BWI - LAX on AA & LAX-SYD SYD-PER on Qantas

[iskyfly]

Hello!

I am an Australian citizen currently residing in the states and will be returning to my beloved country (sorry, feeling rather patriotic ) this coming Xmas for a little over a month. My understanding is that Qantas and American Airlines have some sort of frequent flyer mileage partnership. Does that mean miles earned on AA can be redeemed on QF and vice versa? I am a FF member of both airlines (Bronze on Qantas). Can I pool together the points for redemption?

Also, for my upcoming trip, do I supply AA with my Qantas FF information, and Qantas with my American Airlines FF info?

Finally, what are the chances of receiving any sort of freebees for this trip (be it, an upgrade or lounge access)? Wishful thinking I know, but curious none the less.


Kind regards!
-Giles

 

[QF WP]

Firstly, welcome to AFF, iskyfly.

I am an Australian citizen currently residing in the states and will be returning to my beloved country (sorry, feeling rather patriotic ) this coming Xmas for a little over a month.

Good decision there :wink: - Australian summer versus US winter (brrr - I was in NYC last Xmas/NY)

My understanding is that Qantas and American Airlines have some sort of frequent flyer mileage partnership. Does that mean miles earned on AA can be redeemed on QF and vice versa?

Yes, that is correct. As both airlines are part of the Oneworld alliance, you can use your points in the AA program to buy QF flights (and vice versa). Here are the links:

AAdvantage Award Chart - All Airlines
QFF Award Chart - QF and Partner Airlines

Normally, though, they are more expensive to cross-buy (as I call it) from the QFF program to AA; rather than use on the same FF program (i.e. use QFF points to redeem for QF flights).

However, on both programs, deep discounted tickets on the other carrier might not earn points (or only earn partial points). Here are the links:

* for the AAdvantage program regarding QF flights
* for the QF FF program regarding AA flights - partial earning or no earning.

I am a FF member of both airlines (Bronze on Qantas). Can I pool together the points for redemption?

No, you can't pool across programs, nor (in the QF program), between people. You must have more than the required points or Upgrade Credits in your own account (although you can buy for eligible family members).

Also, for my upcoming trip, do I supply AA with my Qantas FF information, and Qantas with my American Airlines FF info?

Depends on which FF program you want to earn the points and flight credits.

You could always accelerate your status with an AA Gold or Platinum Challenge. It's the easiest way to get status known to man - I have personally assisted 4 people into AA Platinum status from a couple of flights. As it appears you are going to be buying a return ticket (BWI/LAX/SYD/PER return), I'd plump for the AA Platinum Challenge (but let us know which carrier you choose and the fare basis). I can help you through the process...it's soooooo easy.

Finally, what are the chances of receiving any sort of freebees for this trip (be it, an upgrade or lounge access)? Wishful thinking I know, but curious none the less.

Well, if you have sufficient points in either program already, you could upgrade from WHY to J (but you'll have to credit the points/flight credits to that program as well). As for freebies (upgrades) as a QF Bronze or AA ?? - honestly, about as much chance as an iceberg in the Gobi desert. There will be so many members of both programs above you in the pecking order, don't even rate it a possibility. Lounge access - nil chance as well, unless you are already a Qantas Club or AA Admirals Club member.

But as it appears that you might have a ticket suitable to meet the AA Platinum Challenge, then by the time to arrive back in USA, you'll be AA Plat (OW Sapphire) and that would get you future access to QC or AC for upcoming flights in 2005. Might even have made yourself Platinum by the time you reach PER and get yourself QC/AC lounge access in PER, SYD and LAX on your return journey (but that totally depends on the airline and fare basis). Then you'll really be earnings some FF points (with the Plat bonuses)

 

[iskyfly]

Lindsay,

Thank you very much for the kind welcome and informative reply. You have supplied me with a lot of good info that I am going to read. More than likely I will have more questions so I will be probably posting again soon.

thanks again!
-Giles

 

[QF WP]

iskyfly (aka Giles), actually I realised last night that one of the charts was out of date:

Here's the new link for AAdvantage Award Chart - All Airlines

Hope you find it entralling reading (particularly the AA Plat Challenge) - you'll do it on your ear.

 

[iskyfly]

Hi again Lindsay,

While I am trying to decipher the rules for the challenge I figured I would post some info that I have found out;

BWI - LAX round trip miles on AA are 4781
Fare basis code: Q14RAA2N

LAX - SYD round trip miles on QF are 14982
Fare code: Q

SYD - PER round trip miles on QF are 4082
Fare code: V outbound; S return

Currently I have a big fat 0 miles on both accounts.
AAdvantage member since: Friday, April 20, 1990

Am I correct that I do not want to sign up for the challenge until a couple of days before I commence my trip?

