A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[grussellt]

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.

View attachment 17054

On AA you can travel MEL-LAX (Stopover)-ORD as one award for 65,000 miles as LAX is your entry point into US. I don't know if it's possible to do JFK-HNL(Stopver)-HKG but it's worth a try as HNL is your point of departure from the US. I suspect you may run into problems with MPM.

 

[ejd711]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi there - apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.

How long does it take for partner airlines points/miles to post? In particular BA and QF?

I should have met the AA Plat Challenge last weekend flying BA but I was wondering whether the status would come through before my next flights so I can get into QF domestic lounges.

Has anyone had to process these manually with AA like I have had to do in the past with some QF partner flights?

Thanks!

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi there - apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.

How long does it take for partner airlines points/miles to post? In particular BA and QF?

I should have met the AA Plat Challenge last weekend flying BA but I was wondering whether the status would come through before my next flights so I can get into QF domestic lounges.

Has anyone had to process these manually with AA like I have had to do in the past with some QF partner flights?

Thanks!

My QF and BA flights come in about two days after flying, around 3pm AWST, Tuesday to Saturday.

 

[ejd711]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks Danger - helpful. I flew Fri/Sat and they have yet to come through (Wed) but I'll hold off a few days. I fly next week so sounds like they should be through before then.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is it possible to book a Qantas award flight with AA miles approximately 350 days out? I know Qantas releases it's seats about 355 days out but the AA booking engine only allows you to search up to 331 days out, even noting "American Airlines and AAdvantage participating airlines offer flights up to 331 days in advance" which is obviously not correct for Qantas.

If I call AA, would they be able to do it manually and, if so, would they still slug me the phone boooking fee?

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Short answer: No

Longer answer: AA's systems cannot handle bookings greater than that ~330 days in advance.

QFF members generally get first crack at any initial allocation.

 

[drron]

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 ?

No.When CC points counted for life time status with AA I got my second million miles in 18 months.Approx 800,000 came from SPG.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No.When CC points counted for life time status with AA I got my second million miles in 18 months.Approx 800,000 came from SPG.

Cheers, that was the answer I was looking for.
I have read that FAQ previously on the SPG website but it didn't seem to answer this specifically.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Guys when I search for an Award with the AA website it seems that I'm only getting QF/BA options mainly even out of SE Asia and for that matter even out of HKG.
Does anyone know why this is the case ?

What happened to CX/MH, etc ?

And how do you use miles to book non-oneworld airlines but partner airlines like EY ? You have to call them ?

Thanks

 

[drron]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Guys when I search for an Award with the AA website it seems that I'm only getting QF/BA options mainly even out of SE Asia and for that matter even out of HKG.
Does anyone know why this is the case ?

What happened to CX/MH, etc ?

And how do you use miles to book non-oneworld airlines but partner airlines like EY ? You have to call them ?

Thanks

Because CX,MH,JAL are not on the online search-QF,AY,BA,HA and I think AS are available for on line bookings.
The others you need to ring.

 

[VRC]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Using the AA on line search I have found availability 2 J class Europe back to OZ in the near future. I would like to book one to my account and the other to my wife's. Is there any risk booking one seat whilst logged into my account and then logging into my wife's account and then booking the other?
I am concerned once I have booked the first the availability may dissapear. Any experience from others?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Using the AA on line search I have found availability 2 J class Europe back to OZ in the near future. I would like to book one to my account and the other to my wife's. Is there any risk booking one seat whilst logged into my account and then logging into my wife's account and then booking the other?
I am concerned once I have booked the first the availability may dissapear. Any experience from others?

No, but if I were you I would pay the phone assisted booking fee and call up the US to book.
Having said that I think there is little risk in having multiple browsers open and booking but my OCD nature would lead me to the telephone.
Good luck

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi,

With AA you can get an award put on hold for 5 days. Ring them up and get them to put the awards on hold from both accounts. Then you can log back into your account and pay for the tickets to be issued.

If you have found the flights using their online search which airline are they with? Their online search doesn't show you Malaysian or Cathay both of which have good availability normally - particularly Cathay for close up bookings. If you have found flights with BA then the fees and taxes will be much higher than with other airlines.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Their online search doesn't show you Malaysian or Cathay both of which have good availability normally - particularly Cathay for close up bookings. If you have found flights with BA then the fees and taxes will be much higher than with other airlines.

Thanks that is good to know.
What is CX's availability like on their JFK/HKG in F I wonder ?

 

[Hvr]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks that is good to know.
What is CX's availability like on their JFK/HKG in F I wonder ?

If you're looking for one seat don't give up. It has been known for a seat to become available a couple of weeks out. Also, don't disregard the flight which stops in YVR. It can be good to sleep the first leg and then enjoy the last five hours in F.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If you can hold off booking till very close up then Cathay almost always releases F and J seats in the last 3 or so days out. I kept an eye on the CDG to HKG route when I was in Europe and they would make between 2 and 4 F and J seats available 2 or 3 days out like clockwork. Due to my wife suffering an injury we had to come back differently but next trip I will be using Cathay.

I will book the route with the best option available and then pay AA's fees to change the ticket at the last minute to get the best Cathay seats.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If you're looking for one seat don't give up. It has been known for a seat to become available a couple of weeks out. Also, don't disregard the flight which stops in YVR. It can be good to sleep the first leg and then enjoy the last five hours in F.

If you can hold off booking till very close up then Cathay almost always releases F and J seats in the last 3 or so days out. I kept an eye on the CDG to HKG route when I was in Europe and they would make between 2 and 4 F and J seats available 2 or 3 days out like clockwork. Due to my wife suffering an injury we had to come back differently but next trip I will be using Cathay.

I will book the route with the best option available and then pay AA's fees to change the ticket at the last minute to get the best Cathay seats.

Thanks guys will keep that in mind.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Forgot to add that you can search Cathay availability by getting a free account at www.asiamiles.com though I find www.awardnexus.com easier to use. Book Flights, Hotels, Holidays, Car Rental with British Airways - BA.com also shows Cathay but only if there is no BA option so you don't get to see everything.

 

[VRC]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi,

With AA you can get an award put on hold for 5 days. Ring them up and get them to put the awards on hold from both accounts. Then you can log back into your account and pay for the tickets to be issued.

If you have found the flights using their online search which airline are they with? Their online search doesn't show you Malaysian or Cathay both of which have good availability normally - particularly Cathay for close up bookings. If you have found flights with BA then the fees and taxes will be much higher than with other airlines.

Thanks Dale have just done that with bookings now on hold, had a good experience using the Fiji call centre (via the OZ phone number). Although I don't think they would have been much help finding a suitable flight.
Booking is J class Finnair MAD to HEL to BKK and then QF to SYD departing 24th Sept 60K points. I would dearly liked to have had a Cathay J class booking, couldn't find anything via my "new" Asia Miles account.
We have flexibility on departure city and date from Europe (24th to 30th Sept), do you think Award Nexus would find us anything on Cathay this far out?

 

[VRC]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No, but if I were you I would pay the phone assisted booking fee and call up the US to book.
Having said that I think there is little risk in having multiple browsers open and booking but my OCD nature would lead me to the telephone.
Good luck

Thanks followed your advice, bookings now on hold.