A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[Doggy]

Ok thanks.
One more thing, can I use my QFF points to book flights on USDM flights ?

Thanks

Us Airways is oneworld so yes you can book Us flights using QFF.

Okay just to clarify, this is correct if by 'USDM flights', you mean flights on US Airways metal. Which would really have nothing to do with USDM.

I feel like you might be asking, can you book USDM award flights with your QFFP. In which case the answer would be no.

 

[Nizar]

Okay just to clarify, this is correct if by 'USDM flights', you mean flights on US Airways metal. Which would really have nothing to do with USDM.

I feel like you might be asking, can you book USDM award flights with your QFFP. In which case the answer would be no.

US Airways metal is what I meant

 

[Nizar]

If i sign up for a platinum status challenge and currently have no status with AA and I fly MEL-DOH-CAI one way in J on QR am I correct in saying that I would qualify for Platinum as the distance is 8706 miles ?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/earnMiles/travel/airlines/qatar.jsp

And once I land in CAI I would have accrued 125% of 8706 which is 10882 AA miles ?

If I want to use this as a springboard to chase AA Exec Plat do the miles I've earnt as part of the challenge count ? So after landing in CAI I would have 8706 * 1.50 EQPs = 13059 EQMs ?

Thanks

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Qr doesn't count for platinum challenge.

http://www.flyerguide.com/Challenge_(AA)

 

[legroom]

You could ask if they give you a 3-mo temp Gold status at the time of the challenge request which helps boost the miles further.

They did to me (WP).

If i sign up for a platinum status challenge and currently have no status with AA ?

Thanks

 

[smit0847]

I had an interesting experience with my first AA booking and I would like to know whether I was unlucky, or just didn't really understand how the program and availability trends work.

I needed to fly HKG-MEL on about 4/5 Jan (ie a few days ago). Back in May, when I booked the flights, there were no 2 x J seats available on CX to any Australian destination so I booked HKG-KUL CX then KUL-MEL MH. I planned to try for a direct flight at T-7 and was pretty flexible (there were about 6 different flights I would be happy to take). 7 days out there were no direct CX flights available on any days and non connecting. I kept checking twice a day (by calling AA) and same result. At T-1 suddenly on a HKG-SYD flight there were 7 J seats available. I called up again a few hours later and the agent couldnt see any of them. I called up a few hours later and all those seats were gone but now there were suddenly 6 seats on that same HKG-SYD flight but 24 hours later. No seats available on any other flight. I booked them with AA's very convenient 'no fee for changes if origin and destination stay the same'.

CX J was wonderful - that seat is incredible - so private and slept extremely well. Did find service distant thought - much prefer SQ's service. Flight was 100% full in J. The transfer in SYD was a pain as expected.

Overall it was a pretty stresfull experience. I still dont really understand CX's award patterns last minute - in my experience it was all or nothing. I spent a long time on the phone with AA literally 8 hours before my originally ticketed flight was due to depart trying to find something (anything) and it was very slim pickings. I knew it was going to be a gamble 'rolling the dice' last minute and ultimately we did get to experience proper CX J which is what we wanted in the first place but I'm not sure I would go through the stress again. I was confident that being flexible we would get a direct flight home last minute, I know its school holidays but surely flying on a Monday night or Tuesday morning is a lower peak time?

Did I not understand how CX inventory works or was I just unlikely being unable to secure a direct seat. Other than the obvious 'book 330 days out to get the seat you want' what advice would you give me if I wanted to do this again?

Thanks

 

[amaroo]

CX award seats are plentiful a week or three from departure. Have had no trouble securing 4/5 J seats for the past 10 years ... "this experience is brought to you via QFF" - I assume AA is probably the same.

I've always assumed it's because they have a truckload of seats to fill everyday and they work the system to make it happen.

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

CX typically release at t -7 and t -3. In my experience typically mid morning Hk so early arvo our time. You can use QFF to view as if it's available to AA in U class it will also appear of QFF.

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

It will only get harder with CX as they roll out their upgrade auction system.

 

[amaroo]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

It will only get harder with CX as they roll out their upgrade auction system.

