A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

1. I assume it's possible to use EF to search for AA award availability. If so, what fare buckets do I need to be looking for to use AA miles on AA, CX, BA, JL and QF (Y, J, F)? I'd prefer not to have to phone AA (either on their Queensland/Fiji number or in the US) to look at multiple and various routing possibilities, particularly when I find it kind of fun!
2. Have I understood the AA mileage redemption table correctly: a J award from South Pacific to Africa may only be redeemed transpacific? So, for example, Perth to Johannesburg in Y would have to be something like PER-xSYD-xJFK-xLHR-JNB? Surely I've misinterpreted.
3. Subject to availability in the appropriate fare buckets would SIN-xHKG-xNRT-JFK be possible in J for 55k?

 

[Hvr]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

3. Subject to availability in the appropriate fare buckets would SIN-xHKG-xNRT-JFK be possible in J for 55k?

You may be able to, I am doing SIN-xHKG-xYVR-JFK next week and it was based on my starting and finishing points and cost me 67500 AA points in F. When booking I was offered a route through NRT but wanted to travel on CX so went the route above.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

1. I assume it's possible to use EF to search for AA award availability. If so, what fare buckets do I need to be looking for to use AA miles on AA, CX, BA, JL and QF (Y, J, F)? I'd prefer not to have to phone AA (either on their Queensland/Fiji number or in the US) to look at multiple and various routing possibilities, particularly when I find it kind of fun!
2. Have I understood the AA mileage redemption table correctly: a J award from South Pacific to Africa may only be redeemed transpacific? So, for example, Perth to Johannesburg in Y would have to be something like PER-xSYD-xJFK-xLHR-JNB? Surely I've misinterpreted.
3. Subject to availability in the appropriate fare buckets would SIN-xHKG-xNRT-JFK be possible in J for 55k?

See here: Award Booking Codes (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki (E/F does not do all ailines for award codes)

 

[chianshuin]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

No - must be direct transpacific.

Can perhaps do via AKL (until QF stops flying it).

I am finding it hard to find availability for business award from US to AUS direct. Am I missing something here. I think the route that fly from US to AUS most run by Qantas? eg. DFW and LAX. Is it possible fly through south america?

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I am finding it hard to find availability for business award from US to AUS direct. Am I missing something here. I think the route that fly from US to AUS most run by Qantas? eg. DFW and LAX. Is it possible fly through south america?

Yes, you can fly via South America. However, as dfcatch pointed out in relation to my query on flying from SIN to the US via NRT, you would need to redeem two awards: North America-South America and South America-South West Pacific.

You may also like to consider flying with Air Pacific or Hawaiin Airlines, using your AA miles, although obviously not direct.

 

[dfcatch]

I am finding it hard to find availability for business award from US to AUS direct. Am I missing something here. I think the route that fly from US to AUS most run by Qantas? eg. DFW and LAX. Is it possible fly through south america?

Yes - availability is hard to find - you need to plan way in advance and keep looking.

A subscription to EF will help.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I just got off the phone with AA in the US and they could offer one additional flight: PER-xBNE-SYD in J (approximately 90 minutes between arrival and departure in BNE). I still think that's pretty poor availability but my bigger concern is they've quoted me 35k miles, not 17.5k. I asked why it wasn't 17.5k and the agent said because it was two one-ways (in J), which equals 35k.

What have I done wrong?

I've just priced another AA award fare that I believe should be on 35k but the agent has quoted 52.5k - two awards.

Day 1, depart PER 12pm, arrive BNE 4pm
Day 2, depart BNE 1am, arrive HKG 7am
Day 2, depart HKG 9am, arrive KUL 1pm
(times approximate)

In each case the flight quoted was the next available flight (eg. after arriving in BNE, the next departure to HKG is the one quoted).

The agent (on the 07 Australian number) said I would have to redeem two awards: South Pacific to South Pacific and South Pacific to Asia Zone 2

But again, why is it not 35k as I'm flying South Pacific to Asia Zone 2 with no stopover and on the first available flights?

