Are fares usually cheaper on AA.com ??

[aus_flyer]

I just booked a flight from BNE to AKL on the Qantas website.
Just out of interest, I then had a look to see how much it was on AA.com

Huge difference!!

Qantas was $269
AA was $154.30USD which is roughly $209

$209 vs $269 - that's a 22% discount!!

Is this normally the case? If so, I will certainly check AA.com in the future - any problems getting points credited to QFF?

 

[aus_flyer]

I've just checked a whole bunch of different flights - and they are ALL cheaper!!

 

[Dave Noble]

Good isn't it

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

I've just checked the "detailed fare rules" for a SYD to BNE flight and it states that tickets must not be sold in Australia...

Is this enforced?

Advance reservation ticketing restriction
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SECTORS. WAITLIST NOT PERMITTED. NOTE - IF TICKET IS SOLD OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA - THE TTL OF THE INTERNATIONAL FARE APPLIES. --- THIS FARE MUST BE ISSUED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A QF/AO/BA/AA INTERNATIONAL FARE. --- GROUPS NOT PERMITTED - CONTACT QF GROUPS DEPT

Sales restrictions
TICKETS MAY NOT BE SOLD IN AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND. NOTE - ---ELECTRONIC TICKET REQUIRED--- TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING. EXCEPT FOR - - TICKETS ON WHICH THIS FARE IS COMBINED WITH OTHER CARRIERS WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ELETRONIC TICKETING - TICKETS INCLUDING TRAVEL ON ALL LAUNCH SERVICES - FREQUENT FLYER BOOKINGS CLASSES X/T/U/Z - BOOKINGS THAT CONTAIN CODE CBBG - QANTAS CODESHARE NOT OPERATED BY AA/BA/JQ - REGIONAL AIRLINES / AIRPORTS WITH NO FACILITY TO ISSUE E TICKETS - EXCLUDED FLIGHTS -------------------------------------------------- TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON THE STOCK OF QF/AO/BA/AA ONLY -------------------------------------------------- WHEN SOLD OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA INBOUND TRAVEL MUST BE ON QF/AO/BA/AA. DOMESTIC FARE MUST BE ISSUED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INBOUND TICKET.

 

[JohnK]

I've just checked the "detailed fare rules" for a SYD to BNE flight and it states that tickets must not be sold in Australia...

Is this enforced?

Purchase at your own risk! Is the hassle it may cause really worth the saving?

 

[aus_flyer]

Purchase at your own risk! Is the hassle it may cause really worth the saving?

Has anyone tested it?? Dave?

 

[Dave Noble]

Has anyone tested it?? Dave?

Yes it has been tested. The rule about not being sold in Australia is covered simply by the fact tha AA.com is not in Australia or New Zealand. Just go to aa.com and click purchase and wait for your ticket to arrive in the email

Just one note... on the credit card payment page it asks for country... select UK

Dave

 

[QF WP]

Yes, I've tested it numerous times (I can't comment about whether others have as well). Simple to ring AA UK or AA USA and make the booking and either have them also ticket it, or have it ticketed here by AA North Sydney office.

I did this for our USA trip in Dec/JAn with Dav's help...4 AA tickets for both of us and it saved me around $600. Certainly didn't spend anywhere near $20 on the telephone calls (but I spend $60 on taking Dave Noble to dinner to say thank you!!)

I have also done it for domestic fares (K and above), where the savings have been as high as $200AUD (for a K class ticket BNE/PER/ADL/BNE). The only concern is if you need to change the flights before one commences the journey (having to ring USA or UK to make the change).

Some minor troubles on getting FF points credited to both programs from separate flights in the same ticket...but witha little help from CSA's or Dave Noble, have always had them credit to the riht place.

It "seems" difficult until one had done it a couple of times and it becomes second nature. Now I wouldn't turn back...

With

 

[StevePER]

Some domestic flights on aa.com are actually cheaper than rededeals.

PER-OOL for example is $18 cheaper, and PER-CNS is $1 cheaper. And on aa.com they are booked in S class so they are upgradeable.

