Buying AA Miles

[Madison177204]

I just tried to work out how much it would cost to buy 850,000 AA miles to book a First Class Seat on Etihad SYD/DME and even with a 40% bonus this would cost approx $20,000. Paying for the seat in cash is about $10,000. ??????.

Could someone please check my figures and tell me where I went wrong?

Thank you very much in advance

 

[BacchusMarsh]

I just tried to work out how much it would cost to buy 850,000 AA miles to book a First Class Seat on Etihad SYD/DME and even with a 40% bonus this would cost approx $20,000. Paying for the seat in cash is about $10,000. ??????.

Could someone please check my figures and tell me where I went wrong?

Thank you very much in advance

Where did you get the 850,000 figure from?

I think you'd be looking at 100,000 + 62,500.

 

[Madison177204]

The Etihad site says 849586 miles. I tried to copy the piece from the site but not allowed as I don't have 10 posts. Sure hope someone can clarify. Maybe you could try for yourself to see? TIA.

 

[DC3]

I just tried to work out how much it would cost to buy 850,000 AA miles to book a First Class Seat on Etihad SYD/DME and even with a 40% bonus this would cost approx $20,000. Paying for the seat in cash is about $10,000. ??????.

Could someone please check my figures and tell me where I went wrong?

Thank you very much in advance

AA miles for one-way on EY, First Class, should be:

Australia to Middle East = 100,000
Middle East to Europe = 62,500

 

[TomVexille]

That would be EY Guest miles, and probably not a saver award at those rates. AA miles are a different currency. You need to talk to AA not EY.

 

[Madison177204]

OK Thank you. So their miles (calculations) are different to Etihad's? Sorry, I'm so new to all this and only joined AA yesterday so not allowed to buy yet.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

OK Thank you. So their miles (calculations) are different to Etihad's?

Yes, you need to look here:

https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-...rld-and-other-airline-partner-award-chart.jsp

The flights to and from AUH will price separately. Better to do it on QR if that's an option, it would price as a single trip at 115,000 miles.

 

[Madison177204]

You are a legend! Thank you. I have had a look at the link you supplied and tried it. Does this mean we book through AA and don't buy the points and transfer them to the chosen airline? I note the choices on the site are Qantas and Royal Jordanian. Excuse my ignorance but what does QR mean? I'm not familiar with the lingo yet. Perhaps that means Qantas?

 

[Jonova]

You are a legend! Thank you. I have had a look at the link you supplied and tried it. Does this mean we book through AA and don't buy the points and transfer them to the chosen airline? I note the choices on the site are Qantas and Royal Jordanian. Excuse my ignorance but what does QR mean? I'm not familiar with the lingo yet. Perhaps that means Qantas?

QR = Qatar Airways

You buy the points and book through AA. You won't be able to see availability or book Etihad or Qatar through the AA website, you have to call them and do it over the phone.
You can search for availability for Etihad directly on their on the Etihad website and look for saver awards.
Qatar awards can be searched through the Qantas or BA site. Once you have found your flights give AA a call and give them the flight details.
As quoted above it will cost you less to fly to Europe on Qatar rather than Etihad since it would be on a single trip. Having said that, Etihad's first apartments are fantastic

 

[trooper]

QR is QATAR airlines.

You don't transfer the AA miles...you book an Award flight THROUGH AA....using those AA miles...at rates set by AA.

PLEASE note well that availability of award seats must be taken in to account! Award seat availability is completely different to revenue seat (paid seat). Not trying to "talk down" to you...you may already be well aware of that.... but its a CRITICAL point so I thought its best to mention it.

Availability of award seats on some airlines can't be seen on the AA site... hopefully one of the experts will come along and explain the workarounds.....

 

[Madison177204]

Thank you. Now I understand

 

[casanovawa]

Maybe visit this site a bit more often, 3 years since you've joined and that is a bit of a newbie question...

But good luck...

 

[Madison177204]

Thank you. Guess I will be having some expensive phone calls to the USA but will save money on the flights. Thanks to all for your generosity in sharing your knowledge with a newcomer.

 

[DC3]

There's a guy who does a blog, One Mile at a Time. Unable to post the link, but just google "One Mile at a Time AA EY" and it will probably be the first listed.

It makes good reading for checking EY flights using AA miles.

Look for availability one flight at a time, only.

 

[Jonova]

Thank you. Guess I will be having some expensive phone calls to the USA but will save money on the flights. Thanks to all for your generosity in sharing your knowledge with a newcomer.

They have a local number: 02-9101-1948

 

[Madison177204]

Yes, it's shocking isn't it? Only just got into the swing of the AA and Alaska stuff tho as didn't ever dream it would be possible for us so just zoned out, I guess. I'm grateful to all for their patience. Thanks to all for looking after me

 

[Madison177204]

Thanks. Will use it.

 

[casanovawa]

You can also use Skype on your computer to dial 800 numbers in the USA for free.... Look for AA's AAdvantage numbers on their page...

 

[grussellt]

You can also use the phone in Google (gmail) for free calls to US numbers. Note that you can put AAdvantage awards on hold before you buy miles which reduces the risk.

 

[RooFlyer]

Madison177204, you obviously found the AA section of the forum to post; there are a number of threads there that would be useful for you to review before you go too far (if you haven't read them already ). eg AA-Qatar; AA-Etihad; questions from newbies (really good) etc.