A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Swan]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hello people who know more than me,

First post here after much much reading and lots of learning, thank you to all who have contributed so much over such a long time. My question today is: we have grabbed 2 business class seats Sydney to Milan in late September 2016 when they became available a few weeks ago. Pretty pleased with that, but now we want to leave Milan 9th or 10th October to return to Sydney but there have been nothing coming up on the AA, BA or Qantas webpages around that time, other than heaps of phantom first class seats on the AA webpage. I have also looked at flights departing from other nearby European cities, but still nothing. Are they likely to become available in the coming months or should I be looking at something quite different?

Thank you for your assistance.

You should be able to fly to HKG and from there to Sydney via Perth. This will involve a couple of days extra in HKG as the first flight available to Perth is at 22:05 on the 13th. Coming via Asia will be 2 awards so you may as well enjoy the break in HKG.
There also appears good availability to KUL. Only economy thereafter but some times AA can find flights that do not appear available. I recently was try to book to CPT and could only find through extensive searching flights to JNB, The AA operator found a direct flight to CPT for 2 pax that I could not see.
It is worth calling and see what they can find for you . Some operators are really helpful and knowledgeable, unfortunately a few are not, so it may take a couple of calls.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

You should be able to fly to HKG and from there to Sydney via Perth. This will involve a couple of days extra in HKG as the first flight available to Perth is at 22:05 on the 13th. Coming via Asia will be 2 awards so you may as well enjoy the break in HKG.

Will actually be a hefty increase in points to include the stopover. Europe-Australia is a single award connecting in Asia.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hello people who know more than me,

First post here after much much reading and lots of learning, thank you to all who have contributed so much over such a long time. My question today is: we have grabbed 2 business class seats Sydney to Milan in late September 2016 when they became available a few weeks ago. Pretty pleased with that, but now we want to leave Milan 9th or 10th October to return to Sydney but there have been nothing coming up on the AA, BA or Qantas webpages around that time, other than heaps of phantom first class seats on the AA webpage. I have also looked at flights departing from other nearby European cities, but still nothing. Are they likely to become available in the coming months or should I be looking at something quite different?

Thank you for your assistance.

Have a look at a multi-city search from LHR (or other point of departure)-SYD via HKG/SIN/HND or NRT/KUL (need to phone)/DOH/PVG/BKK and then see if you can tag on Milan to departure point.

 

[Swan]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

If you don't have the time or don't want to incur the miles cost of a stopover on the way home , you may need to compromise. Such as each take a different flight or one fly business and the other economy. There is often one business seat availability. From a quick look going via KUL appears your best option for these compromises, how ever BA have expensive taxes. After exhausting the possibilities calling AA is your best bet.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hello people who know more than me,

First post here after much much reading and lots of learning, thank you to all who have contributed so much over such a long time. My question today is: we have grabbed 2 business class seats Sydney to Milan in late September 2016 when they became available a few weeks ago. Pretty pleased with that, but now we want to leave Milan 9th or 10th October to return to Sydney but there have been nothing coming up on the AA, BA or Qantas webpages around that time, other than heaps of phantom first class seats on the AA webpage. I have also looked at flights departing from other nearby European cities, but still nothing. Are they likely to become available in the coming months or should I be looking at something quite different?

Thank you for your assistance.

Here are my suggestions of what to search for.

1) Finnair connections ex-HEL to Asia. Finnair has many Asian destinations included Bangkok, Singapore, Shanghai and Beijing.
2) Milan to one of Cathay's many European destinations such as Dusseldorf, Zurich, Paris etc. and onto Hong Kong (Milan-Paris would require a side paid flight (ie. non award)).
3) Royal Jordanian through Amman to Asia and onwards.

Remember that if you find something that's not quite ideal AA allows you to make date, time and carrier changes without penalty, provided origin-destination points remain the same.

 

[Henry Wilbury]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thank you for the many suggestions.

So... I take it no one thinks there is much merit in waiting to see if anything from Milan to Sydney on those dates will eventually turn up?

 

[The Flying Brick]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thank you for the many suggestions.

So... I take it no one thinks there is much merit in waiting to see if anything from Milan to Sydney on those dates will eventually turn up?

The problem you have is that the Award seats MAY turn up.

If they do, it will usually be quite close in to the time that you want to travel and the stress of not knowing if you even have any sort of ticket to get on that flight home can be a real downer to your holiday relaxation.

As noted above, I would be looking for other options now unless you have real flexibility across many days and are prepared to take the chance of seats being released a week or so before your scheduled return. - and have a backup plan in case they don't.

Maybe have a look at returning on QR via Doha as that is a permitted AA transit.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Be aware that travelling via AMM on RJ will cause your trip to be two awards as this is not a permotted transit. There have been some suggestions that travel via AUH on EY may be allowed.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I have 2 AAdvantage accounts that I mange, one is mine and one is my 'dad's'. I have 125,000 and he has 100,000. I will be using all the points on a booking asap.

Do I need to call to book from 2 accounts, or do I just book 2 one ways from each account or is that not a good idea?

If I need to call, which number is recommended? Thanks

 

[netgrom]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

2 one ways from each account will probably be the easiest.

If you call be prepared to be with your Dad or pretend you are your dad with 2 phone calls + have his credit card as they names most likely will need to match, not as easy as the US Airways days. Probably the Australia number although not convinced it makes a difference these days.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks netgroom, I will see how I go with this.

If I use AA miles for J on EY, is there a lounge I can use in SYD?

