A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[TheEmu]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If you want to check CX award space the best way is www.asiamiles.com account - its free. I have booked Cathay Space with AA but you're right - I had to be friendly but persistent to get them to find it.

To get a US credit card you need a US social security number and a US credit record so not easily done. All we can do is nag AA to do a deal with an Australian bank as their miles are so much more valuable than QFF.

Ah-ha! Thanks dalereardon!
I had baulked at joining Marco Polo because of the joining fee while unsure if you could actually see award seats from there and didn't think that asiamiles would give access…

 

[jayday13]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I still cannot believe that you can fly in J to Europe return for 120k AA miles on QF metal whilst on QFF it is 256k points basically in the same aircraft.

So it seems the sweet spot is to be QF WP, purchase miles from AA when they have a promotion, then redeem flights on AA, which will then appear on your QF My Bookings allowing premium seat selection, then F lounge before departure wow what a life haha. If only I knew this a few years ago lol.

Does anyknow how much the cash component (taxes/fees/surcharges is) for a AA award redemption say MEL-LHR return ?

Just did this exact booking for May 2014 - QF9/10 in J. Taxes in total ~AUD500. Be aware that you need to change your AA FF number on the booking to your QF FF number before you can access the 'good' seats available to QF WP.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

When using AA/USDM for redemptions does the person flying need to be the same person who has the account ?
Or could I redeem flights for my brother/cousin/friend, etc ?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

When using AA/USDM for redemptions does the person flying need to be the same person who has the account ?
Or could I redeem flights for my brother/cousin/friend, etc ?

Thanks

Dunno know about DM -(Wrong thread for that) but you can redeem flights with AAdvantage for anyone.

 

[asg29e]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Dunno know about DM -(Wrong thread for that) but you can redeem flights with AAdvantage for anyone.

Is Nizar actually asking if the account holder has to be one of the passengers? Sounds too good to be true otherwise. I would immediately get 20 of my "friends" to buy a gazillion points and book flights for me.

 

[diningdecadence]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is Nizar actually asking if the account holder has to be one of the passengers? Sounds too good to be true otherwise. I would immediately get 20 of my "friends" to buy a gazillion points and book flights for me.

i'd suggest you go check out the USDM thread then... just be a little subtle about it, otherwise you'll be up the creek like a certain member posting in there last year.

back on topic - i do think it's also possible with AA, but doesn't appear that the members utilise it as much as USDM.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks serfty

just be a little subtle about it

Exactly.
Discretion is the key.
Before the opportunity gets enhanced away lol.

 

[drron]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

AA do let you make redemptions for family and colleagues.I have been up front with AA when offering "colleagues"upgrades.I told AA that the upgrade was for a professional colleague and that was accepted as within the rules.

 

[coles525]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Newby in regards to AAdvantage also, just plucking figures with hopeful dates (need to approve with work); as well as made phone contact with QFF in regards to general $$.

Wondering would it be possible (easy / cheap!) to try to receive (purchase the 60k, with some bonus) 200,000 AA points to save a bundle between Melb / LA and Honolulu / HK?

Picture below is my workings out and research (RRP / Points). We already have the 180k QFF points (1 way, 2 people between HK & Melb 1st class), as well as left over or atleast 57,000 points.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

When planning a big trip redemption don't forget that each account can only purchase 60K miles per year plus bonus miles. Of course family members can buy miles and redeem in your name.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

How long does it take for Starwood points to credit ?
And then how long to transfer across to AA ?

Thanks

 

[coles525]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

How long does it take for Starwood points to credit ?
And then how long to transfer across to AA ?

Thanks

I can't answer your questions, as I only joined up to both of then last night.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I can't answer your questions, as I only joined up to both of then last night.

As did I. Great minds think alike lol.
Hopefully someone else can help us.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

When planning a big trip redemption don't forget that each account can only purchase 60K miles per year plus bonus miles. Of course family members can buy miles and redeem in your name.

What do you mean by that last part ? I thought you couldn't easily combine miles ?

