A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[coolkid101]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

thanks for everyone's help.

the flight was originally ticketed through USDM, now merged into a AA record locator which i cannot access on the AA website itself.

It does have QF segments and i have a separate QF PNR - that hasn't changed of course and i can still see the QF flight and the whole itin on the QF site.

interestingly, when i plug the new AA record locator into the QF site it can pull up my itin as Hvr suggested above... however that new AA record locator doesn't work on either the AA site itself or on the CX site (there's also a CX flight as part of the itin... to see the CX flight i plug in the CX/QF PNR which are both the same and hasn't changed)

so basically the original ticketing carrier has given me a new record locator which i cannot access on the AA website itself, however can access on only the QF but also not the CX pages.

frustrating.

to anyone who might be in a similar situation, here's the reply i got from AA

Dear ,
I'm sorry that you are currently unable to view this reservation on aa.com.
We are aware that some reservations do not display - such as a reservation that does not contain an American flight. This issue has been reported to our programmers for review.
In the interim, please call us if you need assistance with this itinerary: www.aa.com/phone
Thank you for writing to aa.com.



Sincerely,
Karen Nelson
aa.com Support Specialist
American Airlines

 

[Hvr]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Quick query - I can find award space DRW - LAX coming up in a few months, but it doesn't strech to any NYC area airports. I can get it to PHL and various others, but not NYC. Any tips on how to strech this to NYC at all?

Have you tried LGA or EWR?

If you can only get to PHL then take the Amtrak up to New York it's not far and you will actually arrive at Grand Central Terminal in the middle of the city with lots of subway connections.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Try using NYC as your destination, which will show all area airports. Also try the book awards map to see how close you can get to New York. If you post your dates you will get some help I'm sure.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

FWIW, PHL is a 2½ hour train journey from "New YorK" from a cost of $20 (express up to $100). Flights on Jet Blue are from USD110.

 

[Mark3000]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

FWIW, PHL is a 2½ hour train journey from "New YorK" from a cost of $20 (express up to $100). Flights on Jet Blue are from USD110.

That's great advice. If you take into consideration the time to get from Manhattan to the airport and then into Philly city from the airport, train or bus is a good option. As a backpacker many years ago I used to get the Chinatown buses which were incredibly cheap and not much slower than flying plus airport travel tim

 

[Finale]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

It is quite stressful trying to book QF First class . I wanted LHR - SYD for 2 but can never the availability (June 2016). I had to do LHR - MEL - SYD (overnight in Melbourne).

The issue with AA is MEL - SYD sector cannot be booked until about 48 hours later after LHR - MEL is available and it is snatched pretty fast. No BA points to do the trick so I tried my luck and held LHR - MEL as soon as AA loaded (about 3.30pm) hoping they would go back into inventory when I cancel 48 hours later. Fortunately they did straight away and I got the flights!

I think AA award isn't eligible for Chauffeur drive but it is showing as eligible on my booking, only 'from MEL' not 'from SYD'. Should I be happy and just book 'to LHR' and forget about SYD? Not sure if they are going to cancel a whole thing if I call or they will end up canceling anyway?

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

3:30pm is shortly after midnight at DFW this time of year.

It may be less stressful to hold the LHR-MEL, then two days later, call AAdvantage and have them add the MEL-SYD sector to the held booking as a connection.

You then can complete the booking online.

 

[Finale]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks Serfty! I didn't know I could do that. I thought it had to be same origin/destination to change (same as after ticketed). Will do next time Learnt something new again!

It was actually 3:35pm. I already did some tests and it usually becomes available after 3:30pm but ended up starting at about 2:45pm just in case. AA server probably hates me now lol

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks Serfty! I didn't know I could do that. I thought it had to be same origin/destination to change (same as after ticketed). Will do next time Learnt something new again!

It was actually 3:35pm. I already did some tests and it usually becomes available after 3:30pm but ended up starting at about 2:45pm just in case. AA server probably hates me now lol

It can be any time after 3:00pm (5pm MEL/SYD time in Summer).