Thanks again!
-Giles

 

[NM]

If you have zero balance in both memberships and are residing in the USA, then I would strongly recommend taking the AA Plat challenge for this trip. The discounted fares will earn Q points at 50%, so you will need to travel 20,000 miles on those fares to make the 10,000 Q-Points requirement for the Plat Challenge. By my calcs, you will make the 10,000 Q-Points before you land back in LAX.

So it is probably worth signing up for the Gold Challenge as well, since you will get to the 5,000 Q-Point requirement on the LAX-SYD flight and hence get the 50% bonus miles for that flight and the SYD-PER-SYD flights. And you will get the 100% bonus for reaching platinim on the SYD-LAX flight and then again for your LAX-BWI flight.

And as a AA Plat, you will get access to the Qantas Club lounges when you come back to Australia next time (while you have the AA Plat status). And you should earn almost 40,000 AA miles for the journey.

 

[QF WP]

iskyfly, you can only start the AA Challenges on the 1st or 16th of the month. So whichever date (of the month) is earlier than your flight date, set both the Challenges to start on the same date (ie. if your flights are 7th, set to start on 1st; if they are on the 22nd start on 16th, I'm sure you get the picture). Yes, you can set both to start - firstly ask them to set up the Gold Challenge, then after that is confirmed, then ask them to set Plat Challenge.

NM is totally correct with his calculations and points raised. Do exactly as he says - I have before and yet to be disappointed with his knowledge (which far exceeds mine).

This is a taste of what you could expect as an AA Platinum. You should also retain Plat until 31 December 2005.

 

[iskyfly]

Hello again NM and Lindsay,

Thank you once again for your replies.

The discounted fares will earn Q points at 50%

I do not see Q fares listed on AAdvantage program regarding QF flights. Am I referencing the wrong page?

Thanks again!
-Giles

 

[NM]

I do not see Q fares listed on AAdvantage program regarding QF flights. Am I referencing the wrong page?

Q fares on AA are now considered deep discount. This changes in June this year. Deep discount fares include Q, G, N, S, and all earn 0.5 Q-Points per mile flown and 1 AA base Miles per mile flown.

I think it is safe to assume QF flights in Q will be treated the same as QF flights in N and S, which have the same Q-point earning rates, but only 50% base miles earning.

 

[QF WP]

iskyfly, QF Q fares are listed on FewMiles' Mileage Accrual Eligible Fare page, so NM is right...note that FewMiles hasn't updated his chart to show the reduction of deep discount fares to 50%.

 

[Benny]

Lindsay,

Strictly speaking that table isn't 100% correct. Not that I've gone over it with a fine tooth comb but did notice that he claim that W-class is economy. As an example Qantas doesn't use W and BA uses it for their World Traveller Plus product.

Benny

 

[QF WP]

Benny, as I had noted in my previous post:

note that FewMiles hasn't updated his chart

Indeed, to quote from his front page : "updated 2002/07/16". So it has been a while that he put the work in to bring it up to speed.

As you say, W (and T the discount version) are definitely used by BA's World Traveller Plus, not by QF and certainly I've never seen it as he described as a:

Air/sea fares (cruise+flight packages)

 

[iskyfly]

Q fares on AA are now considered deep discount. This changes in June this year. Deep discount fares include Q, G, N, S, and all earn 0.5 Q-Points per mile flown and 1 AA base Miles per mile flown.

Hello NM,

Thanks for your reply.

Do you know if this is stated anywhere on AA's website? Its not that I dont believe you its just that when I call AA their agents are telling me that QF Q fares do not earn miles on my AAdvantage account. Id like to reference the site to them if one exists.


Thanks again!

 

[iskyfly]

iskyfly, QF Q fares are listed on FewMiles' Mileage Accrual Eligible Fare page, so NM is right

Lindsay,

Thanks for your reply.
I just wish it would say somehere on AA's site that QF Q fares earn AAdvantage miles.

Thanks again!
-Giles

 

[NM]

Do you know if this is stated anywhere on AA's website? Its not that I dont believe you its just that when I call AA their agents are telling me that QF Q fares do not earn miles on my AAdvantage account. Id like to reference the site to them if one exists.

Hmm, now you have me thinking ... and researching.

