New AA Promotion Paying 45,000 bonus points on 80,000 Purchase

[serfty]

I thought it used to be capped at 60k or 80K - it's only been in recent years the cap was increased (seeming in relation to promotions).

 

[matrad]

Maximum points purchase
If my calcs are correct it is better to purchase 80,000 + 20,000, rather than 100,000.

80,000 + bonus 45,000 + 20,000 + bonus 6,000 = 151,000 @ $2950
100,000 + bonus 45,000 = 145,000 @ $2950

If this works it's the best way to get maximum points but not the cheapest per point, which is 80,000.

 

[bean]

How many points do you think it would take to flyCathay to coughet return from Melb in J?

 

[dalereardon]

CX in J to Asia coughet is 35000 points each way per person. Only trouble is that it is a long way round as have to go HKT-HKG with Dragon Air and then CX to MEL. We did it earlier this year.

Dale.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi All...really new to this AA promo but have two accounts with small mileage balance and really want to buy the 80 + 45 K miles for each. I looked on the AA site for reward availability in J from Melbourne to London, or Paris return and then also to LAX right up until October next year but very few seats available, we are pretty flexible with dates and looking for a 4-6 week turnaround for either destination.
Is the AA site the best place to look for availability or can I look elsewhere but then presume I need to call AA and pay the booking fee if seats found. Any tips on booking would be appreciated, this offer sounds great but no good if we cant get to where we want to go.
Also the difference between Miles Saver option and the AA Anytime..what do you use when searching?
Is it also possible to use Multi City when booking these awards...
Sorry for all the questions
Thanks in advance, as the offer now goes to Jan 2nd need to make a decision soon.

 

[zainman]

Hi All...really new to this AA promo but have two accounts with small mileage balance and really want to buy the 80 + 45 K miles for each. I looked on the AA site for reward availability in J from Melbourne to London, or Paris return and then also to LAX right up until October next year but very few seats available, we are pretty flexible with dates and looking for a 4-6 week turnaround for either destination.
Is the AA site the best place to look for availability or can I look elsewhere but then presume I need to call AA and pay the booking fee if seats found. Any tips on booking would be appreciated, this offer sounds great but no good if we cant get to where we want to go.
Also the difference between Miles Saver option and the AA Anytime..what do you use when searching?
Is it also possible to use Multi City when booking these awards...
Sorry for all the questions
Thanks in advance, as the offer now goes to Jan 2nd need to make a decision soon.

use a combination of BA.com, QF.com & AA.com to get an idea of availability on most if not all *O carriers.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

use a combination of BA.com, QF.com & AA.com to get an idea of availability on most if not all *O carriers.

Thanks Zainman and if I did find availability do I then call AA with that information for the booking ? Sorry like AI said completely new to it all

 

[zainman]

Thanks Zainman and if I did find availability do I then call AA with that information for the booking ? Sorry like AI said completely new to it all

Yes exactly, so once you know what flights have available seats, feed them to the AA agent and they will book it for you. Another tip, tell them you have an american address (make one up, find it on google) so they charge you less for actually booking the flight. Use your normal Aussie CC and it'll go through.

 

[dalereardon]

Australia to Paris or London is very achievable as there are many options other than Qantas and you can route via Asia.

However Australia to LAX is next to impossible with AA miles - not always impossible but very difficult as you can only take a direct flight - you aren't allowed to route via HKG with Cathay for example - if you do it counts as two awards rather than one.

To get a BA exec club account in order to search OneWorld availability you will need to give a UK address too.

Dale.

 

[zainman]

To get a BA exec club account in order to search OneWorld availability you will need to give a UK address too.

Dale.

Actually a non-Australian address is what's needed, not necessarily a UK one. I joined using my address in Pakistan.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Australia to Paris or London is very achievable as there are many options other than Qantas and you can route via Asia.

However Australia to LAX is next to impossible with AA miles - not always impossible but very difficult as you can only take a direct flight - you aren't allowed to route via HKG with Cathay for example - if you do it counts as two awards rather than one.

To get a BA exec club account in order to search OneWorld availability you will need to give a UK address too.

Dale.

Thanks Dale I do have a BA exec club account but their search for awards is down at the moment. I have spent all afternoon and can find quite good availability from Melbourne to New York or to London in 2015 in J but only economy for the return. So should I press the button and buy the miles and book the outgoing flight in the hope that a J x 2 seats will appear later? As I am buying for the two of us releuctant to spent the nearly $5k for the miles if I cant get home in style too...any thoughts and thank you and Happy New Year to all, may it be a healthy and peaceful one for all.

 

[dalereardon]

Is that flying with QF to New York? If so you are doing well to get J seats.

One thing you can do with American is put award bookings on hold for 5 days. So you can ring them and make sure you can book the seats and then buy the miles. Worst case scenario for myself would be to allow to buy enough miles to get home via HKG with CX which counts as two awards. I can't bring myself to fly economy long haul!

Sorry to say there are no guarantees with miles that seats will open up. You can almost guarantee last minute seats with CX but that won't be the cheapest award.

Dale.

 

[knasty]

With AA redemptions you can upgrade classes for no fee (but taxes difference) + points difference right up until departure. So if you're willing to travel Y you have right until the end to find J seats.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

With AA redemptions you can upgrade classes for no fee (but taxes difference) + points difference right up until departure. So if you're willing to travel Y you have right until the end to find J seats.

Thanks for that Knasty. Still trying to get my head around it all. So booking they Y return can then apply with extra points for an upgrade? Do you know I what the points difference is because I will need to make sure I have enough in the kitty so could buy some today and then some tomorrow before the promo ends

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Is that flying with QF to New York? If so you are doing well to get J seats.

One thing you can do with American is put award bookings on hold for 5 days. So you can ring them and make sure you can book the seats and then buy the miles. Worst case scenario for myself would be to allow to buy enough miles to get home via HKG with CX which counts as two awards. I can't bring myself to fly economy long haul!

Sorry to say there are no guarantees with miles that seats will open up. You can almost guarantee last minute seats with CX but that won't be the cheapest award.

Dale.

yes some if the dates to NYC are with Qantas Dale

having no no status with AA if I called them. Would they assist with the return journey. ie look for available

j class or is that all down to me to do

 

[knasty]

62.5 in J but consider Alaska miles as well as they also allow routing on CX which is not allowed on an AA single award.

 

[grussellt]

yes some if the dates to NYC are with Qantas Dale

having no no status with AA if I called them. Would they assist with the return journey. ie look for available

j class or is that all down to me to do

The AA Angels are very helpful (and the telephone booking fee is OK). Do you have time or inclination to return on FJ or TN. They will search for you.

 

[jgm]

Actually a non-Australian address is what's needed, not necessarily a UK one. I joined using my address in Pakistan.

You can just use your normal Australian address, but just change the country to Austria (AT).

 

[Beta4Me]

You can just use your normal Australian address, but just change the country to Austria (AT).

Exactly what I did. Just assumed the postal service would think it a typo and still send me the mail (if any).

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

125k points posted to our accounts but now wondering if I should go in and purchase another 35k each before bonus ends to ensure we have enough for F both ways if need be. Question is do I buy AA or USDM at a 10 percent discount and when they merge I believe USDM send the miles over to AA. Anyone know when that merger takes place or just do the AA extra purchase now. Also can some one suggest a return route from London or Europe that I can try. Thanks