AAward Redemptions

[Paddy55]

Mrs Paddy and I have managed to accumulate just over 500,000 AA points, many via judicious purchasing of miles over a period of time.
I've in fact got 327K and Mrs Paddy 174K


We are planning a couple of trips, our first in fact using Aawards end next year and beyond:


The first trip involves award tickets for Mrs Paddy and Paddy Jnr

1a. 2 x J SYD-HKG on CX (70,000 points total) - stay in HKG 3 days
1b. 2 x F HKG-YYZ-MIA on CX & AA (125,000 points total) - stay in Toronto 5 days and Miami 2 weeks, and
1c. 2 x F MIA-JFK-SYD on AA & QF (145,000 points total) - stay in New York 5 days


then then second is just for Mrs Paddy

2a SYD-Europe-SYD (160,000 points total) - stay in Europe 3 weeks


I'll weave a DONE4 in to the above to accompany the Paddys on most flights, with a couple of upgrades hopefully seeing myself up the front of the boat with the Mrs!

After reading AFF and the vastness of FT I've still few questions for those experienced with AAwards.

1. Assuming I'm able to book 330 days out what confidence should I have of 2 x J or F award seats on the various sectors?
2. Can I book the awards from our total points, including for Paddy Jnr who doesn't have an Aadvantage card, or do I have to xfer the points to a single account for each booking?
3. Are there any feelings on QF vs CX award seat availability?
4. I'd like confirmation that MIA-JFK-SYD, flying AA to JFK where we break the journey, then on AA to LAX connecting to QF to SYD is kosher, please?

Any other advice really appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Paddy

 

[moa999]

Mrs Paddy and I have managed to accumulate just over 500,000 AA points, many via judicious purchasing of miles over a period of time.

Impressive. what do you mean by judicious purchasing.

your biggest issue is likely to be jfk-syd where qf members will be able to snap up at 35x days and the limited availability may go.

hopefully one of the aa members here can provide more colour

 

[grussellt]

I've just booked 2 x J for SYD-NRT-LHR-CDG on AA but flying JAL/BA in September next year for 120,000 miles. There was pretty good availability via NRT but not so good via HKG. You can also use BKK and SIN I think Cathay often put premium awards in later. Not all awards show up on QF but a site like awardnexus proved very helpful for JL and AA awards as well as BA and CX. If you know the routes and availability booking by phone with AAdvantage was very easy (use the US number - 1-800-882-8880 ; it's a free call on google voice in gmail.)

I don't think you can have a JFK stopover (except less than 24hr) for MIA-SYD. Your stopover must be at the point of exit from the US so probably LAX or DFW. Hope this is helpful

 

[drron]

Unfortunately neither your HKG-YYZ-MIA or the MIA-JFK-SYD fit the rules for an all partner Aaward-no stopovers allowed en route unless in country of origin-eg MIA-LAX-SYD you would be allowed a stopover in LAX as there you leave the USA.MIA-JFK-NRT would probably be valid as you leave the USA from JFK-but no JFK-Australia flights direct.
The solution would be as you have done but with YUPPs YYZ-MIA-JFK.
Or a One World Aaward so the whole lot would be on the one Aaward-ie SYD-HKG-YYZ-MIA-JFK-LAX-SYD would be 230000 miles in F,150000 in J
Problem though it is unlikely you will get 2 F Aawards on QF LAX-SYD.If you come back say JFK-NRT-SYD it would bump you to next mileage category and be 280000 in F or 190000 in J.

 

[Paddy55]

Impressive. what do you mean by judicious purchasing.

your biggest issue is likely to be jfk-syd where qf members will be able to snap up at 35x days and the limited availability may go.

hopefully one of the aa members here can provide more colour

1. AA allows you to buy a certain no of miles per year... 40,000 if memory serves. From time to time AA has promotions that effectively increases your purchasing power, and, rarely, greatly increases your purchasing power. There's fairly regular notices of these promotions on AFF, and I really value them, especially for the value AA burn rates provides on awards compared to Roo Air.

2. Yes I'm wondering what availability there is for awards for travel on QF given the different redemption dates. The feedback of others gives me some encouragement... but... the more certainty the better :shock:

Paddy

 

[Paddy55]

I've just booked 2 x J for SYD-NRT-LHR-CDG on AA but flying JAL/BA in September next year for 120,000 miles. There was pretty good availability via NRT but not so good via HKG. You can also use BKK and SIN I think Cathay often put premium awards in later. Not all awards show up on QF but a site like awardnexus proved very helpful for JL and AA awards as well as BA and CX. If you know the routes and availability booking by phone with AAdvantage was very easy (use the US number - 1-800-882-8880 ; it's a free call on google voice in gmail.)

I don't think you can have a JFK stopover (except less than 24hr) for MIA-SYD. Your stopover must be at the point of exit from the US so probably LAX or DFW. Hope this is helpful

grussellt - good to hear of your experience. I hadn't heard of awardnexus and looks useful, and thanks also re the advice on using the US no rather than Brisbane.

I really appreciate (and have benefitted from) the insights of others on AFF.

Paddy

 

[Paddy55]

Unfortunately neither your HKG-YYZ-MIA or the MIA-JFK-SYD fit the rules for an all partner Aaward-no stopovers allowed en route unless in country of origin-eg MIA-LAX-SYD you would be allowed a stopover in LAX as there you leave the USA.MIA-JFK-NRT would probably be valid as you leave the USA from JFK-but no JFK-Australia flights direct.
The solution would be as you have done but with YUPPs YYZ-MIA-JFK.
Or a One World Aaward so the whole lot would be on the one Aaward-ie SYD-HKG-YYZ-MIA-JFK-LAX-SYD would be 230000 miles in F,150000 in J
Problem though it is unlikely you will get 2 F Aawards on QF LAX-SYD.If you come back say JFK-NRT-SYD it would bump you to next mileage category and be 280000 in F or 190000 in J.

Drron... great advice as I was wondering about One World Aawards. Have used YUPPS to great Aadvantage before so I'll explore that option further too

Paddy