A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[sergeyvzn]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I tried to book CX J ADL-HKG on AA award.

BA shows 2 seats available, QF shows availability, likewise CX.

But AA doesn't show it available at all (after 1 hour wait on their phone call which itself is ridiculous).

Is that normal or the new AA regime so that they don't have much seats available?

You've come across a very well-known thing called "phantom CX availability" where BA and QF show seats that are not actually there. JL Mileage Bank website shows CX availability correctly and must be consulted before ringing AA. Also, you should be mindful of the fact than AAdvantage agents have just inherited a whole pool of former U.S. airways agents who are utterly incompetent and cannot see any seats at all, on any airline and any date. So you might have to ring again and again

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

You've come across a very well-known thing called "phantom CX availability" where BA and QF show seats that are not actually there. JL Mileage Bank website shows CX availability correctly and must be consulted before ringing AA. Also, you should be mindful of the fact than AAdvantage agents have just inherited a whole pool of former U.S. airways agents who are utterly incompetent and cannot see any seats at all, on any airline and any date. So you might have to ring again and again

Just checked JL. Also shows 2 seats available. What's next for me?

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Just checked JL. Also shows 2 seats available. What's next for me?

Ring AAdvantage reservations again and tell them these seats should be available. If they can't see them, hang up and try again until you get an agent who can find them. Be polite but persistent explaining that the seats must be there and maybe there's another way they can look them up and maybe even ask for a supervisor

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

... I don't get why I get charged for domestic connection ? The end of the day I believe its because there is no QR fare basis that goes from BNE according to what I have read.

I suspect your belief is the correct one ... that being there's no QR published fare between BNE and JRO while the is for SYD and JRO.

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Ring AAdvantage reservations again and tell them these seats should be available. If they can't see them, hang up and try again until you get an agent who can find them. Be polite but persistent explaining that the seats must be there and maybe there's another way they can look them up and maybe even ask for a supervisor

Agreed. Once it took 3 agents to book a CX seat where I knew there was U class availability. It took her searching non CX airlines for it. She said she found the CX flight listed under QF page on their system...I thanked her for thinking outside the box when her previous 2 colleagues didn't.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Ring AAdvantage reservations again and tell them these seats should be available. If they can't see them, hang up and try again until you get an agent who can find them. Be polite but persistent explaining that the seats must be there and maybe there's another way they can look them up and maybe even ask for a supervisor

I have finally booked the tickets I wanted, but I needed a work around on this, and it involves some kind of investigation and experimenting:

Just for background, I am booking 3 award seats for CX J ADL-HKG:

1 seat secured using QFF points (need to book 1 seat on QFF due to expected kid later this year, which I can then get a "free" award ticket for infant via QFF).
1 seat secured using CX Asia Miles (have points which will expire next year)

and I wanted to book 1 seat using AAdvantage.

So BA/JL indicated 2 seats, QF and CX also indicate availability. Call AAgent who said no seat available. Call next day to another AAgent. Same answer: no seat available.

So I asked them what day when they have seats, then they advised day which at least 3 seats are shown available on BA. Anything with 2 seats available or less in BA, AA said it is not available.

So I did an experiment, I spent 3500 points this morning to move my existing QF award booking to another date which shows availability.

Now BA shows 3 seats available on the flight I want. I called AA again, now AAgent said there is 1 seat available on that flight (before there was none). I immediately placed booking and put it on hold for me.

Then I spent another 3500 points to move the QFF award back to the date I wanted. QFF indicated no problems.

Checked BA again, now only 1 award seat available on that flight.

So now I suspect that AA can only allowed allocate "X - 2" award seats on certain CX flights. I proved it by moving booked flights around and back.

So this could be a new form of rules to stop AA members booking all those awards on CX flights. I suggest you check BA/JL to have at least 3 seats available on CX before booking with AA.

I thought this is worth sharing with you.

 

[asg29e]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I have finally booked the tickets I wanted, but I needed a work around on this, and it involves some kind of investigation and experimenting:

Just for background, I am booking 3 award seats for CX J ADL-HKG:

1 seat secured using QFF points (need to book 1 seat on QFF due to expected kid later this year, which I can then get a "free" award ticket for infant via QFF).
1 seat secured using CX Asia Miles (have points which will expire next year)

and I wanted to book 1 seat using AAdvantage.

