AAdvantage award Devaluation - Bookings from Mar 22nd 2016

[sergeyvzn]

I think that's a bit harsh for our friends at USDM. While they might not have always been up on the exact rules and geography, they allowed us some of the best routings ever under awards. We've never had it so good.

they were wonderful when they did that. Much less wonderful when you had to HUACA because they denied you a perfectly valid itinerary so I am not apologising

 

[Croupier]

AA and to do this they would cancel the old award ticket, redeposit points, refund taxes, book new award seats, charge new taxes and charge USD$175 on top of that - does this sound right?

It's my understanding that you will also fall prey to the new award mileage charges post March 22nd.

 

[Bazzi]

It's my understanding that you will also fall prey to the new award mileage charges post March 22nd. 

From what I have read here and elsewhere this is one of the regions where the points required haven't gone up - 60k points per person for F and it cost me 45k per person for J which I believe has now dropped to 40k points per person. I can't quite work out the blue dots on the award chart though - references something about availability and having to purchase two awards to make up the itinerary??? As you can tell I am not quite au fait with the AA program - SQ is where I'm at home.

Thanks everyone - much of what I have learnt (and continue to learn) about the programs comes from this forum. Always thankful.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From what I have read here and elsewhere this is one of the regions where the points required haven't gone up - 60k points per person for F and it cost me 45k per person for J which I believe has now dropped to 40k points per person. I can't quite work out the blue dots on the award chart though - references something about availability and having to purchase two awards to make up the itinerary??? As you can tell I am not quite au fait with the AA program - SQ is where I'm at home.

Thanks everyone - much of what I have learnt (and continue to learn) about the programs comes from this forum. Always thankful.

Some itineraries can't be completed with a single award on AA. These are indicated with blue dots, where two awards are required to be added together.

Aside from the blue dots, there is a whole raft of additional routing rules - connections which may or may not be allowed in specific regions and published fare requirements (the latter being broken into sub-sets of MPM and allowed routings). If you break any of the routing rules you will also be charged two (or more) awards instead of one (so best to make sure your itinerary fits!)

 

[Bazzi]

Some itineraries can't be completed with a single award on AA. These are indicated with blue dots, where two awards are required to be added together.

Aside from the blue dots, there is a whole raft of additional routing rules - connections which may or may not be allowed in specific regions and published fare requirements (the latter being broken into sub-sets of MPM and allowed routings). If you break any of the routing rules you will also be charged two (or more) awards instead of one (so best to make sure your itinerary fits!)

Thanks MEL_Traveller. I can see why many think the program has been devalued and become more complicated. Interestingly if you look at the award chart 'in reverse' - Asia 1 to South Pacific - the miles required are clearly stated. Still debating whether to buy $1k worth of miles to move our travel date by three days (all to squeeze in half a cruise!), might have to convince myself that it is a GREAT opportunity to try JL F!

 

[anat0l]

Thanks MEL_Traveller. I can see why many think the program has been devalued and become more complicated. Interestingly if you look at the award chart 'in reverse' - Asia 1 to South Pacific - the miles required are clearly stated. Still debating whether to buy $1k worth of miles to move our travel date by three days (all to squeeze in half a cruise!), might have to convince myself that it is a GREAT opportunity to try JL F!

Many thing the program has been devalued due to the price increases.

The routing rules - or rather complicated ones - have been around for donkeys years. Some new ones have popped up especially since the US merger - e.g. free transits through DOH on QR, or DXB on QF.

Nothing wrong with Asia 1 to South Pacific on both award chart lookups. Are you sure you're not confusing it with South America? Between Asia and South America (any), two awards are required (ditto for Asia and Caribbean).

Between Asia 1 and South Pacific, you can either go direct between those zones, or a free transit is allowed in Asia 2.... all subject to MPM restrictions.

 

[Bazzi]

Many thing the program has been devalued due to the price increases.

The routing rules - or rather complicated ones - have been around for donkeys years. Some new ones have popped up especially since the US merger - e.g. free transits through DOH on QR, or DXB on QF.

Nothing wrong with Asia 1 to South Pacific on both award chart lookups. Are you sure you're not confusing it with South America? Between Asia and South America (any), two awards are required (ditto for Asia and Caribbean).

Between Asia 1 and South Pacific, you can either go direct between those zones, or a free transit is allowed in Asia 2.... all subject to MPM restrictions.

My mistake anat01 - looked at AA awards not partner airlines chart.

 

[serfty]

As a confirming data point, last night I saw a 5pm PER-MEL flight was available in U when I had a 11:50pm already booked (at 17½k) same day.

