A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Note that the redemption chart has been replaced by a new page. This was flagged by a blogger who was advised by AA and also confirmed that there has been [no] change to redemption rates, just the way the information is presented.

As mentioned as LAN is part of oneworld it should not be a problem. Note that SWP award rules apply for NZ->AUS if you use LAN rather than the one country exception if QF is used. IE a lot more.

Really? Which rule is that? I didn't know there was anything specific about using QF to get the wholly within Australia and NZ rate.

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Note that the redemption chart has been replaced by a new page. This was flagged by a blogger who was advised by AA and also confirmed that there has been change to redemption rates, just the way the information is presented.
Really? Which rule is that? I didn't know there was anything specific about using QF to get the wholly within Australia and NZ rate.

I think you meant that there has NOT been a change to the redemption rates (yet :-|) just some web designer trying to impress with prettier pictures.
And yes within Australia and New Zealand if you use ONLY QF flights, the redemption cost is 10K for Y and 17.5K for J. Within the Southwest Pacific (if I remember correctly) is 30K for Y which I got told when I called a number of years ago to combine the LAN flight with QF PER-SYD to arrive in NZ. Surprised a couple of die-hard AA information sources as well.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Interesting, thanks Fred. (I may try my luck anyhow). If all else fails, will Y across the ditch and J it to DRW on QF.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

... Within the Southwest Pacific (if I remember correctly) is 30K for Y which I got told when I called a number of years ago to combine the LAN flight with QF PER-SYD to arrive in NZ. Surprised a couple of die-hard AA information sources as well. ...

That surprises me as well ... did you check on "Traveling Better"?

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

That surprises me as well ... did you check on "Traveling Better"?

I think you will find that I'm the one that posted there.... :shock: And it was confirmed.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I think you will find that I'm the one that posted there.... :shock: And it was confirmed.
...

Now you mention it I do recall ... but wasn't that something about routing rules ... PER-xMEL-SYD was valid but PER-xBNE-SYD was not since QF did not have a route filed for via BNE?

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

The link to the TB website regarding AA awards in Australia and NZ (July 2009)

Use of Australia <-> New Zealand "within one Country" AAward, QF only? - Traveling Better Forums

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

The link to the TB website regarding AA awards in Australia and NZ (July 2009)

Use of Australia <-> New Zealand "within one Country" AAward, QF only? - Traveling Better Forums

Happy wandering

Fred

I know AA awards normally require a published fare in order to ticket - and in the post you have linked to you were flying in from Per. Was there a fare applicable on LAN for PER-AKL? Otherwise I would expect it to be two awards.

If the issue was a published fare requirement, I'd expect LAN to be able to be used just for the SYD-AKL sector on its own?

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I know AA awards normally require a published fare in order to ticket - and in the post you have linked to you were flying in from Per. Was there a fare applicable on LAN for PER-AKL? Otherwise I would expect it to be two awards.
If the issue was a published fare requirement, I'd expect LAN to be able to be used just for the SYD-AKL sector on its own?

AFAIK, LAN does have a PER fare as there wasn't a question of being able to book it as a single award, rather the level of payment required.

On a related item, you should note that on $$ fares, LA at the moment seems cheaper than the QF codeshare on the same flight, whereas the QF award seems to require fewer mileage than the AA award. Of course, you need to call AA to book the LA flight number. Interestingly, the QF award shows as the QF codeshare. The resulting assumption is that QF has access to a block of seats on the LA plane since normally awards can not be booked on code share numbers.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[asg29e]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Booked an AA award redemption in F Australia to Europe for next February, using the American AA website, as I have done lots of times with no problem. This time it stayed "on request" and ticket not issued. I rang the Aus AA phone number and they gave me some waffle about the problem being that I used an Aus credit card on the US site and want to charge $150 to fix it. This sounds like a complete crock to me. Does anyone know a way around this? Will ringing AA in the US help? And if so, how does one acess their 1-800 numbers from Aus? Thanks.

 

[dalereardon]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I always deal with the US centre and not Australia.

To dial a 1800 number just dial 0011 for international and then 1 country code and then the number - you get a warning message that it isn't toll free and then your call gets connected.

 

[sergeyvzn]

Booked an AA award redemption in F Australia to Europe for next February, using the American AA website, as I have done lots of times with no problem. This time it stayed "on request" and ticket not issued. I rang the Aus AA phone number and they gave me some waffle about the problem being that I used an Aus credit card on the US site and want to charge $150 to fix it. This sounds like a complete crock to me. Does anyone know a way around this? Will ringing AA in the US help? And if so, how does one acess their 1-800 numbers from Aus? Thanks.

Sounds like BS
My landline plan with TPG includes 100 free minutes of international calls so I normally just ring them direct but if you don't have it use Skype, the cost is next to nothing

 

[Pushka]

I only call the USA number too. They are really good.

 

[FrankC]

Question
When you make a booking through the phone, do you have to use a credit card in the name of the AA account holder?

Cheers

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Booked an AA award redemption in F Australia to Europe for next February, using the American AA website, as I have done lots of times with no problem. This time it stayed "on request" and ticket not issued. I rang the Aus AA phone number and they gave me some waffle about the problem being that I used an Aus credit card on the US site and want to charge $150 to fix it. This sounds like a complete crock to me. Does anyone know a way around this? Will ringing AA in the US help? And if so, how does one acess their 1-800 numbers from Aus? Thanks.

You can call on Shype or if you have a gmail account you can also call for free from your computer (or other device).

 

[auriga]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Are they still doing the non accepting of foreign credit cards thing over the phone (for non status members)?

 

[ejd711]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Last time I booked through AA website I had to use El Segundu. I was in Maine. I recently have started using the Sydney number for flights not on the website now that the fee is being waived. It did cause a slight hiccup when they asked why my booking address was in Maine when I clearly was in Australia, but they just switched it in the Australian office and I didn't have to pay a fee.

If I call the US number I use Skype- connection isn't always great. But recently have found the Sydney number fine for those bookings where the fee is waived.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Have used my 28 Degrees card online before without resorting to El Segundo and it's worked fine (QF flights between AU/NZ - nil AA or other carriers). HUACA?

 

[asg29e]

I only call the USA number too. They are really good.

Thanks Pushka and everyone else who replied.

Mixed fortunes. I reckon I spent 2hrs on skype to AA in USA. 1st call, no joy at all, HUACA. 2nd call, could see that the system had bounced the booking because I had booked on AA.com but used an Aussie CC. And if it wasn't fixed up the booking would auto cancel soon. (Funny, I have done this lots of times before and all has been good.) Anyway, she didn't think she could fix this over the phone, suggested I cancel and re-book on line. (As if! Like I am going to risk 2 tickets for return flights MEL-LHR in F all the way.) So, a little despondently I hung up again, thinking I might have to wear the $150 phone fee from the AA Aus phone centre.

On calling the Sydney number again at first I was told just wait and it will eventually be ticketed. (Yeah, right, HUACA)

Final call, very helpful lady, saw the problem immediately, changed the USD amount into AUD, DIDN"T charge a phone booking fee and sent the booking on its merry way for ticketing.

Finally, a good outcome.

A little disturbing though that a non USA credit card should cause this problem, I hope mine was a random glitch and not the start of some enhancement or other.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Potentially good to know for the rest of us in future should we be in a similar situation - ask them to change it from USD to AUD (albieit at their own conversion rate?).

Out of curiousity what was the $150 for - I thought the ticketing charge was $80?