How did you by this ticket? AA expressly exclude consolidator fares from AA mileage earning (see their Terms and Conditions), and quote Q fares in Trans-Atlantic routes as excluded. If you bought this as a consolidator fare, then it may not earn in Q. Here is the QQ wording:

Certain airline tickets are not eligible for earning mileage credit. These include, without limitation, the following: all tickets issued as AAdvantage awards or other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets; companion tickets; charter flight tickets; travel agency/ industry reduced rate tickets; infant tickets; items occupying a purchased seat; unpublished fare tickets, including consolidator fares (American Airlines tickets booked in O class or transatlantic tickets booked in Q class (and equivalent booking codes on participating carriers); and tickets issued subject to special provisions.

Note that consolidator fares are not considered published fares, and the AA program makes specific reference that the fare must be a published fare.

The QF Q fare is certainly missing from the AA web site's description of miles and status earning.

But I do know that Qantas group fares do earn miles on AA. My eldest son had a school trip on QF (BNE-CBR-BNE) and he earned 500 AA miles for each leg. I was unable to determine the actual fare basis for that trip, but it was booked though QF as a group deal with about 160 school kids travelling.

 

[QF WP]

iskyfly, I think NM got it in one - I have found the section that he refers to in his post, but you aren't going to like it:

AAdvantage Terms & Conditions page...scroll to the bottom point in the top heading called "Earning AAdvantage Miles", but I'll copy it here again for your edification:

Certain airline tickets are not eligible for earning mileage credit. These include, without limitation, the following: all tickets issued as AAdvantage awards or other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets; companion tickets; charter flight tickets; travel agency/ industry reduced rate tickets; infant tickets; items occupying a purchased seat; unpublished fare tickets, including consolidator fares (American Airlines tickets booked in O class or transatlantic tickets booked in Q class (and equivalent booking codes on participating carriers); and tickets issued subject to special provisions

Sorry to rain on your AA Plat Challenge... :cry:

I had taken the same tack as NM, thinking it had been missed and would qualify (at very worst) under the 1.0 point/mile and 0.5EQM. Something NM said clicked and made me think I'd read something about consolidator tickets...

 

[iskyfly]

How did you by this ticket? AA expressly exclude consolidator fares from AA mileage earning (see their Terms and Conditions), and quote Q fares in Trans-Atlantic routes as excluded. If you bought this as a consolidator fare, then it may not earn in Q.

Hi NM,

I purchased the ticket directly from Qantas via their website. It was a web only sale similar to this- http://qantasusa.com/webDeals/230

Since this wasnt purchased through a consolidator should I still have hope?

Thanks so much for your help!

-Giles

 

[iskyfly]

Sorry to rain on your AA Plat Challenge... :cry:

I had taken the same tack as NM, thinking it had been missed and would qualify (at very worst) under the 1.0 point/mile and 0.5EQM. Something NM said clicked and made me think I'd read something about consolidator tickets...

Hi Lindsay,

Holding on to my last thread of hope - what do you make of this;

https://www.aa.com/content/AAdvantage/programDetails/eliteStatus/qualificationRequirements.jhtml

It specifically mentions Q class in the qualification requirements for the elite status levels.

:?:

Thanks again for your help!

-Giles

 

[QF WP]

Hmmm, iskyfly, I do believe you have found the answer, two interesting parts to that page, aren't there...

Includes fares booked in G, Q (except American Airlines transatlantic fares booked in Q and equivalent booking codes on participant airlines), N and S. Fares flown in Q before June 3, 2004 will earn 1.0 points per mile. After that date, fares flown in Q will earn 0.5 points per mile.

and:

Effective April 3, 2004, the Q fare moved from the 'Discount' fare category to the 'Deep Discount' fare category. This change affects the elite qualification point accrual per base mile earned as noted in the table below:

Elite Qualification Points per Mile Flown
Booking Code Jan 1 - April 2, 2004 April 3 - Dec 1, 2004

Fares flown in Q 1.0 0.5*

*Fares flown in in Q before June 3, 2004 will continue to earn 1.0 points per mile flown towards elite qualification. After that date, fares flown in Q will earn 0.5 points per mile.

Mileage accural towards elite qualification for these fares will not change. Members will continue to earn one mile towards elite qualification for every qualifying mile flown.

Elite point accrual for any segment flown is based on the accrual rate in effect on the date of the flight.

The clouds have lifted on your AA Plat Challenge 8)

 

[iskyfly]

So do I take that to mean;

Q fares wont earn AA miles unless I am signed up for the challenge?