticketing queue.

 

[diningdecadence]

Q for those that do a bit of intra Asia - what do you think is better for HKG-TYO CX F

AA for 40k, or QF for 56k points? is there other options i should be considering?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Q for those that do a bit of intra Asia - what do you think is better for HKG-TYO CX F

AA for 40k, or QF for 56k points? is there other options i should be considering?

Taxes fees and charges, plus the cost to accrue the 40k vs 56k. If the 56k are easier to come by that may sway your decision.

 

[Kangol]

Q for those that do a bit of intra Asia - what do you think is better for HKG-TYO CX F

AA for 40k, or QF for 56k points? is there other options i should be considering?

Keep in mind that HKG-HND in CX F does not have the "full" long haul product. No caviar or amenity kit/PJs. I think the HKG-NRT in F (777) is subject to timetabling and more likely to have aircraft swaps to planes without F.

As above, it depends on how "points rich" you are, or are likely to be in the future.

 

[FromTheRail]

Have had a look through past posts and there seems to be a few different opinions on this, so am looking for a confirmation.

Looking to do an internal award flight with an overnight stopover, to save flying overnight, all in Australia on QF, it is not able to ticket yet but will do in the next few days. I've looked at earlier dates and all that is coming up is shorter in time routes (all overnight) but none that would allow flying one day overnighting and them completing the trip the next day.

The questions are, i'm guessing that this would need to be booked via the call centre , with the associated cost and also would this count as 1 award or 2? (the overnight stopover would be less then 24hrs)

 

[serfty]

AAdvantage follows the routing rules of the parter carrier in such cases.

Qantas general routing default for domestic is transits can only be "same day".

So, if you put an overnight in, it becomes a stopover - hence more than one award.

e.g. Last flight ADL-MEL today and first flight MEL-SYD tomorrow is two awards.

Note that international is 24 hours, so such is possible.

e.g ADL-MEL arriving 6pm with 11am MEL-SIN next day is one award.

 

[FromTheRail]

AAdvantage follows the routing rules of the parter carrier in such cases.

Qantas general routing default for domestic is transits can only be "same day".

So, if you put an overnight in, it becomes a stopover - hence more than one award.

e.g. Last flight ADL-MEL today and first flight MEL-SYD tomorrow is two awards.

Not that international is 24 hours, so such is possible.

e.g ADL-MEL arriving 6pm with 11am MEL-SIN next day is one award.

Cheers for the info, as I said there are different opinions, just trying to get the right info, I usually just do the red eye from Perth then connect the next day, thinking this time not do the red eye and just go earlier in the day.

I know that is a 'in general' case, it's a bit confusing here from Perth as the overnight flights leave before midnight on one day, arrive the next, then the next flight, or is it when the flight lands? ie if it is after midnight then it all counts as the same day.

 

[serfty]

ex PER red eyes are interesting ... It may be based on scheduled time of arrival but that is speculation on my part.

 

[a330j]

I'm looking at Brisbane to Tokyo next year in J for myself and SO using AA awards. At this stage am looking at BNE-MEL-NRT QF/JLwith a return through HKG to do a quick lounge crawl, ie HND-HKG-MEL/SYD-BNE JL/QF. I am yet to fly with JL so am looking forward to trying them out.

I am considering F on QF HKG-SYD on the A380 to get into the F lounges in HKG, and do a lounge crawl.

I have checked Award Nexus and the Qantas site, and at this stage there appears to be award availability at least on individual sectors.

A few things I can't figure out that I'm hoping other will know the answer to: Can the individual sectors be merged/married to make 1 sector? For example on the return from HND to BNE. Also would this itinerary have MPM implications - I don't understand how that works. Also does AAdv charge booking fees when an itinerary can't be booked on the AAdv site or do they waive that? cheers

 

[potm]

Phone booking fees are waived if you can’t make the bookings online. The routes you are suggesting should be dooable. There are MPM restrictions but they are quite generous so you shouldn’t have any issues with that.
It helps of there is no other more direct route available. An agent might question why you don’t go the direct route but you most likely will find someone who will let you book what you want anyway if it’s not too ridiculous.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking at Brisbane to Tokyo next year in J for myself and SO using AA awards. At this stage am looking at BNE-MEL-NRT QF/JLwith a return through HKG to do a quick lounge crawl, ie HND-HKG-MEL/SYD-BNE JL/QF. I am yet to fly with JL so am looking forward to trying them out.

I am considering F on QF HKG-SYD on the A380 to get into the F lounges in HKG, and do a lounge crawl.

I have checked Award Nexus and the Qantas site, and at this stage there appears to be award availability at least on individual sectors.

A few things I can't figure out that I'm hoping other will know the answer to: Can the individual sectors be merged/married to make 1 sector? For example on the return from HND to BNE. Also would this itinerary have MPM implications - I don't understand how that works. Also does AAdv charge booking fees when an itinerary can't be booked on the AAdv site or do they waive that? cheers

As long as there’s a published fare for the carriers you want it should be fine. The fare must be published by either QF or JL for the route and flights you want (so your BNE-NRT would need to allow routing via MEL for example)

Best way is to call AA, feed them the flights, and see what the system prices at.

 

[a330j]

Thanks for the information. As a follow-up, I rang AAdvantage and they could not see award availability for the dates that were showing on the Qantas site (ie a QF/JL.BNE-MEL-NRT). They identified CX via HKG (with a 1 hour connection) as available (not showing on the AA site) and want to charge a reservation fee because according to the agent if they can see it online then it should be available to be booked through the AA.com site. I have placed it on hold because award availability seems to be as scarce as hens teeth but a bit disappointed in the routing. I will keep looking and try and call again to see if I can get a different outcome.

Any advice would be welcome. I do recall reading on AFF that in circumstances where AA can't see availability to get them to check revenue seat availability. Has anyone had any success with that?

 

[potm]

Call again. CX fares are definitely not available for AA members to book online. The agent should know that, you must have got a very new or incompetant one.

 

[serfty]

Call again. CX fares are definitely not available for AA members to book online. The agent should know that, you must have got a very new or incompetant one.

Agreed, I recently made a CX booking JFK-BOS-HKG in business by calling and no fee was charged.

This is as it should be - if the awards can't be booked on line (e.g. CX) then no assistance fee should be charged.

(Note that I changed the above award from Business to First and for travel a day later, again for no charge. i.e. There is no charge for changing routing/date on the same award "type" and there is no charge for upfaring (e.g. Business to First)).

 

[FromTheRail]

Just to confirm, moving the date of an already ticketed reward trip will incur a charge? In this case it's on Qantas

 

[potm]

Date changes are free. AA has a close in booking fee if the flight is within 21 days though.

 

[Kangol]

Date changes are free. AA has a close in booking fee if the flight is within 21 days though.

Free as long as origin and destination are the same. Transit points can change, subject to MPM rules (I think it is still +25%)

 

[auriga]

Does anyone know whether SYD-SIN (BA),SIN-HKG-CDG (CX) can be priced as one award?

 

[potm]

Does anyone know whether SYD-SIN (BA),SIN-HKG-CDG (CX) can be priced as one award?

Yes, as long as the gap between flights is less than 24 hours.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And provided the overwater carrier (not sure if that's BA or CX in this case?) have published a fare SYD-CDG that allows routing via SIN and HKG using the respective carriers.