ETIHAD - AA Partner

[Gold Member]

Yep. Might be one or two more F legs ex-DOH but I haven't looked recently.

 

[knasty]

I don't think you can do one award on QR as it would be two flight numbers. Has to be the same flight number to transit middle.east on one award ie. QF only.

 

[Keith009]

I don't think you can do one award on QR as it would be two flight numbers. Has to be the same flight number to transit middle.east on one award ie. QF only.

They've actually created an exception for travel on QR on a route with a published QR fare via DOH for North America - Africa (which otherwise only allows connections via Europe). So bit odd that no similar exception exists for South Pacific - Europe.

 

[knasty]

They've actually created an exception for travel on QR on a route with a published QR fare via DOH for North America - Africa (which otherwise only allows connections via Europe). So bit odd that no similar exception exists for South Pacific - Europe.

I might send a Facebook message and ask them to consider...

Done. Will wait and see.

 

[Gold Member]

I don't think you can do one award on QR as it would be two flight numbers. Has to be the same flight number to transit middle.east on one award ie. QF only.

My mistake, I think you're right Knasty. I was looking at this article - American Airlines Award Routing Rules - One Mile at a Time and without reading the * fine print and follow up link, I made the assumption that EU-OZ via DOHA was a new valid routing exception. Indeed only QF (via DXB) is the only valid ME route exception. Slim pickings on QF with AA award availability in F 330 days out, although I did manage to get QF9/10 using US points recently after the flight retiming opened up a raft of availability.

 

[bismarck]

I've done a fair bit of reading and I think this is possible, but thought I would check before booking (awards aren't released for a couple more weeks)

Is it possible to book SYD-xAUH-MLE on EY through AA in F for 60k miles o/w? From what I can see they publish a fare and I seem to recall you can do a mixed class redemption (at the higher rate) but I seem to remember something about not being able to backtrack within a zone. Would this fall within that rule?

 

[Gold Member]

I've done a fair bit of reading and I think this is possible, but thought I would check before booking (awards aren't released for a couple more weeks)

Is it possible to book SYD-xAUH-MLE on EY through AA in F for 60k miles o/w? From what I can see they publish a fare and I seem to recall you can do a mixed class redemption (at the higher rate) but I seem to remember something about not being able to backtrack within a zone. Would this fall within that rule?

Yes, recently did this exact route in EY F/J for 60k each way to blow 300,000 HH points at the Conrad Maldives just before the major devaluation.

 

[bismarck]

Yes, recently did this exact route in EY F/J for 60k each way to blow 300,000 HH points at the Conrad Maldives just before the major devaluation. Beware though, the MEL 'F lounge' is truly pathetic. But there are plans to upgrade it next year though.

Great. Thanks Gold Member! Fingers crossed for availability on my day. I'll set a reminder for 330 days out.

 

[Gold Member]

There's usually plentiful F award availability on EY to/from MEL/SYD on any given date, so don't get too worried about booking 330 days out.

 

[bismarck]

It will be for my honeymoon so I am a little less flexible with my dates than usual (but a day here and there won't hurt).

A perusal of availability shows 2 x F is pretty easy to come by. Didn't think to check via MEL but that is also a good back up.

 

[knasty]

I might send a Facebook message and ask them to consider...

Done. Will wait and see.

Still waiting....

 

[diningdecadence]

There's usually plentiful F award availability on EY to/from MEL/SYD on any given date, so don't get too worried about booking 330 days out.

Only bookable via the phone presumably?

 

[Gold Member]

It will be for my honeymoon so I am a little less flexible with my dates than usual (but a day here and there won't hurt).

A perusal of availability shows 2 x F is pretty easy to come by. Didn't think to check via MEL but that is also a good back up.

Best wishes for the honeymoon. Assuming SYD is home and the most convenient route, you will probably get the new updated lounge for EY. Avoid the MEL shared biz/first lounge if possible - it's abysmal.

 

[Gold Member]

Only bookable via the phone presumably?

Yes. Inventory can be checked using a free EY Guest Rewards Account. Look for Saver award availability.

 

[bismarck]

Best wishes for the honeymoon. Assuming SYD is home and the most convenient route, you will probably get the new updated lounge for EY. Avoid the MEL shared biz/first lounge if possible - it's abysmal.

SYD will probably be my preferred port for convenience, but BNE is a decent backup as well since they are offering the new 787. Even business class looks pretty amazing.

 

[shannan94]

Booked Sydney to Abu Dhabi in J yesterday for July 15'. Called through to the AA reservations centre after confirming availability through Etihad's online search engine , 2 seats available for 45,000 points + $80 tax and $85 booking fee for telephone reservations.

Status currently listed as 'On request' so hopefully the tickets get issued in the next few days. Too easy

 

[knasty]

Will have to give Etihad serious thought for the next Europe booking. Despite being 100k/75k points in F/J on EY vs Asia transit @ 80k/60k respectively there aren't many F options out of Aus and it seems F availability can be better than J for many of the partner/OW airlines. Even @ 100k for F it's a lot better than using 187,500 Velocity miles.

 

[tkmg]

Booked Sydney to Abu Dhabi in J yesterday for July 15'. Called through to the AA reservations centre after confirming availability through Etihad's online search engine , 2 seats available for 45,000 points + $80 tax and $85 booking fee for telephone reservations.

Status currently listed as 'On request' so hopefully the tickets get issued in the next few days. Too easy

Hi Shannan,
Im new to AFF also and looking at booking one way J with Etihad for Aug 2015 (using AA points) either SYD-AUH OR AUH- SYD x2 people depending on availability.. If you don't mind me asking, was it difficult for AA to find award availability for the dates you wanted? I am thinking of purchasing AA points (with the offer of 25% discount) and just weighing up the risk of not being able to use them?!

 

[scwappy]

Hi Shannan,
Im new to AFF also and looking at booking one way J with Etihad for Aug 2015 (using AA points) either SYD-AUH OR AUH- SYD x2 people depending on availability.. If you don't mind me asking, was it difficult for AA to find award availability for the dates you wanted? I am thinking of purchasing AA points (with the offer of 25% discount) and just weighing up the risk of not being able to use them?!

As suggested, if you join Ethihad Guest and search for reward saver fares around the time period you are after you will get an idea of availability that AA can book

 

[grussellt]

Hi, tkmg, and welcome to AFF. Remember with AAdvantage you can place an award on hold and then buy the miles, which should post before you need to complete the booking.