Called around 10pm and was able to change at no cost. I am thinking the AAgent was from mindpearl, but english was spoken with a slight 'strine twinge.

She did put me on hold for two minutes (unprompted) while they checked it would be fee free - and it was.

 

[Nizar]

Last night I saw a 5pm PER-MEL flight was available in U when I had a 11:50pm already booked (at 17½k) same day.

Called around 10pm and was able to change at no cost. I am thinking the AAgent was from mindpearl, but english was spoken with a slight 'strine twinge.

She did put me on hold for two minutes (unprompted) while they checked it would be fee free - and it was.

New lie flat seats ?

 

[serfty]

New lie flat seats ?

Both flights. ..

 

[Danger]

As a confirming data point, last night I saw a 5pm PER-MEL flight was available in U when I had a 11:50pm already booked (at 17½k) same day.

Called around 10pm and was able to change at no cost. I am thinking the AAgent was from mindpearl, but english was spoken with a slight 'strine twinge.

She did put me on hold for two minutes (unprompted) while they checked it would be fee free - and it was.

This is exactly how it should have worked, no?

 

[serfty]

This is exactly how it should have worked, no?

Sure, but confirmation is good.

 

[diningdecadence]

is there a close in booking fee? e.g. same day/ < 24 hours? looking to pick up a last minute trans-pacific

 

[MEL_Traveller]

is there a close in booking fee? e.g. same day/ < 24 hours? looking to pick up a last minute trans-pacific

USD75 additional fee to ticket flights within 21 days of departure.

 

[Gold Member]

For those with ticketed awards pre March 22, has anyone noticed some interesting changes to ticket artefacts upon exchange/reissue? Specifically DOI? If you get my drift and I'm right on this one, this opens up another 331 days beyond 22 March 2016

Lucky I made several speculative bookings pre the DevAAluation. And especially with EY in F!

 

[anat0l]

For those with ticketed awards pre March 22, has anyone noticed some interesting changes to ticket artefacts upon exchange/reissue? Specifically DOI? If you get my drift and I'm right on this one, this opens up another 331 days beyond 22 March 2016

Lucky I made several speculative bookings pre the DevAAluation. And especially with EY in F!

I haven't made the change. Are you serious?


Now that I think of it, if it is a ticket exchange, you might be right. That explains why, for example, when I recently changed tickets for my folks (EY J, AA redemption before 22 March but changed after 22 March, free change according to rules), they got issued new e-ticket numbers, but I didn't check the issue date.

That said, just because the issue date has changed doesn't necessarily mean it has 1 year validity. AA could be well in their rights to issue an e-ticket with a shorter validity, viz. matching the date on the base e-ticket (which is kept in record against the PNR).

 

[Gold Member]

I haven't made the change. Are you serious?


Now that I think of it, if it is a ticket exchange, you might be right. That explains why, for example, when I recently changed tickets for my folks (EY J, AA redemption before 22 March but changed after 22 March, free change according to rules), they got issued new e-ticket numbers, but I didn't check the issue date.

That said, just because the issue date has changed doesn't necessarily mean it has 1 year validity. AA could be well in their rights to issue an e-ticket with a shorter validity, viz. matching the date on the base e-ticket (which is kept in record against the PNR).

DOI is updated effective latest change per ticket Exchange. I'm not aware of any unpublished backend system enforcing prior ticketing rules that override a new ticket with updated DOI. Anyone else have experience here? I might casually ask them next time I move another flight.

 

[k974]

Hi All,

I have previously used US Airways to go with Thai in F from Syd - London, I last year I used the miles to go with Etihad from BNE - Dublin return, my partner and I have 80,000miles left and want to use up the balance in August.

There seems to be absolutely no availability on Etihad, last year there was plenty.

I have the KVS tool but I need to update the subscription, apologies for asking a repetitive question but what is the best way to search flights now to use up the last of my miles.

Thanks for any help you might be able give

 

[Nizar]

Hi All,

I have previously used US Airways to go with Thai in F from Syd - London, I last year I used the miles to go with Etihad from BNE - Dublin return, my partner and I have 80,000miles left and want to use up the balance in August.

There seems to be absolutely no availability on Etihad, last year there was plenty.

I have the KVS tool but I need to update the subscription, apologies for asking a repetitive question but what is the best way to search flights now to use up the last of my miles.

Thanks for any help you might be able give

You can check availability here

Flights with miles

 

[k974]

hi thanks for that, there is nothing available around august or for weeks either side. there was plenty last year. What other airline options are there does anyone know, Australia - Dublin/London/Europe. I will upgrade my KVS today.

Thanks