Booking AA Flights - Use AA US or AA Aus?

[elanshin]

I was just looking at booking some flights for next month and decided to take a look at AA prices.

I was very surprised to find just how much of a difference there was in pricing for the US site (converted) and the aussie site.

For example, the same flight I was looking at costed $882 AUD for 2 pax when it only costed 361 USD (~$537 AUD converted paid on my card) from the US site.





That's a pretty big difference that we're getting fleeced here.

 

[QPProletarian]

the AU site is Amadeus also vs Sabre

its a bit of a pain, have to always keep going to the US site with the flag. For CC it often won't let you pick an AU address but usually works with hotel or use 0 prefix on Australian post code.

 

[SYD]

You might want to double check the pricing when 2 more PAX. One quotes total trip (for all PAX pretty sure that’s the .AU site) and the other price per PAX (US site).

I’ve booked using both more recently but, yes years ago the .AU site always seemed a lot more expensive and less flight and fare options.

 

[NM]

I always go direct to AA in the USA for anything. Always avoid AA AU. I have always had better service and minimised cost by doing so.

 

[elanshin]

You might want to double check the pricing when 2 more PAX. One quotes total trip (for all PAX pretty sure that’s the .AU site) and the other price per PAX (US site).

I’ve booked using both more recently but, yes years ago the .AU site always seemed a lot more expensive and less flight and fare options.

No i checked carefully. Given many US sites often don't have tax included, I'm always checking the final checkout number and breakdown.

Pretty surprised at how big the price difference is, but that is indeed the price gap.

 

[QPProletarian]

Could be because of NDC fares direct and not published into Amadeus

 

[RealtimeY]

I've noticed this difference also when booking domestic flights with them, as Google Flights will send you to the US site which won't actually accept your payment. It's a bit annoying, but it isn't too hard to get a friend to pay for them or just enter made up billing details.

 

[burmans]

I've noticed this difference also when booking domestic flights with them, as Google Flights will send you to the US site which won't actually accept your payment. It's a bit annoying, but it isn't too hard to get a friend to pay for them or just enter made up billing details.

It’s covered elsewhere so won’t repeat but it’s certainly possible to pay with Aus credit card. Search for El Segundo on this site.

 

[SYD]

It’s covered elsewhere so won’t repeat but it’s certainly possible to pay with Aus credit card. Search for El Segundo on this site.

or as mentioned earlier, your hotel (at the start or finish of your trip) is more than legit!

 

[drron]

The other way is to add 0 to your post code. To check that is a legit zip code check here first-

List of ZIP Code prefixes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Basically if you live in NSW and so your post code starts with 2 then a 0 before it means it is in Massachusetts. So just check that state to see if your code is legit,
As an example putting a 0 in front of my post code means it is in Maine and does exist so I put my PO box address,town but State is Maine then the zip code. Amex or the CBA pay it every time.

 

[burmans]

Aus cards don’t validate the post code (but AA does check it’s a valid one as above).

 

[smckay]

Just about to book this trip - left side is AA in Australian area choice, right side is US site using a VPN with a US IP address.

Same pricing I can see at a $0.65 exchange rate.

Hoping there's not another hack where I can save a few bucks?

 

[Lynda2475]

If you dont want to fudge post code or address you can simply book on the US site but instead of checking out put your reservation on hold (a very useful feature), this gives you PNR and saves the seats and fare for a couple of days.

Then call AA customer service (you can use the Aus number as all calls US or Aus go to the Philippines anyway) and tell them you want to pay for your on hold reservation using your Aussie card (i use fee free debit card). They can can capture you actual billing address no issues. Make sure to stress you want to pay in USD and all will be good.

 

[RealtimeY]

I don't think you even need to use a VPN, you can just use the US site or click through from Google Flights which sends you directly to the US booking page.

 

[Lynda2475]

Correct no VPN nor fake post codes required.

 

[SYD]

View attachment 413594 View attachment 413595
Just about to book this trip - left side is AA in Australian area choice, right side is US site using a VPN with a US IP address.

Same pricing I can see at a $0.65 exchange rate.

Hoping there's not another hack where I can save a few bucks?

Importantly, your example shows that pricing can (and should be) the same / close. As opposed to being significantly different - as was the case in the past.

It’s also a good example to look closely. The .au website prices a total (for all PAX) and US is price per person - which can obviously look much cheaper at first pass.

If your happy that the price is the same, then booking with the .au website means you pay in AUD and no foreign currency fee.

Sometimes, the US website as more flight options, so it can be handy and if you have a fee free CC, than you’re no worse off price wise.

Personally, I have absolutely zero problems using a US address. A hotel or AirBnB works just fine. As does Beverly Hills, 90210 or El Segundo….

 

[Lynda2475]

Sometimes, the US website as more flight options, so it can be handy and if you have a fee free CC, than you’re no worse off price wise.

This! Not only is it usually cheaper but you get far more options for departure times and routing.

Given how much cheaper AA domestic J in US vs similar length flights of QF domestic J In Aus, there can be some fabulous options for earning SCs that often don't get offered on the AU AA site.

 

[smckay]

This! Not only is it usually cheaper but you get far more options for departure times and routing.

Given how much cheaper AA domestic J in US vs similar length flights of QF domestic J In Aus, there can be some fabulous options for earning SCs that often don't get offered on the AU AA site.

True. The US site gave us the 8.20am option on AA which fits better with our QF12 jaunt.
I also booked AA Quito-Miami for much cheaper on the US site compared to .AU, and paying with Aus cc and Miami hotel address was no issues.

 

[justinbrett]

The danger of fudging your address is if you are ever in the situation where you receive a flight credit, AA still use physical paper vouchers that they will mail to you.

Personally I take the extra few minutes to make the call to AA Aus. You can also pay with AUD if you like.

 

[madrooster]

Hoping there's not another hack where I can save a few bucks?

For more expensive domestic fares, you can exempt two taxes on the domestic ticket if you also have an international ticket.

You have to purchase from a travel agent that knows how to do tax exemptions and they must be located outside of the US though, but in your example you could probably get rid of about 170 AUD in taxes.