Interesting.

 

[Dave Noble]

Some domestic flights on aa.com are actually cheaper than rededeals.

PER-OOL for example is $18 cheaper, and PER-CNS is $1 cheaper. And on aa.com they are booked in S class so they are upgradeable.

Interesting.

It does happen since the price of the N fare plus taxes plus GST can be more than the S fare plus taxes when sold without GST

AA.com is also nicer than the QF site when wanting to book to go indirectly ( e.g. to book a DOX fare to go from SYD-CBR-MEL ) where the fare comes out as the SYD-MEL DOX fare plus 1 fuel levy

Dave

 

[turtlemichael]

(but I spend $60 on taking Dave Noble to dinner to say thank you!!)

Lindsay, I saved $900 on some "Dave advice" and I only bought him two beers! I feel really mean after what you have said!

Michael

 

[FrankC]

Some domestic flights on aa.com are actually cheaper than rededeals.

PER-OOL for example is $18 cheaper, and PER-CNS is $1 cheaper. And on aa.com they are booked in S class so they are upgradeable.

Interesting.

How do you book domestic flights on aa.com? All I got is:

Check below for errors:

• No flights were found. Try expanding your search by selecting alternate dates, class of service, airports, number of stops or including more carriers. Please check Where We Fly for airports we serve.

 

[Dave Noble]

How do you book domestic flights on aa.com? All I got is:

Check below for errors:

• No flights were found. Try expanding your search by selecting alternate dates, class of service, airports, number of stops or including more carriers. Please check Where We Fly for airports we serve.

You are probably only checking on AA flights ( of which there is none )

If you are on the front page of aa.com, in the "make reservation" box there is a "more options" . Click on this and in the reservation page that opens, under

"6. Choose a Carrier ", select

"AA, American Eagle, AmericanConnection® and oneworld"

You should now get flights

Dave

 

[Maca44]

How do you book domestic flights on aa.com? All I got is:

Check below for errors:

• No flights were found. Try expanding your search by selecting alternate dates, class of service, airports, number of stops or including more carriers. Please check Where We Fly for airports we serve.

Go to advanced search and click on "all carriers".

 

[MetroAir]

Hmmmm.......

Followed all the above instructions and it will return flights but not prices

 

[Dave Noble]

Hmmmm.......

Followed all the above instructions and it will return flights but not prices

What route and dates are you trying to find flights for ?

Dave

 

[Maca44]

Hmmmm.......

Followed all the above instructions and it will return flights but not prices

After "more options" (not advanced like I said in my earlier post) and selecting the carrier (ie AA, American Eagle, AmericanConnection® and oneworld or all carriers) select continue..

Select the flights you want and then "continue" at bottom of page
On next page select "Continue without logging in" and in the next page you should have something like this (It is in US$)

Average Fare per Person - 264.00 USD
Passenger Type Used in PricingFare per PersonAdditional Taxes and Fees per PersonTotal Price1 Adult
264.00 USD 13.40 USD 277.40 USD
Total Price 277.40 USD

 

[MetroAir]

What route and dates are you trying to find flights for ?

Dave

August, BNE - MEL J class, but perhaps it was because I was logging in.

I will try it without logging in.

 

[MetroAir]

Nope, still no go

Check below for errors:

• We are unable to provide a price for your itinerary. Please contact your local American Airlines Reservations Office at 1-800-433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada, 0208-572-5555 inside London, or 08457-789-789 outside London for assistance.

 

[Dave Noble]

I just did August 12 BNE-MEL Business Class with restrictions

I used "More Options"

I selected OW carriers and that I was in Country of Residence UK

I also then selected Search by Schedule

One Way came out at GBP330 (GBP328 plus GBP2.20 taxes)

Round Trip came out at GBP659 (GBP656 plus GBP3.10 taxes )

Fare Basis was J

It worked whether I was logged in or not

For Comparison, this worked out at AUD1620 vs the AUD1960 from Qantas.com

Do you have any oddities with your settings ; e.g. have you got cookies disabled or using a browser other than IE?

Dave