A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Kangol]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

In my experience (which is limited to asking AA over the phone in the US) is no, you don't get charged a change fee in either situation.

I just upgraded AA award tickets (1 way only) for my wife and I to first class from business class. Had to speak to 2 different AA operators on 2 different calls as wanted to check the fees and then do the change. Both operators said the 150 fee is waived with an upgrade.

I did it on the same flights and same dates - Malaysia finally released some first class again so not sure if different dates but I have found the operators really friendly and helpful - I use the American number to save fees.

Dale.

Thanks, another idea also came up - what about extending the booking (eg J milesAAver) to become a OW explorer award in the same class?
eg. you have a SYD-LAX one way booked, then want to change it to a: SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-HKG-SYD ?

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Well, my tickets from WLG to DUB are booked/ticketed. Took less than 24 hour from the time of booking/paying until the tickets went 'ticketed'.

Still no email confirming the ticketing from AA however, but I used the 'print my intinerary' function to find them, then rang Qantas with said ticket numbers to get the Amadaeus PNR. Seat selection done, and went online to swap out the AAdvantage FF# for my QFF # to get access to better seats & ease of use.

Now to get travel insurance and wait until November

 

[Kangol]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Based on the Oneworld award chart (http://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/aadvantageAllPartnerChart.jsp) I believe it is 55k points to the USA from HKG in J. Is that anywhere in the USA or is it a separate booking to get from, say, SFO (award chart says transpacific so I assume into LAX or SFO) to Philly?

Yes. AA uses a region-to-region method of calculating cost. In your example, it will be 55k miles from HKG to anywhere in North America.

Subject to availability, you could use 55k for HKG-xLAX/SFO/JFK/ORD/YVR-PHL. It must be continuous travel on the next available flight (or near to it). So, for example, you could fly from HKG to the US, stay at the arrival city for a couple of hours, then fly onto PHL but you can't, as far as I'm aware, stopover in the US arrival port.

However, you can on the reverse itinerary. For example, PHL-ORD, stay for a few days, then ORD-HKG, all for 55k in J.

From what I've read, you can have a free stopover at the North American international gateway city on AA when travelling both inbound and outbound:

Reader Questions about Free Stopovers on American Airlines Awards | milevalue.com
The dark side of American’s award ticket rules… - One Mile at a Time

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

From what I've read, you can have a free stopover at the North American international gateway city on AA when travelling both inbound and outbound:

Reader Questions about Free Stopovers on American Airlines Awards | milevalue.com
The dark side of American’s award ticket rules… - One Mile at a Time

I'm very happy to be corrected on that. I knew it was possible on the outbound was wasn't confident on the inbound. Good news for us.

 

[11sjw]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks for the replies. Now to look at stocking up on AA miles. Calmly waiting next 50% bonus offer.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

When using AA miles on MH F, is the availability the same as enrich members?

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Well, my tickets from WLG to DUB are booked/ticketed. Took less than 24 hour from the time of booking/paying until the tickets went 'ticketed'.

Still no email confirming the ticketing from AA however, but I used the 'print my intinerary' function to find them, then rang Qantas with said ticket numbers to get the Amadaeus PNR. Seat selection done, and went online to swap out the AAdvantage FF# for my QFF # to get access to better seats & ease of use.

Now to get travel insurance and wait until November

Nice to see it all went well. Have a good trip!

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

A query on routes allowed under a one way AA redemption fare. If using the 80K points to travel from Europe (either CDG or LHR) how can you get back to Australia?

Currently I can get to KUL in first class but have to go the rest of the way in business. I have checked Hong Kong and Singapore but also only business available.

Are there any other routes back from Europe that could investigate so that might be able to go first class all the way?

Thanks.

 

[Rallo]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

A query on routes allowed under a one way AA redemption fare. If using the 80K points to travel from Europe (either CDG or LHR) how can you get back to Australia?

Currently I can get to KUL in first class but have to go the rest of the way in business. I have checked Hong Kong and Singapore but also only business available.

Are there any other routes back from Europe that could investigate so that might be able to go first class all the way?


Thanks.

What date are you looking at?

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Leaving CDG on 28 June this year but could push out a day or so but no more.

Dale.

 

[Rallo]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Dale ,I checked Expert Flyer which is new to me, which as you say has First class availability but only business class from KL to MEL.
QF has no availability , someone else with more knowledge on EF and AA awards may have some ideas for you.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Nice to see it all went well. Have a good trip!

Thanks - and thankyou very much for your assistance!


dale- You could see what BA has on offer, however you pay a lot more in taxes/fees unfortunately.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi,

Yes want to avoid BA if possible. I have a BA Avios account so can do searches using their tool.

With AA awards from Europe to Australia can you come back via Japan for example? Trying to think of other routes to investigate.

Dale.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Yes, via LHR from memory- I've seen NRT pop up a few times for a return leg to Australia.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi,

Yes want to avoid BA if possible. I have a BA Avios account so can do searches using their tool.

With AA awards from Europe to Australia can you come back via Japan for example? Trying to think of other routes to investigate.

Yes you can travel via NRT (or HND) on an AA award and you may get F direct from CDG. However travelling via LHR will put you on BA. However no F from Japan to Oz. Take a look at Awardnexus for availability or sign up to JL. JL has F from CDG-NRT on June 29.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

So what are the routes to get the whole journey back to Australia in first class? Is it just Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai?

Thanks,
Dale.

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Or Abu Dhabi on Etihad, as it's a partner with F availability.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Or Abu Dhabi on Etihad, as it's a partner with F availability.

I may be wrong but I don't think Etihad can be used to and from Australia.

At aa.com here it says "Service within the Middle East and between the Middle East and North America, Europe, Africa and Asia."

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

The AAdvantage elite qualifying system confuses me. I know it shouldn't, but it does. I get confused between EQM and EQP and what just increases your stock of miles and what counts towards requalifying for status. And I get confused by the double whatever it is for Platinum and how that impacts on requal too.

With that in mind, I'd really appreciate it if somebody could please tell me what my earnings (EQM, EQP, requal, status, whatever it all is) would be for the following, based on flying an eligible Business fare bucket on oneworld carriers as a AAdvantage Platinum:

Flight 1: 1045 miles
Flight 2: 1575 miles
Flight 3: 5994 miles
Flight 4: 3249 miles

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

It is explained in the platinum challenge thread here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

More detail in the very good the FT wiki: Miles and Points (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki