Latest AA Bonus Miles Offer (ends Dec31)

[repete]

Quick question before the deadline! Can I purchase 60k for myself with bonus and buy 60k as a gift for someone else? Will they also get the bonus? Do they need to have account open for so many days first? My account isne is a few months old

 

[scheps]

Anyone know if the 10% off is for one person, or per booking (of 3 tickets). As that would make it useful.

EDIT: Actually for up to 4 people excluding code share.

The 10% could potentially be worth a lot if flying outside of blackout dates and for return only, no multicity bookings...

Oh well damn.

 

[k_sheep]

Feeling a little dumb right now ... tried to buy the points for mr k_sheep and kept getting the "credit card declined" message. Didn't read the T+C or this thread properly - it's a brand new account

Dammit, should've signed him up weeks ago! Always knew I was going to buy today. Grrr. Might have to do the SPG trick to top him up.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Just noticed the latest offer on top of the 30% - making it 50% in total.

Just over $2000 for 90,000 miles. I am tempted but scared by what could possibly happen with devaluation in the merger, and I am unlikely to be able to use the points for a while. do I, don't I...

 

[diningdecadence]

Is it midnight east coast or west coast cut off?

 

[scheps]

usually east coast.

 

[repete]

Quick question before the deadline! Can I purchase 60k for myself with bonus and buy 60k as a gift for someone else? Will they also get the bonus? Do they need to have account open for so many days first? My account isne is a few months old

Not sure how to edit (perhaps too late?), but in answer to my own question, it only worked for me! I couldn't gift 60k miles as well. I think there were some differing ideas through the thread and it may be different terms, but certainly on this one it didn't matter one purchase was as recipient, the other as gifter, only the first purchase went through... Looks like I'll have to wait for the next bonus offer - hopefully soon!

 

[anat0l]

Not sure how to edit (perhaps too late?), but in answer to my own question, it only worked for me! I couldn't gift 60k miles as well. I think there were some differing ideas through the thread and it may be different terms, but certainly on this one it didn't matter one purchase was as recipient, the other as gifter, only the first purchase went through... Looks like I'll have to wait for the next bonus offer - hopefully soon!

How did you know you couldn't follow through with the gift?

Was it because your gifting ability was limited as such or because the target account was too young? (Maybe both?)

 

[repete]

How did you know you couldn't follow through with the gift?

Was it because your gifting ability was limited as such or because the target account was too young? (Maybe both?)

Sorry, should have given more detail... I 'knew' it was declined because each time I tried it said the credit card had been declined and to try a different one! I tried a few different ones (thanks to this forum I had another 4 I think to try!). My first purchase had actually been identified by the card issuer as fraud and had been blocked, and I had since removed it to allow the first one to go through. They said the card was all cleared for use with the points site so I knew that card should have gone through. Even so, I tried all the others and they kept saying the same thing! Also, the gifted points haven't come through

 

[anat0l]

Sorry, should have given more detail... I 'knew' it was declined because each time I tried it said the credit card had been declined and to try a different one! I tried a few different ones (thanks to this forum I had another 4 I think to try!). My first purchase had actually been identified by the card issuer as fraud and had been blocked, and I had since removed it to allow the first one to go through. They said the card was all cleared for use with the points site so I knew that card should have gone through. Even so, I tried all the others and they kept saying the same thing! Also, the gifted points haven't come through

Still doesn't quite explain the real reason why the gift didn't work (and actually introduces possibly another reason into it).

But I do make a note of contacting my credit card providers in advance of large international transactions. (Points.com is usually OK for me now because I've used all my cards on that kind of merchant previously).

 

[repete]

But I do make a note of contacting my credit card providers in advance of large international transactions. (Points.com is usually OK for me now because I've used all my cards on that kind of merchant previously).

Thanks for the tip... another good idea to take on from this site. One of the other 4 card suppliers did also flag it as a fraud, but the transaction was allowed to go through from their end, just not processed from points.com's end

Still doesn't quite explain the real reason why the gift didn't work (and actually introduces possibly another reason into it).

I was only saying to my wife today how unhelpful the wording on the site was if the reason was that I had reached my limit of points purchasing, whether gifting or buying. There was no mention of that at all, just the credit card notice?!? I have just tried joining the dots as outlined?

 

[anat0l]

I was only saying to my wife today how unhelpful the wording on the site was if the reason was that I had reached my limit of points purchasing, whether gifting or buying. There was no mention of that at all, just the credit card notice?!? I have just tried joining the dots as outlined?

Fair enough... just saying it's rather a shame it's not quite clear what the reason is. I'm sure with a bit of investigation we could probably piece it together (but I'm a bit lazy right now :-|)

 

[VAG newbie]

Hi all:

I tried to purchase the miles before Dec 31, all I got was credit card declined! Yet my money was taken from my credit card and my bank says no problem with transaction.

Contacted AA, was told I might've entered some data that is incorrect from my billing info so my card was declined. Tried again, this time making sure all info are correct word for word, still declined and money taken. Contacted AA again, they have no idea and asked me to contact points.com.

After talking to points.com, they said it was because my AA account was just 14 days and not eligible for purchase miles (kinda bull****, usually they'll just show up "this account is not eligible to purchase mile" before asking for CC detail and take money away). Anyway, I took their advice, waited for a day, and tried another card (this time I called the bank to ensure billing detail is correct to the letter). Again declined, and money taken away! I dare not try again now I've lost >$6000 and got zero miles!

I checked all other miles purchasing options (US DM/ Alaska/ SPG), they are all through points.com! So none of them are good for me!

I did some research and found some people have experienced similar problem and it was due to points.com trying to block Aussie buyers from "abusing" the points. Basically, the airlines are trying to penalize those of us living in Aus and expect us to pay full fare.

How did you guys managed to purchase the miles? Was there any tricks that I missed? The cards I used are Westpac Altitude Black MC and HSBC Qantas Visa.

Appreciate any advises and experiences.

 

[Bofter]

No tricks and no special measures from me. Payment card was 28 Degrees Mastercard.

That said I am not sure if the Altitude Black would necessarily be the problem. In purchasing Avianca LifeMiles, I didn't pre-warn them and they didn't SMS to check until after the third online transaction with Columbia for the night as to whether they were legitimate. My purchase history with them isn't so exciting as for that to be an ordinary transaction.

 

[VAG newbie]

No tricks and no special measures from me. Payment card was 28 Degrees Mastercard.

That said I am not sure if the Altitude Black would necessarily be the problem. In purchasing Avianca LifeMiles, I didn't pre-warn them and they didn't SMS to check until after the third online transaction with Columbia for the night as to whether they were legitimate. My purchase history with them isn't so exciting as for that to be an ordinary transaction.

One of the conspiracy theory I read online is that airlines don't want you to double dip. So any credit cards that accrue reward points are barred from purchasing miles.

Maybe that's why the 28degree card works, but not my altitude black and HSBC Qantas card? Both of my card company all said no issue with the transaction, the problem occurred with points.com/AA. Guess my problem is both of these cards accrue very good points with overseas transaction (Altitude gets 1.5 miles/dollar, HSBC gets 2 miles/dollar)

 

[dalereardon]

I have made several miles purchases (4 or 5 - didn't buy full amount first time) with my HSBC card no problems after initial problems.

The HSBC call centre is absolutely hopeless in my experience - they had to remove a certain international block that was causing problems and it took several calls until an intelligent person did it properly.

And it is not a lie - your account must be greater than 14 days old to work with a purchase - check the T&C - they were amended a couple of months ago to add this requirement.



And my wife and I used the same card to buy our miles for different accounts and no problems.


Dale.

 

[VAG newbie]

Was your problem the same as mine? ie. money was taken, but still says declined despite HSBC said it went through. If it was the same, I sure would appreciate if you can share with me how the intelligent person fix the problem. (Yes, I agree with you there call centre is utterly useless)

I knew about the 14 day block. With my experience with US airways and Alaska airlines, both of them simply showed a message that "the account is not eligible for purchase". It doesn't even go into the credit card detail page. I'm surprised AA would take your money first and then tell you that your credit card is declined because the account was <14 days (it was 15 days)

 

[dalereardon]

Hi,

Sorry they didn't tell me how they fixed it. What I think is happening is points.com is getting an authorisation before they work out if you are eligible.

I wish HSBC was like CBA and showed you the pending transactions.


Dale.

 

[markis10]

One of the conspiracy theory I read online is that airlines don't want you to double dip. So any credit cards that accrue reward points are barred from purchasing miles.

Maybe that's why the 28degree card works, but not my altitude black and HSBC Qantas card? Both of my card company all said no issue with the transaction, the problem occurred with points.com/AA. Guess my problem is both of these cards accrue very good points with overseas transaction (Altitude gets 1.5 miles/dollar, HSBC gets 2 miles/dollar)

LOL, what a load of rubbish, companies cannot see what the rewards program's are for the cards they are transacting with, especially with a third party processor like points.com, and regardless there is no difference between costings for one card to another if they are both in the same category, ie Visa Platinums all cost the same when it comes to merchant charge.

 

[Sethor]

From my experience the 14 day old account rule did not matter, they still processed my points purchase. Done multiple purchases on Points.com thru SPG & AA.com never had an issue with my Westpac card.