So BA/JL indicated 2 seats, QF and CX also indicate availability. Call AAgent who said no seat available. Call next day to another AAgent. Same answer: no seat available.

So I asked them what day when they have seats, then they advised day which at least 3 seats are shown available on BA. Anything with 2 seats available or less in BA, AA said it is not available.

So I did an experiment, I spent 3500 points this morning to move my existing QF award booking to another date which shows availability.

Now BA shows 3 seats available on the flight I want. I called AA again, now AAgent said there is 1 seat available on that flight (before there was none). I immediately placed booking and put it on hold for me.

Then I spent another 3500 points to move the QFF award back to the date I wanted. QFF indicated no problems.

Checked BA again, now only 1 award seat available on that flight.

So now I suspect that AA can only allowed allocate "X - 2" award seats on certain CX flights. I proved it by moving booked flights around and back.

So this could be a new form of rules to stop AA members booking all those awards on CX flights. I suggest you check BA/JL to have at least 3 seats available on CX before booking with AA.

I thought this is worth sharing with you.

Well done. Useful information.

 

[Limewood]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

To stop AA miles running out what is cheapest way to keep them?.

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Buy something on Aadvantage eshopping

 

[Limewood]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Buy something on Aadvantage eshopping

Does buying more miles count?

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Yes, it does.

 

[points]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi to all the well informed,
I'm looking to book Qatar CDG to MEL and I'm still not sure if this will be charged as a single Europe to South Pacific reward at 60,000 miles or does it have to be broken up into 2 rewards and thus more points to spend. Hope someone can help with expert advise.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi to all the well informed,
I'm looking to book Qatar CDG to MEL and I'm still not sure if this will be charged as a single Europe to South Pacific reward at 60,000 miles or does it have to be broken up into 2 rewards and thus more points to spend. Hope someone can help with expert advise.

Europe to South Pacific can connect only in Asia for a single award, not the Middle East. It will be charged as two awards if you are changing flight numbers.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi to all the well informed,
I'm looking to book Qatar CDG to MEL and I'm still not sure if this will be charged as a single Europe to South Pacific reward at 60,000 miles or does it have to be broken up into 2 rewards and thus more points to spend. Hope someone can help with expert advise.

The wikipost on Flyertalk regarding partner awards on AA suggests there may be exceptions to the transit rule on certain routes (africa-asia may include DOH transit on QR) and this could include Europe-South Pacific. However I haven't yet heard of any successful bookings. It's worth a call to AA to find the answer.

 

[Kangol]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

The wikipost on Flyertalk regarding partner awards on AA suggests there may be exceptions to the transit rule on certain routes (africa-asia may include DOH transit on QR) and this could include Europe-South Pacific. However I haven't yet heard of any successful bookings. It's worth a call to AA to find the answer.

See these:
American Airlines Award Routing Rules - One Mile at a Time
Overview of American Airlines Award Routing RulesThe Points Guy

I doubt that you can connect from EU-SWP in DOH on QR at the price of a single award. Like you, I haven't heard of any successful bookings and would welcome anyone who has to share.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If changing flight number in the middle east but both flights are on QR metal with a transit in DOH, does this mean you can fly from Asia 2 to Europe on the one award for 70k miles in F ?

Or do you have to break up the award to become 45k Asia 2 to middle east then another 40k middle east to europe meaning 85k ?

I've heard something on here about the "Doha exception" but unsure how it applies in practice would appreciate if someone is able to fill the gaps in my knowledge.

Cheers

 

[scwappy]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Yes, that's correct. You can transit in Doha between certain zones, of which Asia2 to Europe is one of these. You must fly in and out on QR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If changing flight number in the middle east but both flights are on QR metal with a transit in DOH, does this mean you can fly from Asia 2 to Europe on the one award for 70k miles in F ?

Or do you have to break up the award to become 45k Asia 2 to middle east then another 40k middle east to europe meaning 85k ?

I've heard something on here about the "Doha exception" but unsure how it applies in practice would appreciate if someone is able to fill the gaps in my knowledge.

Cheers

Have a look at the post immediately above yours... the link to the routing rules from onemileatatime. Exceptions to routing rules will be available at the 'through fare' rather than sector pricing.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Cheers guys

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

What are the fees like to change the name of one of the pax on an AA redemption ?
Is a new PNR required for this ?

Thanks