As a QFF is it better to book QF or AA code ?

[therudies86]

On a recent trip to mid-west US I was caught up in weather related delays, which meant my 22 hours turned into 48 hours. I travel to the US a few times a year, and I'm looking at ways to minimise the risk of being impacted by weather delays.

My SYD-DFW QF7 flight was delayed (via PHX for refuel) as DFW was temporarily closed for a storm. That storm meant multiple cancellations across the network, and given the already heavy flight loads around Easter, I traipsed from gate to gate on wait lists trying to get to my final destination. I managed to get on to a flight 12 hours later when I was the second on a wait list of 62 people - and I was the lucky last to secure a seat !

I was booked on QF flight codes all the way through - better points & status credits right ? I'm WP and was travelling on paid Y+ which I think meant a flex Y fare code for my final leg.

My questions are:
1. Would I have been higher on wait lists (and got on an earlier flight) if I had booked using an AA flight code rather than using a QF code ?
2. If I have booked business for the last leg would that have (more likely) got me on an earlier flight ?

Thanks in advance,

 

[serfty]

I have not had an IRROP when on codeshare so I really can't answer your questions.

Were you able to observe the standby lists on the AA app?

When on QF codeshares, I have generally worked via the AA PNR and flight number.

In my experience AA treat emeralds in IRROPS similarly to EXP, but that was with AA flight numbers.

(Once went to a gate in LGA where SWMBO and I had been put on standby due to our flight being cancelled [First Class, standby for Economy], we were 1 and 2 out of a list of 65+ PAX.)

 

[madrooster]

I was booked on QF flight codes all the way through - better points & status credits right ? I'm WP and was travelling on paid Y+ which I think meant a flex Y fare code for my final leg.

My questions are:
1. Would I have been higher on wait lists (and got on an earlier flight) if I had booked using an AA flight code rather than using a QF code ?
2. If I have booked business for the last leg would that have (more likely) got me on an earlier flight ?

Thanks in advance,

If you are booked in discount Y, the QF codes earn better. If you are booked in flexi Y or W, the AA code can earn better than the QF code. If you are booked in J, then the QF code earns better.

That is assuming both the QF and AA codes are the same price. At times the QF code is more than the AA code in which case the QF code does not make sense.

QF fares stipulate to book the lowest available class on QF codeshares. So even though you might be on a H class flexi Y fare, you could be booked in discount bottom of the barrel O class on the QF codeshare on AA. In contrast the rules stipulate to book H class on AA and only H class (oneworld requirement). So, in such a situation the AA flight numberr in H class would potentially earn more than the QF codeshare booked in O class.

In regards to the questions...

1. No - if they waitlist you, they waitlist on the AA flight number anyway and the codeshare segment at this point is then turfed out of the PNR entirely. They then manually attach the QF codeshare ticket coupon to the AA flight numbered segment.

2. Unlikely. AA gives most of their seats away as upgrades at around 100 hours before departure meaning there's very little left come the day of departure in J. You would be competing for 1-2 seats in J, vs many more seats in Y, so you would be better off competing for the seats in Y.

 

[justinbrett]

Your status makes a difference (and theoretically they'll look after AA elites over ow elites in the same category) but the marketing carrier does not.

DFW is plagued by thunderstorms - I've spent my fair share of time in the AA lounge waiting to be rebooked.

Also agree with the above re: J availability - it's terrible. I booked around 12 J domestic legs last year and discovered effectively they are non-flexible because there is often no J availability within 24 hours of the flight. So continue as planned or downgrade myself. I guess that's why it's much cheaper than QF domestic J.

In your example above you probably would have been downgraded regardless - although it might have put you higher in the waitlist queue. It's a shame QF couldn't leave you in PHX being an AA hub.

 

[madrooster]

In your example above you probably would have been downgraded regardless - although it might have put you higher in the waitlist queue. It's a shame QF couldn't leave you in PHX being an AA hub.

Class of service has no bearing on the waitlist queue. Status, then rolling EQD earn (not applicable to partner elites) and then time of check in is what matters.

 

[DC3]

A bit O/T but sometimes when flying AA, I have been told “Oh, you are EXP” when I have had no AA status, but QF WP. Not sure why anyone would say that. Has happened when they are reading of their computer screen. Not sure exactly what shows on the AA system, maybe OWE.

 

[madrooster]

A bit O/T but sometimes when flying AA, I have been told “Oh, you are EXP” when I have had no AA status, but QF WP. Not sure why anyone would say that. Has happened when they are reading of their computer screen. Not sure exactly what shows on the AA system, maybe OWE.

Sabre shows EXP/EMD for executive platinums and EMD for non-AA emeralds.

The pax manifest however shows EP (executive platinum) for all emeralds - AA or non-AA.

 

[DC3]

Sabre shows EXP/EMD for executive platinums and EMD for non-AA emeralds.

The pax manifest however shows EP (executive platinum) for all emeralds - AA or non-AA.

Interesting. Thanks for the information.

 

[therudies86]

Thanks all, very informative contributions. Looks like its back to transiting through LAX for me