An interesting outcome for an AA Australia-NZ award

[wandering_fred]

From the AA all partner award page

Travel between Australia and New Zealand may use the 'Wholly Within' one country award. [Note: this is 17.5k miles each in Biz]

I was booking two award seats PER-AKL in Biz. Redeye from Perth to Sydney is not a problem. But QF has no award availability SYD-AKL on QF55, but LA800 does. When the lovely lady asked me if I wish to hold, I said no, and the her reply was 60K miles please.

I promptly asked why. The reply was that the wholly in one country rate ONLY APPLIES to QF flight connections.

As it turned out there is availability via BNE But the domestic - international connection soft shoe shuffle involves a train trip.

Anyone else found this out the hard way?

Fred

 

[NM]

As it turned out there is availability via BNE But the domestic - international connection soft shoe shuffle involves a train trip.

The train connection in BNE is just as easy as the bus connection in SYD so long as you are not trying to transfer after the train stops for the night. And its free with your QF boarding pass.

Anyone else found this out the hard way?

I have not heard of that one, and certainly not noticed any fine print indicating it was to be QF-only itinerary.

 

[Flashback]

Suggest maybe calling again and try to get another AAgent..

 

[JonNYC]

Correct answer here:
Traveling Better Forums - View Single Post - Use of Australia <-> New Zealand "within one Country" AAward, QF only?

 

[benhadi]

are you allowed to do a "stopover"? i.e. PER-BNE (stopoever for a few days) then continue on to BNE-AKL?

I'm looking at redeeming an award (never done this before using AA) from AKL-PER, but would prefer to stopover in BNE for a few days.

Hoping to get some help from the learned here who are familiar with AA.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[futaris]

You used to be able to do stopovers, but no longer... You can only do stopovers at the USA Intenational Gateway(s). If you want a stopover, it becomes two awards, or a Oneworld award.

Award Rules (AA - FlyerGuide Wiki)

Travel between or within all other regions

• No stopovers are allowed.

AA and All-Partner award travel stopover/transit rules *REVISED w/ ROUTING rules* - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Dave Noble]

You used to be able to do stopovers, but no longer... You can only do stopovers at the USA Intenational Gateway(s). If you want a stopover, it becomes two awards, or a Oneworld award.

Stopovers are indeed not allowed, however this has not changed in this case and stopovers were not previously permitted on awards within SWP.

Dave

 

[albatross710]

As it turned out there is availability via BNE But the domestic - international connection soft shoe shuffle involves a train trip.

I did hear that they have introduced an inter-terminal bus as well

TBus

TBus offers connection between the Domestic and International Terminals

Bus stops are located outside the Qantas and Virgin Blue arrivals hall at the Domestic Terminal, and, outside the arrivals hall at the international

Price per person is A$ 5.00 ( children under 4 travels for free)

Brisbane Airport - Inter-Terminal Transfers