I used this method for a DFW-SYD-MEL booking last week (although I eventually cancelled before completing it).

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I think AA award isn't eligible for Chauffeur drive but it is showing as eligible on my booking, only 'from MEL' not 'from SYD'. Should I be happy and just book 'to LHR' and forget about SYD? Not sure if they are going to cancel a whole thing if I call or they will end up canceling anyway?

I think it is eligible, at least I used the Chauffeur service both in London and in Sydney on exactly the same itinerary (LHR-MEL overnight - SYD) flown in the end of May. No issues at all, booked both LHR and SYD pick-ups online, had a phone call to confirm them all gone smoothly apart from the SYD driver being 10 minutes late

 

[NM]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

FWIW, PHL is a 2½ hour train journey from "New YorK" from a cost of $20 (express up to $100). Flights on Jet Blue are from USD110.

That's great advice. If you take into consideration the time to get from Manhattan to the airport and then into Philly city from the airport, train or bus is a good option. As a backpacker many years ago I used to get the Chinatown buses which were incredibly cheap and not much slower than flying plus airport travel tim

Baltimore (BWI) is another optoin. BWI is co-located with am Amtrak station so its an easy transfer between plane and train, then straight into Penn Station.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I have 2 separate one-way AA bookings on MH J for myself and my cousin, same routing, 24 hours apart due to initial availability (he flies Day 1, 24 hours before I do the same route on Day 2).
We would like to both fly 24 hours later (same route), so he flies Day 2, I fly Day 3. There is one seat available Day 3, nothing on Day 2. I can fly Day 3, he cannot.
If I change my flight to Day 3 presumably my Day 2 flights will be returned to the award pool and I can then move him to Day 2?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If I change my flight to Day 3 presumably my Day 2 flights will be returned to the award pool and I can then move him to Day 2?

There is no guarantee an award seat, once released, will go back to award inventory.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

There is no guarantee an award seat, once released, will go back to award inventory.

I know but there's no other way to get him my Day 2 flights right?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I know but there's no other way to get him my Day 2 flights right?

No, change of name isn't allowed under AA awards. The other alternative, if route suitable, would be to wait until close to departure (like a few days before) and book with CX. They usually open up inventory.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I have 2 separate one-way AA bookings on MH J for myself and my cousin, same routing, 24 hours apart due to initial availability (he flies Day 1, 24 hours before I do the same route on Day 2).
We would like to both fly 24 hours later (same route), so he flies Day 2, I fly Day 3. There is one seat available Day 3, nothing on Day 2. I can fly Day 3, he cannot.
If I change my flight to Day 3 presumably my Day 2 flights will be returned to the award pool and I can then move him to Day 2?

There is no guarantee an award seat, once released, will go back to award inventory.

I know but there's no other way to get him my Day 2 flights right?

With a good AA agent, it can be done. A friend of mine did something similar recently and I did the same about six months ago when EY apartments first became available. The agent was able to immediately "grab" the seats and put them into another PNR as soon as she cancelled the initial itinerary.

But how to ensure you get a competent agent ? Roll of the dice !

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks to all those with advice about the NYC flights!

I've managed to grab an award to LGA fine now, with the slight kicker being that it's *just* within 21 days so had to pay the extra fee. Have to be back to EWR at 22 days though to fly back. Now to sort out how long in NYC, Boston and Washington..

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I'm pretty sure that this has been asked before and that the answer was no but who knows many AA have updated their policy.

Is it possible to book QF PE through AA miles ?
If so how many miles does it cost for say USA to Australia ?

Thanks

 

[smit0847]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I'm pretty sure that this has been asked before and that the answer was no but who knows many AA have updated their policy.

Is it possible to book QF PE through AA miles ?
If so how many miles does it cost for say USA to Australia ?

Thanks

Not possible. AA dont recognise PE as a class of service.

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Not possible. AA dont recognise PE as a class of service.

For sales (miles or points) that is true. They will give 10% bonus EQM and 50% bonus on EQP for CX BA QF. So they recognize EARNING on partners.

Happy wandering

Fred