AA Platinum Challenge - must flights be on AA flt number?

[aus_flyer]

I've heard a rumour that AA are now enforcing the rule that when doing the Platinum Challenge, flights must be on an AA flight number.

Is this true?

Thanks

 

[Mal]

Yes.

Only AA Flight numbers count (assuming eligible fares on those AA flight numbers).

Doesn't matter if they're for example on Qantas metal, but they must be AA flight numbers.

 

[serfty]

First noticed and reported in Late 2006.

Means those transpacs need to be on the AA codeshare to apply.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...antage/only-aa-flights-will-qualify-8290.html

 

[aus_flyer]

unfortunately HKG-SFO-ORD-WAS-JFK would not be enough!

 

[NM]

unfortunately HKG-SFO-ORD-WAS-JFK would not be enough!

if you can add in a route through DFW between SFO and ORD you may be just in luck (as long as AA measures the distance the same as Great Circle Mapper.

 

[aus_flyer]

I'm now thinking
HKG-LAX-SFO-ORD-WAS-JFK
Makes it well over 10k

 

[YosemiteP]

Yes.

Only AA Flight numbers count (assuming eligible fares on those AA flight numbers).

Doesn't matter if they're for example on Qantas metal, but they must be AA flight numbers.

Just on this, I have often wondered how do you change your QF number(flying on QF metal) to an AA number? Is it something you can do yourself online
Thanks

 

[Mwenenzi]

Just on this, I have often wondered how do you change your QF number(flying on QF metal) to an AA number? Is it something you can do yourself online

No. To change a QF flight number to an AA flight number you need to buy a new ticket, unless on *ONE* ticket where you can change carriers

 

[Dave Noble]

No. To change a QF flight number to an AA flight number you need to buy a new ticket, unless on *ONE* ticket where you can change carriers

Or any ticket which allows different carriers to be fair

Dave

 

[YosemiteP]

hmmm
so if I am understanding this correctly in order to fly on Qantas with an AA code you need to book through AA.
I have not yet booked the flights I was hoping I could do the AA platinum challenge on. But I was hoping to buy a RTW trip that Qantas was offering.

 

[Dave Noble]

hmmm
so if I am understanding this correctly in order to fly on Qantas with an AA code you need to book through AA.
I have not yet booked the flights I was hoping I could do the AA platinum challenge on. But I was hoping to buy a RTW trip that Qantas was offering.

Not exactly. Qantas are very reluctant and make it v hard to book on an AA codeshare on their own flights however, so it is normally a lot easier to have a ticket booked through another carrier for that

Whether you can use the AA flights will depend on the rules of the ticket which you intend to purchase.

Dave

 

[YosemiteP]

thanks for that dave

 

[simongr]

If the RTW ticket you are thinking about is the DONE4 then I would always advocating booking through AA anyway - easier and cheaper - a great combination.

 

[Smithy789]

Hi all,

This is a great source of info - your tips and advice are much appreciated.

My wife and I plan to fly on a 3-week trip on a LONE4 ticket. I have an unpaid booking via a travel agent (rather than ticketed by AA direct). Our itinerary is basically 1 week in Cape Town, 1 week in London, and 1 week in the mid-West of the USA.

MEL-(SYD)-(JNB)-CPT...JNB-LHR-HOU...SAT-(DFW)-MCI-(DFW)-LAX-MEL

The travel agent has ticketed it with AA, rather than QF, which will save around $400-500 in taxes - thanks for the tips on this forum.

I had hoped with the flights from LHR onwards that my wife and I would be able to complete an AA Platinum Challenge, but as has been pointed out on this forum, unless the flights are listed with an AA flight number, the flights do not count toward the Challenge. My travel agent says that the rules require her to ticket it with a QF number because it's QF metal

1) Does anyone know a way around this - other than by me dumping the travel agent and calling AA in the US direct to book a ticket and then call A in Sydney to pay for it? I'd prefer not to do that, becuase she's done good work so far for no charge. Am I a softie or what?

2) Also, I am thinking of joining Qantas Club - three weeks to go RTW in economy is a gruelling prospect without some creature comforts to look forward to.:mrgreen:
Cheers,

smithy789

 

[littl_flier]

Hi Smithy789. Welcome to AFF.

