AAdvantage award Devaluation - Bookings from Mar 22nd 2016

[snabbu]

For anyone looking to burn a few AA miles and doesn't have anything on next weekend there's a Residence seat available today week.



This post would have been much different if I wasn't already away next weekend.

 

[RooFlyer]

For anyone looking to burn a few AA miles and doesn't have anything on next weekend there's a Residence seat available today week.


This post would have been much different if I wasn't already away next weekend.

Residence? When I read that I nearly spilled my gin. Apartment I think. Still worth it though.

 

[knasty]

Residence? When I read that I nearly spilled my gin. Apartment I think. Still worth it though.

Funny. I was going to respond but I knew Rooflyer would be right on it. I hope the gin is the kind which would be a shame to waste.

 

[Mr_Orange]

For anyone looking to burn a few AA miles and doesn't have anything on next weekend there's a Residence seat available today week.

View attachment 59504

This post would have been much different if I wasn't already away next weekend.

Are you sure that is The Residence and not 'just' a regular First Suite?

 

[snabbu]

Ahh sorry folks. I was quite excited when i eyed the 388 F availability thinking it was Apartment but seems I'm mistaken

 

[Mr_Orange]

Ahh sorry folks. I was quite excited when i eyed the 388 F availability thinking it was Apartment but seems I'm mistaken

Technically it is an Apartment, it's just not The Residence, which I doubt is ever available to book with points.

 

[JohnK]

I think the purpose of loyalty programs these days is to make profit. Selling miles is extremely lucrative. You're gonna fly with them anyway because you have status and golden hand-cuffs. No need to worry about how many miles you're gonna earn actually flying.

Understood.

The point raised was should the airline now increase bonuses on miles purchased to make up for the award rate hike. I think that defeats the purpose of the award rate hike.

But you might be right. Sale of miles could be above revenue flyers in the pecking order.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Ahh sorry folks. I was quite excited when i eyed the 388 F availability thinking it was Apartment but seems I'm mistaken

Youre confusing The Residence for the Apartments

 

[auriga]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic. With the upcoming devaluation, I was thinking of booking a flight to India.
Just wondering if anyone has experience booking from SYD to India (using QR or EY)? That would be allowable under one award?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic. With the upcoming devaluation, I was thinking of booking a flight to India.
Just wondering if anyone has experience booking from SYD to India (using QR or EY)? That would be allowable under one award?

Provided the airlines have a published fare it meets the routing restrictions. You could also fly CX via HKG (transit is allowed in Asia 2 to ME/Indian Sub-continent)

 

[CaptJCool]

This is simple mathematics. If you are getting a J or perish the thought F for $2,000 return instead of sale price, say $5,000 or a rack price of say. J $9,000 and F $13,000 - $15,000 - $18,000 return then you are receiving staff standby rates which are about 10% of full fare. No business in its right mind would ever continue to endlessly sell tics at that discount price. They will go broke. That said, it doesn't explain why some first-class offers retail at 15-40% less than those ex-Australia, USA and Switzerland. Yes exchange rates do contribute to the heavily reduced pricing and since the Aussie dollar has devalued v US BY LIKE 40%, this does bring this price advantage to a crashing halt. It's not unpredictable but it's a big impact on self-funded travellers.

I would doubt QF would go that way and in fact have reduced Eco points on some flights. Their EBIT on QFF is around 34-35% so a third of the revenue is pure profit plus the redemption charges plus the Qantas cash spend. so there is a lot of wriggle room for them.....this is a case though of I enjoyed it while it lasted and now where's the next best opportunity to get more value for less spend. Cheap Business Class Secrets Revealed

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is simple mathematics. If you are getting a J or perish the thought F for $2,000 return instead of sale price, say $5,000 or a rack price of say. J $9,000 and F $13,000 - $15,000 - $18,000 return then you are receiving staff standby rates which are about 10% of full fare. No business in its right mind would ever continue to endlessly sell tics at that discount price. They will go broke. That said, it doesn't explain why some first-class offers retail at 15-40% less than those ex-Australia, USA and Switzerland. Yes exchange rates do contribute to the heavily reduced pricing and since the Aussie dollar has devalued v US BY LIKE 40%, this does bring this price advantage to a crashing halt. It's not unpredictable but it's a big impact on self-funded travellers.

I would doubt QF would go that way and in fact have reduced Eco points on some flights. Their EBIT on QFF is around 34-35% so a third of the revenue is pure profit plus the redemption charges plus the Qantas cash spend. so there is a lot of wriggle room for them.....this is a case though of I enjoyed it while it lasted and now where's the next best opportunity to get more value for less spend. Cheap Business Class Secrets Revealed

Except that award seats are almost always seats the airline doesn't believe they are going to sell. So there is no 'loss' to the airline.

Most US carriers still 'give' these seats away, others, such as QF, SQ, BA will attach hefty surcharges turning an otherwise empty seat into one that is making them a healthy profit.

Far from 'going broke' they are making a lot of extra money on them.

The acquisition of points also brings revenue as people chase those points. Again, not a loss making exercise for the airline.

 

[boomy]

Coming devaluations next month put me into serious burning mode. Some recent bookings, all were easily done calling AA SYD number.

FRA-LHR-AUH-BNE May 16
BA J / EY AP / EY F / QF J

BNE-MEL-AUH-LHR Jul 16
QF J / EY AP / EY AP

FRA-HKG-HND/NRT-SYD-BNE Aug 16
CX F / CX F / JL F / QF J

BNE-MEL-AUH-DOH-CDG Dec 16
QF J / EY AP / QR F / QR F

FRA-LHR-DXB-SYD-BNE Dec 16
BA J / QF F / QF F / QF J

Total miles burned: 460,000
Total miles trips will cost post 22nd March devaluations: 717,500

Still have 60,000 miles left in my account. May be tempted to book another apartment in the last minute

 

[Princess Fiona]

Coming devaluations next month put me into serious burning mode. Some recent bookings, all were easily done calling AA SYD number.

FRA-LHR-AUH-BNE May 16
BA J / EY AP / EY F / QF J

BNE-MEL-AUH-LHR Jul 16
QF J / EY AP / EY AP

FRA-HKG-HND/NRT-SYD-BNE Aug 16
CX F / CX F / JL F / QF J

BNE-MEL-AUH-DOH-CDG Dec 16
QF J / EY AP / QR F / QR F

FRA-LHR-DXB-SYD-BNE Dec 16
BA J / QF F / QF F / QF J

Total miles burned: 460,000
Total miles trips will cost post 22nd March devaluations: 717,500

Still have 60,000 miles left in my account. May be tempted to book another apartment in the last minute

What a great set of redemptions!!
Sadly I don't have anywhere near those miles left in any of the family accounts I manage.
No idea what to do with them

 

[Kangol]

FRA-HKG-HND/NRT-SYD-BNE Aug 16
CX F / CX F / JL F / QF J

I thought JL F (777) between SYD and NRT was seasonal (Japanese winter)?

 

[Abdul_A350]

I thought JL F (777) between SYD and NRT was seasonal (Japanese winter)?

A little while ago they changed it to 'indefinitely'. Can currently be booked right through next January.

 

[Abdul_A350]

FRA-HKG-HND/NRT-SYD-BNE Aug 16
CX F / CX F / JL F / QF J

How many miles was this one?

 

[Croupier]

I do that exact same itinerary in 6 days, it 80k miles

 

[Abdul_A350]

That is great, I wasn't sure if they would let you transit both Asian regions like that.

 

[Croupier]

I was surprised it priced out that way and offers exceptional value if you don't mind taking the long way home.