American advantage rules and other questions

[spiderlegs0668]

Hi, I am planning on booking some award flights from melbourne to athens using EY and then Dublin to Melbourne with the same airline. Both of these flights stop in Abu Dhabi and all flights have different numbers. Can anyone let me know are both of these flights considered two legs or would I get away with them being one leg each way. Also If I then add a purchase a flight separately from Athens to Corfu on the same day, can I get my bags to be delivered to Corfu or do I have to pick up the bags in Athens and then check in again?

As this is my first booking I would appreciate any assistance on this before I make the call.

 

[RooFlyer]

You may care to also check out the AA forum.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi, I am planning on booking some award flights from melbourne to athens using EY and then Dublin to Melbourne with the same airline. Both of these flights stop in Abu Dhabi and all flights have different numbers. Can anyone let me know are both of these flights considered two legs or would I get away with them being one leg each way. Also If I then add a purchase a flight separately from Athens to Corfu on the same day, can I get my bags to be delivered to Corfu or do I have to pick up the bags in Athens and then check in again?

As this is my first booking I would appreciate any assistance on this before I make the call.

This will be considered two awards each way (total of four awards).

The exceptions to this rule are travel with Qatar (connecting in DOH), or the single QF flight number from SYD/MEL to LHR (with an onward connection from there).

 

[Hvr]

Do they show on the booking page? If so then you're fine as it will show the routing. I can see various routings via different cities that will get you to ATH but none through DXB. Do you need to go through DXB or is this what your searches have shown?

Basically if the AA reward booking page offers it then you're fine.

Oh and welcome to AFF.

 

[spiderlegs0668]

Hi all, thank you for all your help. I did not know about the AA forum, it is great. I have been onto AA and yes each flight is a sector by itself. I checked all routes that I could find using the KVS tool and not much in terms of availability. However, I had the points and it is a really easy convenient route so booked it. Am delighted with this. Role on my holiday

 

[smit0847]

Hi all, thank you for all your help. I did not know about the AA forum, it is great. I have been onto AA and yes each flight is a sector by itself. I checked all routes that I could find using the KVS tool and not much in terms of availability. However, I had the points and it is a really easy convenient route so booked it. Am delighted with this. Role on my holiday

what was the points and fees cost?

 

[spiderlegs0668]

Hi Business class from Melbourne to Athens and Dublin to Melbourne cost 150k miles. The Mel-Ath first class, followed by Dub - Abudhabi economy, followed by first class Abu Dhabi Melbourne actually ended up costing 180k. I had originally expected to get these flights fro 160 so not too bad in the end although business from Dublin to Abu Dhabi seems to be hard to get.

I booked through america but when I call Austrlia to pay taxes ect they advised that there is an $80 booking fee unless I pay online. I went online and can see the reservation but do not seem to be able to make a payment. Has anybody had this issue before and if so how was it resolved.

Thanks again

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi Business class from Melbourne to Athens and Dublin to Melbourne cost 150k miles. The Mel-Ath first class, followed by Dub - Abudhabi economy, followed by first class Abu Dhabi Melbourne actually ended up costing 180k. I had originally expected to get these flights fro 160 so not too bad in the end although business from Dublin to Abu Dhabi seems to be hard to get.

I booked through america but when I call Austrlia to pay taxes ect they advised that there is an $80 booking fee unless I pay online. I went online and can see the reservation but do not seem to be able to make a payment. Has anybody had this issue before and if so how was it resolved.

Thanks again

If you are on line making the payment, I think you have to leave out the postcode as this is only required for US bookings or something (this happened to me a couple years ago... payment just wouldn't process. When I called AA they pointed out the error! All worked fine.)

 

[RooFlyer]

This thread may also have some useful info for you.

 

[Alanslegal]

Hi Business class from Melbourne to Athens and Dublin to Melbourne cost 150k miles. The Mel-Ath first class, followed by Dub - Abudhabi economy, followed by first class Abu Dhabi Melbourne actually ended up costing 180k. I had originally expected to get these flights fro 160 so not too bad in the end although business from Dublin to Abu Dhabi seems to be hard to get.

The miles are correct.

 

[spiderlegs0668]

Thanks, the flights I booked had to be booked over teh phone as they are not on the AA website. However, once booked they appear under my account online but it does not give me the option to pay online. I think it is because the booking was over the phone. AA AMerica would not take my card and AA australia want to charge me $80 (i assume this is per person). I might try america again tonight and just see if they will process if not I think i have to wear the fee.

 

[ejd711]

As at February, the AA Australian phone line was waiving phone booking charge when unable to be booked online (EY unable to be booked online), so I would politely ask that the fee is waived as it is not possible to book online? There's a thread somewhere in the AA forum about this.

 

[spiderlegs0668]

Thanks you I will have a look for that and see if I can speak to someone who can help.

 

[spiderlegs0668]

Hi all, thanks for help. I got onto the AA website and found the waiver note. I rang the Austrlian reservation armed with the detail and was never even mentioned the 80 fee. It obviously depends on who you speak to. I will keep an eye on my credit card to see if any additional charges are made but fingers crossed it looks like it went fine.

 

[DC3]

Very sneaky on their (Fiji?) part?

 

[Danger]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....couple-questions-aadvantage-newbie-59133.html

 

[Moindardt]

Strange. I have rung the american number (australian wasn't working for some reason) a couple of times and used my Amex Plat Charge. They asked what card, I said Amex, gave details and done. They even asked for the billing address so they knew it was Australia.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

You may care to also check out the AA forum.

Just curious which page here do you think is the definitive AA forum? I would like to brush up on the rules etc of the AA program since it has changed but I'm not sure which link is the best to start reading?

Is it this one? What others would you suggest?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....couple-questions-aadvantage-newbie-59133.html

 

[Swan]

This will be considered two awards each way (total of four awards).

The exceptions to this rule are travel with Qatar (connecting in DOH), or the single QF flight number from SYD/MEL to LHR (with an onward connection from there).

My understanding is Qatar connecting in Doha will be two awards. Has any one any experience with this as I have not been able to book it as one award.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My understanding is Qatar connecting in Doha will be two awards. Has any one any experience with this as I have not been able to book it as one award.

It's know as the 'doha' exception. The rules previously allowed connections in Doha for travel to Asia (from Europe etc), but this has now been extended to include Australia. Unless it's changed back in the last couple weeks or so.