Based on the direction of your routing, it will be quite difficult to complete an AA challenge with any benefits to you during the trip. Even if the TA could book you onto an AA codeshare on QF metal, there are no AA codeshares on the SYD-JNB sector, nor JNB-LHR on BA. The first sector where you might be able to use it on is HOU...SAT as these will be your first AA flights or possible AA flight numbers. There are no codeshares for LHR-HOU and you won't be eligible to earn AA points as it's a BA flight between LHR-HOU. Of course, you could use it for LAX-MEL but you need to assess whether there is any benefit in the AA equivalent of QF Gold once you get home.

Unfortunately I can't see an easy solution for you (short of reversing your direction) so QP may be helpful for those extra creature comforts.

Cheers,
littl_flier

PS. HOU-SAT-DFW-MCI-DFW-LAX-MEL will put you just over 10,000 miles and qualify you for AA Platinum once you have arrived in MEL.

 

[Dave Noble]

I had hoped with the flights from LHR onwards that my wife and I would be able to complete an AA Platinum Challenge, but as has been pointed out on this forum, unless the flights are listed with an AA flight number, the flights do not count toward the Challenge. My travel agent says that the rules require her to ticket it with a QF number because it's QF metal

Rubbish; she can book on the AA flight number. If she refuses to do so, then just cancel and get AA to do it themselves

1) Does anyone know a way around this - other than by me dumping the travel agent and calling AA in the US direct to book a ticket and then call A in Sydney to pay for it? I'd prefer not to do that, becuase she's done good work so far for no charge. Am I a softie or what?

What do u want? To get the flights booked that you want to use or the ones the agent wants to use? If the former, then tell her to do it or dump her; if she doesn't know what to do, she can call AA since she is issuing on them

2) Also, I am thinking of joining Qantas Club - three weeks to go RTW in economy is a gruelling prospect without some creature comforts to look forward to.:mrgreen:
Cheers,

smithy789

If joining the QF Club, then perhaps joining AFF gold membership might be worthwhile to save a cpl of hundred dollars for an outlay of $50. Remember , you can only use it before your QF,AA and BA flights, so if you have other carriers in the mix, do consider this. $400ish to get 2 ppl into the lounges for the whole trip isnt a big cost, though I might consider that mayhaps an upgrade to WT+ on JNB-LHR might be wrth considering , given that a PLT Challenge will give you both lounge access after the trip

Dave

 

[Smithy789]

Thanks for your insights folks...

I spoke to AA (calling their Sydney number, which is routed to their Indian call centre). Their rep said to get my travel agent to call them to authorise the change from the QF flight number, to the AA flight number. I think there was a bit of too-ing and fro-ing, but the changes have been made, so I now have the AA codeshare equivalent for the LAX-MEL trip . Plus my agent did all the work. She's great.

Your advice was accurate, and invaluable - without it, I wouldn't have persisted with my travel agent or talking to AA.

Re: my plans to travel with BA from LHR to HOU, I am changing that leg to LHR-ORD-SAT - all of which are AA flight numbers - so more points into the deal...

So now, plans for the two of us are:

MEL-SYD-JNB-CPT
JNB-LHR
LHR-ORD-SAT
SAT-DFW-MCI
MCI-DFW-LAX-MEL

Will I have completed the platinum challenge in time to sit in a comfortable lounge on the LAX-MEL leg and hopefully snag an upgrade, (is that just wishful thinking, what with all you other FF out there who have higher privileges that me) or with my new route, do I complete the challenge somewhere over the Pacific...

Grateful for any further remarks or suggestions, but either way, I am darn happy!

Thanks again,

Smithy

 

[littl_flier]

Thanks for your insights folks...
....Will I have completed the platinum challenge in time to sit in a comfortable lounge on the LAX-MEL leg and hopefully snag an upgrade, (is that just wishful thinking, what with all you other FF out there who have higher privileges that me) or with my new route, do I complete the challenge somewhere over the Pacific...

Grateful for any further remarks or suggestions, but either way, I am darn happy!

Thanks again,

Smithy

No problems Smithy.

Unfortunately you'll just fall short before you get to LAX. LHR-ORD-SAT-DFW-MCI-DFW-LAX is ~7390 miles which will earn you AA Gold (QF Silver) but not AA Platinum with Lounge Access. So I guess you'll be Platinum somewhere over Hawaii at 38,000 feet.

If you do decide you would like Qantas Club (most of your flights (maybe all) are BA, QF or AA) then I would suggest the AFF Corporate membership.

Cheers,
littl_flier