AAdvantage reservations with the lowest taxes/charges

[Must...Fly!]

Hi everyone,

I'm just off the phone with the AAdvantage desk in the USA who wouldn't let me book with them over the phone because the credit card I have has an Australian billing address, and gave me the number to the Australian AA office to book with as a result. (PER-xSYD-WLG in J if it means anything).

As I understand it the taxes/charges are higher at the Australian AA office compared to the USA AA office (higher booking fee and GST on top).

Any AFF'ers know of a way around this? Or am I doomed to higher charges?:-|

 

[Flashback]

Hi everyone,

I'm just off the phone with the AAdvantage desk in the USA who wouldn't let me book with them over the phone because the credit card I have has an Australian billing address, and gave me the number to the Australian AA office to book with as a result. (PER-xSYD-WLG in J if it means anything).

As I understand it the taxes/charges are higher at the Australian AA office compared to the USA AA office (higher booking fee and GST on top).

Any AFF'ers know of a way around this? Or am I doomed to higher charges?:-|

I believe you can do it through the UK office, which also has a lower booking fee.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thanks for the advice Flashware, but for some reason international calling was not working on my mobile.

Decided to just book with the Australian office. About $30-$40 more, but at least I have the seat booked now, as there were only 2 in U bucket left...now 1

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the advice Flashware, but for some reason international calling was not working on my mobile.

Decided to just book with the Australian office. About $30-$40 more, but at least I have the seat booked now, as there were only 2 in U bucket left...now 1

Cool! You can always use Skype too and dial the toll-free numbers

 

[Must...Fly!]

Cool! You can always use Skype too and dial the toll-free numbers

Yeah that's what I did for the USA one, but the UK number isn't toll free unfortunately.

 

[dk4]

To book with AAdvantage, in the USA over the phone (when not dealing with a premium line agent), simply give your Australian address as follows -

For the Street Address - give your billing address as per normal, BUT also get the agent to include your Australian Suburb, Australian State Abbreviation and Postcode into the second line of this field.

Next, for your "State", get them to enter the two letter USA State abbreviation as "AU".

And for your "Zip Code", give them 5 zeros - "00000".

And viola, if everything goes smoothly you should be able to completely avoid having to deal with the hopeless AA Australia telephone line again. (Unless you like to wait forever and pay more!)


caveat - works for me - YMMV

 

[Flashback]

Yeah that's what I did for the USA one, but the UK number isn't toll free unfortunately.

You could add the minimum Skype credit to your account (around $16 AUD) and call the UK number, you'd still come out on top :mrgreen:

 

[Must...Fly!]

You could add the minimum Skype credit to your account (around $16 AUD) and call the UK number, you'd still come out on top :mrgreen:

I considered this, but didn't want to stuff around with Skype. The extra couple of dollars won't kill my budget

 

[Australian]

Is it just me, but the OZ AA number drives me mad!!!!

Putting aside that I think i've always had at LEAST a 20 mins wait just to get thru ... every time i do deal with them, they're nice enough, but usually seem to get something wrong (eg, misunderstand what you were requesting; only do half of what was needed; have to keep re-explaining everything every time you call as there seems to be no notes/records; etc) ...

shesh! :-| but yeah, at least they're polite ...

 

[serfty]

... every time i do deal with them, they're nice enough, but usually seem to get something wrong (eg, misunderstand what you were requesting; only do half of what was needed; have to keep re-explaining everything every time you call as there seems to be no notes/records; etc) ...

shesh! :-| but yeah, at least they're polite ...

Oh my goodness ... !:shock:

Thesedays, when compared to what it was like before they relocated to Brisbane from the sub-continent it's a dream!

Back then one generally needed the phonetic alphabet handy merely to communicate in english. :-|

 

[notzac]

I've generally had a great deal of luck with the AAdvantage crew in BNE (though that said, all I'm generally asking them to do is ticket an existing Sabre PNR that I've set up and put on hold, so not exactly taxing stuff..!)

 

[Australian]

I've generally had a great deal of luck with the AAdvantage crew in BNE (though that said, all I'm generally asking them to do is ticket an existing Sabre PNR that I've set up and put on hold, so not exactly taxing stuff..!)

... You would think! :/

 

[adrian]

To book with AAdvantage, in the USA over the phone (when not dealing with a premium line agent), simply give your Australian address as follows -

For the Street Address - give your billing address as per normal, BUT also get the agent to include your Australian Suburb, Australian State Abbreviation and Postcode into the second line of this field.

Next, for your "State", get them to enter the two letter USA State abbreviation as "AU".

And for your "Zip Code", give them 5 zeros - "00000".

And viola, if everything goes smoothly you should be able to completely avoid having to deal with the hopeless AA Australia telephone line again. (Unless you like to wait forever and pay more!)


caveat - works for me - YMMV

This is similar to what I do...

Give my real address, but ask them to change the "zip" code to 90026, state to CA, and country to USA. Have done this 40 to 50 times now, and as recently as last night. Works every time....