Will be interesting to see the impact - might need to change to long view bookings. CX is incredibly easy to secure multiply F/J seats.

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I realize the discussion is about reward seats, but CX also "play games" with the retail booking classes up until about t-7. The lower Y classes will suddenly become available again if bookings are not "up to expectations".

Upgrade bidding may not be as bad as predicted. There was a lot of feedback on several CX threads during the time that bidding occurred on the PER-HKG route. I was successful on one y->w bid and totally ignored the prices when I returned already in the w cabin. My "new" status with CX seems to be far more useful than either AA or QF. Pity that AA has a better cost benefit ratio on awards. But the CX gate agents were pleasant when changing my CX# to an AA #, even as they swapped boarding passes for w->j seating. Given I'm probably demoted to CX V class by the budget, those swaps will likely not happen in the future.

And, of course, QF's international absence from PER has/had influences on all of the above (for me).

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Paddy55]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

It will only get harder with CX as they roll out their upgrade auction system.

Wondering about that myself.

Grabbed 2 x F SYD-LHR on BA yesterday (AA 80K miles - what a bargain!) for travel Jul 21 this year.

Now trying to figure out how to get back, preferably from somewhere around Zurich, Amsterdam, Vienna or Prague about end August. Only things showing up now generally involve BA F and QF F via HND (with a 10 hr layover) but I'd prefer CX J via HKG and finding it really hard to see availability.

May just call AA tomorrow.

 

[Hvr]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

<snip> but I'd prefer CX J via HKG and finding it really hard to see availability.

May just call AA tomorrow.

You have to call AA to book CX and pay the $80 booking fee. Agree with you re CX.

 

[Platinum A332]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi all quick question - what are the cancellation fees on an AAdvantage award? Are the points refunded, or is there a penalty like with QFF (5000 points)? Thanks in advance.

 

[Nizar]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hi all quick question - what are the cancellation fees on an AAdvantage award? Are the points refunded, or is there a penalty like with QFF (5000 points)? Thanks in advance.

Taxes/fees are refunded and the miles are reinstated once you pay a US$150 per person cancellation fee. I believe this fee is waived for those with AA Exec Plat status.

 

[Platinum A332]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Taxes/fees are refunded and the miles are reinstated once you pay a US$150 per person cancellation fee. I believe this fee is waived for those with AA Exec Plat status.

Thanks so much for this, appreciate it.

 

[Beta4Me]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Just booked:
=> MEL-ADL-HKG - QF675/CX174 in J x 3 (parents & I)
=> HKG-adl-MEL - CX173/QF678 in J x 2 (parents)
=> HKG-per-MEL - CX137/QF768 in J x 1 (me)

Just under 23hrs in Adelaide on the flight out and I have about 10 hours in Perth on the way home.
So for 70,000 miles + ~AU$240pp we've got 6 days in Hong Kong plus the aforementioned layovers which gives me the opportunity to catch up with some friends that I rarely see (effectively) for free!

I am pretty impressed with AA so far, especially after 4 x SYD-SIN BA F bookings for a New Year's holiday.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

CX typically release at t -7 and t -3. In my experience typically mid morning Hk so early arvo our time. You can use QFF to view as if it's available to AA in U class it will also appear of QFF.

CX award seats are plentiful a week or three from departure. Have had no trouble securing 4/5 J seats for the past 10 years ... "this experience is brought to you via QFF" - I assume AA is probably the same.

I've always assumed it's because they have a truckload of seats to fill everyday and they work the system to make it happen.

Thanks, but Im still trying to work out if my experience with absolutely no HKG-MEL J seats available at T-7, T-3 and T-1 with a fair bit of flexibility (happy with any of about 6 flights over two mid-week days) was bad luck or I didn't understand how the system works? I can understand if one flight was completely full, but 6 in a row?

 

[knasty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Remember CX has waitlist for Asiamiles members so those on the waitlist get first dibs on seats when they're released before they're available to any partner.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Question related to AA but not really to the FFP, does anyone know if I call the AA number in Sydney would they book the flights in AUD or USD? (this flight is departing from DUB)