2 one ways from each account will probably be the easiest.

If you call be prepared to be with your Dad or pretend you are your dad with 2 phone calls + have his credit card as they names most likely will need to match, not as easy as the US Airways days. Probably the Australia number although not convinced it makes a difference these days.

 

[netgrom]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks netgroom, I will see how I go with this.

If I use AA miles for J on EY, is there a lounge I can use in SYD?

Yes, EY Sydney lounge. Only EY lounge in Australia at the moment and apparently pretty good.

 

[burmans]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

2 one ways from each account will probably be the easiest.

If you call be prepared to be with your Dad or pretend you are your dad with 2 phone calls + have his credit card as they names most likely will need to match, not as easy as the US Airways days. Probably the Australia number although not convinced it makes a difference these days.

You say this, but I rang up and booked flights using my daughters points (admittedly with both of us travelling). As a middle aged man I don't think I could be easily mistaken for my teenage daughter so had her on hand to verify herself and confirm I was OK to book on her account. Never even asked!

 

[legroom]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I have 2 AAdvantage accounts that I mange, one is mine and one is my 'dad's'. I have 125,000 and he has 100,000. I will be using all the points on a booking asap.

Do I need to call to book from 2 accounts, or do I just book 2 one ways from each account or is that not a good idea?

If I need to call, which number is recommended? Thanks

I have done that many times - no problem that I have seen.

Calling - at one session, from two accounts - may be problematic with "authorisation / privacy" issues. Splitting into two calls would be safer.

 

[drron]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Though on occasions booking from mrsdrron's account I have been asked to put her on.Not every time but be aware it can happen.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Ok, thanks guys, I shall ensure I am well prepared with whatever they ask for to use the other account's points.

I'm looking at an EY J redemption for 110K points +AUD230, starting on 16 March for CBR-SYD-(SIN)- HKG and returning HKG-AUH (stopover) -SYD-CBR. How is EY F and is it worth the extra points?

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Ok, thanks guys, I shall ensure I am well prepared with whatever they ask for to use the other account's points.

I'm looking at an EY J redemption for 110K points +AUD230, starting on 16 March for CBR-SYD-(SIN)- HKG and returning HKG-AUH (stopover) -SYD-CBR. How is EY F and is it worth the extra points?

there may be a couple of problems with your plan

1) AA does not allow stopovers on awards. At all. So your stopover in Abu Dhabi will split your itinerary in 3 awards, Australia to Asia, Asia to Middle East and then ME to Australia
2) EY must have a published fare for each award, i.e. CBR to HKG via SYD must be an EY published fare. It might exist (though I'm not sure) but will include CBR to SYD on Virgin and you won't be able to use for an AA award as Virgin isn't in OneWorld. Also, what airline are you planning to fly between SIN and HKG? ....The same thing (published fare) applies to HKG to AUH and AUH-SYD-CBR legs

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

OK, developments ... I now have on HOLD with one stopover ... will they maybe can this on ticketing as it seems to break some rules:

CBR (QF) - SYD - SIN (QF) - HKG (CX).

Return: HKG-AUH (in 25th out 27th March) on EY. I was intending to ask to extend that s/o for 1 more day.

AUH - SYD (EY) - CBR (QF).

there may be a couple of problems with your plan

1) AA does not allow stopovers on awards. At all. So your stopover in Abu Dhabi will split your itinerary in 3 awards, Australia to Asia, Asia to Middle East and then ME to Australia
2) EY must have a published fare for each award, i.e. CBR to HKG via SYD must be an EY published fare. It might exist (though I'm not sure) but will include CBR to SYD on Virgin and you won't be able to use for an AA award as Virgin isn't in OneWorld. Also, what airline are you planning to fly between SIN and HKG? ....The same thing (published fare) applies to HKG to AUH and AUH-SYD-CBR legs

 

[sergeyvzn]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

OK, developments ... I now have on HOLD with one stopover ... will they maybe can this on ticketing as it seems to break some rules:

CBR (QF) - SYD - SIN (QF) - HKG (CX).

Return: HKG-AUH (in 25th out 27th March) on EY. I was intending to ask to extend that s/o for 1 more day.

AUH - SYD (EY) - CBR (QF).

Oh I see now

the outbound leg is fine and so is HKG to AUH on EY. However, as I said before HKG to AUH is going to be a separate award as you can't have stopovers on AA awards

The return leg is likely to be a problem as EY's published fare for AUH-SYD-CBR (if it exists - you should check Expert Flyer) will surely not include QF, it will be VA for the SYD-CBR and you can't have that. So either buy a revenue ticket for the SYD-CBR leg or do a separate AA award for it but it would be such a waste of points for this tiny leg

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

They have quoted 110K miles in J and AUD 220. Do you think it would go through to ticketing? I'd still like an extra day in AUH anyway. So, it's a combo of QF, QF, CX, EY, EY, and QF. No mention of VA at all during the conversation with the Fiji call centre.

Oh I see now

the outbound leg is fine and so is HKG to AUH on EY. However, as I said before HKG to AUH is going to be a separate award as you can't have stopovers on AA awards

The return leg is likely to be a problem as EY's published fare for AUH-SYD-CBR (if it exists - you should check Expert Flyer) will surely not include QF, it will be VA for the SYD-CBR and you can't have that. So either buy a revenue ticket for the SYD-CBR leg or do a separate AA award for it but it would be such a waste of points for this tiny leg