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

This thread may provide clues: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uble-mileage-redeem-any-37268.html#post571603

Perhaps BNE is not on a route map for this award?

ongoing investigation re: AA awards on QF in Oz/NZ - Traveling Better Forums

[update]

I've been checking some QF routing rules and all either require a direct connection between PER and SIN/CGK or an MPM of 3104 miles which preclude connecting on the east coast, Darwin and even HKG.​

[/update]

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

You could simply ask them to give you an award for PER-KUL and ask for the various alternatives. Try calling the US number as well.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I've just phoned AA in the US. The agent verified it was two awards, not one, despite the fact I was only transitting and not stoping-over which I was lead to believe was the only requirement.

AAdvantage has lost a lot of its shine with me and is no longer as attractive as I'd understood it was. It's still great in many ways, don't get me wrong, but I thought it was a lot better than it apparently is.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Aadavantage is still pretty shiny but you have to live by the rules. Although AA comes with some weird and wonderful mileage-run type deals in the US you would normally expect to travel on an award in the most direct possible route. QF for example would normally route you PER-SIN-KUL (with a partner) and would be very unlikely to zig-zag across to BNE to get you to KUL.

The South Pacific-Europe J award for 60000 miles must surely be a bargain. As an example SYD-NRT-LHR-CDG is allowable with an overnight (less than 24h) in NRT on JL/BA. Try pricing that on QF!

 

[adrian]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Aadavantage is still pretty shiny but you have to live by the rules. Although AA comes with some weird and wonderful mileage-run type deals in the US you would normally expect to travel on an award in the most direct possible route. QF for example would normally route you PER-SIN-KUL (with a partner) and would be very unlikely to zig-zag across to BNE to get you to KUL.

The South Pacific-Europe J award for 60000 miles must surely be a bargain. As an example SYD-NRT-LHR-CDG is allowable with an overnight (less than 24h) in NRT on JL/BA. Try pricing that on QF!

Aust to Europe is indeed a bargain at 60k. I have redeemed maybe 20-25 of these awards over the last 5 years. And they are very flexible, allowing you to cancel right up to the last minute.

Aust to Asia J is also good value at 35k. I redeem almost all of my awards on these two routings.

 

[k3nnis]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is availability easy/good for Aus-Asia? Is this via QF,BA and CX?

Aust to Europe is indeed a bargain at 60k. I have redeemed maybe 20-25 of these awards over the last 5 years. And they are very flexible, allowing you to cancel right up to the last minute.

Aust to Asia J is also good value at 35k. I redeem almost all of my awards on these two routings.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

But given if you arent flying on AA, or booking more expensive OW fare types that give you AA miles, the only real way to earn miles is through the AMEX MR - SPG - AA miles where you lose, what, 40% through the transfer, is it still better than having a QF or VA FF CC and pumping everything through that (as well as some FF points through actually flying them)?

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Until March this year (Aside from a brief MR mistake promotion for three months some years ago) the loss was more like 59% - now it's 37%.

Some redemptions are far more beneficial using AA than on Qantas.

See here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-advantage/worth-joining-aa-if-you-7483.html

 

[Kangol]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Another unrelated question - if you book a QF ASA ticket, are you able to credit the earn to AAdvantage after booking?

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is availability easy/good for Aus-Asia? Is this via QF,BA and CX?

There are also JL awards and for onward travel to Europe: AY and RJ

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Only if booked on an AAdvantage earning class for the marketing Airline. For Qantas flight numbers the cheapest xASA's book into award classes P/U/Z/X which would not earn.

AAdvantage Participating Airlines - Qantas

 

[openseat]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Is availability easy/good for Aus-Asia? Is this via QF,BA and CX?

You can also use JL. It is possible to redeem on EY but I have read that it is counted as two awards, I.e. South Pacific - Middle East (45,000) + Middle East - Europe (30,000).
But I can't find any reference to it on the AA site.

 

[Kangol]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Only if booked on an AAdvantage earning class for the marketing Airline. For Qantas flight numbers the cheapest xASA's book into award classes P/U/Z/X which would not earn.

AAdvantage Participating Airlines - Qantas

Thanks, looks like something they have caught onto to stop AFFers from making the most of the program(s)!