But I suppose you can open two accounts one for yourself and one for a family member and fill both with 60-90k then you can book yourself a one way J/F to Europe and then using the family members account book yourself a trip home.

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

How long does it take for Starwood points to credit ?
And then how long to transfer across to AA ?

Thanks

AMEX to SPG: 3-7 days
SPG to AA: 3-7 days

Total transfer from AMEX to AA : 7-14 days

I've just done this to top up my account for my most recent redemption

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

What is the conversion rate from Amex to SPG? I gather that is the only way to earn AA miles from credit card spend?

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi coles525,

Your plan looks quite doable. The only problem you'll have is obtaining enough AA points. AA points unfortunately have a cap of 60 000 points a year + bonuses. So theoretically a member can currently only obtain a maximum of 90 000 points annually. A member can also purchase up to 20 000 SPG points a year (best time to do that is when they have 20-25% off) which will yield another 25 000 points. So total you can get 115 000 AA points through purchasing from AA and SPG.

Top up with AMEX MR through SPG to AA will give you enough points to get enough for a return J or F forward, J return.

My advice for you, use QF to book your MEL-LAX trip. I don't know if you've got this far in your research, but the only way you will get to North America from Australia and it only costing you 65 000 miles is the QF MEL-LAX or SYD-LAX or BNE-LAX. The problem with these flights are they are snapped up very quickly and the only real way to book them is 350 days out. Qantas opens these flights 350 days out for their QF members, where AA can only see them are 330 days out and most of the time they are already gone.

My advice: Use your QF points to book MEL-LAX for next year. You'll need some more but shouldn't be too hard to get. 2 x 96 000 points = 2 x J MEL-LAX.

Then on the way back, burn 67 500 x 2 = 135 000 AA points for CX First JFK-HKG. Then use 2 x 45 000 AA points to redeem HKG-SYD First.

I think this is all very doable, if you buy points now and buy points in Jan next year, and transfer any shortfalls from AMEX

 

[Pumbaa]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

What is the conversion rate from Amex to SPG? I gather that is the only way to earn AA miles from credit card spend?

I'm surprised not everyone knows this, but its:
2 AMEX : 1 SPG
When you transfer 20 000 SPG points to any airline, you get a 5000 points bonus
So it becomes 2:1:1.25

My suggestion is for you to start staying at some SPG hotels in your travels. I have moved all my hotels to SPG and it has been very frutiful. I have earned 75 000 SPG points from hotel stays over the last 2 years which have been converted to 100 000 AA points. There are regular promotions where you can earn as much as 6-8 SPG points per US$ spend.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I'm surprised not everyone knows this, but its:
2 AMEX : 1 SPG
When you transfer 20 000 SPG points to any airline, you get a 5000 points bonus
So it becomes 2:1:1.25

My suggestion is for you to start staying at some SPG hotels in your travels. I have moved all my hotels to SPG and it has been very frutiful. I have earned 75 000 SPG points from hotel stays over the last 2 years which have been converted to 100 000 AA points. There are regular promotions where you can earn as much as 6-8 SPG points per US$ spend.

Great idea re: staying at SPG hotels.
Is there a limit on the number of SPG points you can sweep to AA within a calendar year ?

 

[TheEmu]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Great idea re: staying at SPG hotels.
Is there a limit on the number of SPG points you can sweep to AA within a calendar year ?

Starwood FAQs:
https://buy.points.com/marketing/spg/faq/buy.faq.template.html#7
How many Starpoints may I buy for myself?

Your account may receive up to a maximum of 20,000 Starpoints per account per calendar year, whether purchased by yourself or received as a gift from another member. However, you may purchase as a gift for other accounts, as many Starpoints as desired.

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May I buy more than 20,000 Starpoints per year?

Your account may receive up to a maximum of 20,000 Starpoints per account per calendar year, whether purchased by yourself or received as a gift from another member. However, you may purchase as a gift for other accounts, as many Starpoints as desired. Each gift recipient can receive up to 20,000 Starpoints per calendar year.

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How long will it take for Starpoints to be posted to my account?

Starpoints will be credited within 24 hours of your purchase.