AAdvantage points booking to Europe - advice needed

[sietes]

Hi All,

I am looking to make my first ever major AA redemption now that US Air is gone. I want/need to travel to Europe next June/July (unfortunately during school holidays) for a working holiday of sorts.

I want (need?) to travel in premium. I am flexible as to where i fly in and out of but the majority of the trip will be spent in various parts of France and Spain (think wine regions - that's my job!!).

I have shopped around as much as I can and cannot find any availability on QF 1/2/9/10 which i have done previously and enjoyed. My only limitation on dates is that I must be in Burgundy from 1 to 7 July. I can structure the rest of my time in any way around this. So this is the best i can come up with searchig with Qantas engine and KVS. FOr some reason the BA site doesn't like me so cannot use that) Should i just book it or could i do better for my 160k points?

27/6 QF600 MEL-BNE J
27/6 QF097 BNE-HKG J
28/6 CX289 HKG-FRA F
18/7 CX288 FRA-HKG F
19/7 QF118 HKG-SYD J
20/7 QF429 SYD-MEL J

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[grussellt]

Have you tried calling AAdvantage. There could be availability on JL or MH to CDG. You could also try MEL-AMM-CDG but it will cost you extra miles (2 awards).

 

[DTM1]

You should note that AA have just published their updated awards table, which will be effective for booking made after the end of the year - required miles go up significantly, so make sure you get your booking done and ticketed before December 31.

 

[incumbent]

You should note that AA have just published their updated awards table, which will be effective for booking made after the end of the year - required miles go up significantly, so make sure you get your booking done and ticketed before December 31.

Isn't the key date March 21?

Award levels valid for travel booked on or after March 22, 2016.

 

[andye]

You should note that AA have just published their updated awards table, which will be effective for booking made after the end of the year - required miles go up significantly, so make sure you get your booking done and ticketed before December 31.

The old redemption chart finishes on March 21st 2016-whether there will be any award space on the whole of One World by then is another matter

 

[sietes]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was aware of the pending devaluation.

On the phone the AA consultant could find any flights in /out of Paris around the time i was after, but found me availability on the flights i posted above into FRA and on EY ex FRA in F. Very happy to try another airline in F so i booked immediately. Just waiting for it to ticket as there was an issue putting the payment through while i was on the phone with them and they had to get in touch with 'support' to assist.

 

[sietes]

Just for completeness this is my final booking:

27/6 QF600 MEL-BNE J
27/6 QF097 BNE-HKG J
28/6 CX289 HKG-FRA F
18/7 EY008 FRA-AUH F
19/7 EY462 HKG-AUH F

Cost 180K AA points with the EY penalty plus about AU$260 in taxes. Not the best but IMHO far from the worst.

 

[Spizz]

How are you getting from AUH to HKG? Also how are you getting home?

Just for completeness this is my final booking:

27/6 QF600 MEL-BNE J
27/6 QF097 BNE-HKG J
28/6 CX289 HKG-FRA F
18/7 EY008 FRA-AUH F
19/7 EY462 HKG-AUH F

Cost 180K AA points with the EY penalty plus about AU$260 in taxes. Not the best but IMHO far from the worst.

 

[grussellt]

EY462 is actually AUH-MEL.

 

[sietes]

EY462 is actually AUH-MEL.

Yes it was a copy/paste mistake. Thanks.