Now 50 % Bonus Miles Until Feb 28 2013

[smit0847]

Im tossing up between coming back from BKK-MEL mid October with TG (direct) on LM or CX via HKG on Aa. The issue is I'll be coming in from prob Krabi - the two daily direct TG flights leave either early in the morning (meaning I'd have to overnight in BKK) or late at night meaning its an overnight flight (and they have angled flat beds).

So CX is looking like the better option - yes its not direct but with the new J on both flights I think it will be very comfortable.

I checked CX availability through Asia Miles before Christmas and there was loads. I checked again this morning and there's nothing a week either side of my travel dates. Did I leave my run too late or is this availability not reflective of the actual Aa availability? Im looking at travelling around 20 Oct (but dates are flexible). I would have thought this far out there would be plenty?!

I havent bought the miles in either program yet - Im waiting to see which has the best availability before buying and booking.

 

[extracta]

CX does not appear on AA online bookings, you have to call.

So how do you book a CX flight using AA miles.

Using the AA website, or Ringing AA, or Ringing CX, or is there some other way.

Actually I would not mind the same question being answer in regards to how do you book a QF flight using AA miles.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So how do you book a CX flight using AA miles.

Using the AA website, or Ringing AA, or Ringing CX, or is there some other way.

Actually I would not mind the same question being answer in regards to how do you book a QF flight using AA miles.

CX cannot be booked on the AA website. So you call them. QF can be booked through the website.

Not sure why you would call CX?

 

[extracta]

CX cannot be booked on the AA website. So you call them. QF can be booked through the website.

Not sure why you would call CX?

Thankyou, my next stupid question.

I have looked on award traveller and expert flyer and cannot find availability for CX.

Where do we find availability for CX before ringing their call centre??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thankyou, my next stupid question.

I have looked on award traveller and expert flyer and cannot find availability for CX.

Where do we find availability for CX before ringing their call centre??

asia miles (free to join) or QF. QF easiest if you are already a member.

or BA if you are a member of the exec club

 

[extracta]

asia miles (free to join) or QF. QF easiest if you are already a member.

or BA if you are a member of the exec club

Will the QF site give me the CX availability??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Will the QF site give me the CX availability??

sorry. you asked where you can check availability. I stated asia miles, QF or BA. With QF easiest if you are already a member.

 

[extracta]

sorry. you asked where you can check availability. I stated asia miles, QF or BA. With QF easiest if you are already a member.

Thanks for that. I checked on the QF site and found it to be a bit misleading as due to the fact that there is a domestic leg, any flight with a J seat available on the domestic leg showed up in the search, even when the international leg was in Y. Definitely a trap that one.

I then joined Asia Miles, very easy and did my search using redeem miles and the availability came up very clearly.

The QF site also did not show all of the flights that were available on the CX website.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for that. I checked on the QF site and found it to be a bit misleading as due to the fact that there is a domestic leg, any flight with a J seat available on the domestic leg showed up in the search, even when the international leg was in Y. Definitely a trap that one.

I then joined Asia Miles, very easy and did my search using redeem miles and the availability came up very clearly.

The QF site also did not show all of the flights that were available on the CX website.

easily solved - search for the international leg without the domestic connection, and once you find a flight in business class, search the domestic connecting sector (assuming there is usually greater availability on the domestic sector).

Asia miles may return more availability for CX just as QF may return greater availability for QF members.

 

[travelislife]

Wow this is good, just wish I had the leave available. Would love to do MEL-BME return in business for $585+taxes! Anyone ever tried booking to Easter Island before? Would be unbelievable value but has to be done over the phone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow this is good, just wish I had the leave available. Would love to do MEL-BME return in business for $585+taxes! Anyone ever tried booking to Easter Island before? Would be unbelievable value but has to be done over the phone.

I'm not actually sure Easter island would be possible on a single ticket and might require two awards to be purchased?

 

[JohnK]

no no - oneworld availability is awful in premium cabins! We all know that when we try to redeem through QF. AA doesn't generally create more space than is available for QF members.

OK. I did not take that into consideration.

The aadvantage of AA miles is really if they happen to have an option on the day you want to fly (and one ways too!). So if I'm returning from hong Kong and QF or the CX/BA combo happens to be available then its a great deal for 45K one way. But if you are buying with the intent to ticket your dream holiday, unless you're going to do that 365 days in advance then it could be hard.

So a bucket load of miles which are going to be difficult to use for award bookings ~6 months from travel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK. I did not take that into consideration.


So a bucket load of miles which are going to be difficult to use for award bookings ~6 months from travel.

qf127/128 became available from today again. wide open. I snagged some flights. so matter of right time, right place. miles are valid for 18 months or whatever. so shouldn't be too hard.

 

[grussellt]

I'm not actually sure Easter island would be possible on a single ticket and might require two awards to be purchased?

In theory an award from Australia to Easter Island is a Within South Pacific Award (20000 miles in Y, 30000 in J) that could be done as SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC. However finding availability could be another story.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In theory an award from Australia to Easter Island is a Within South Pacific Award (20000 miles in Y, 30000 in J) that could be done as SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC. However finding availability could be another story.

yeah - but there is some rule AA uses for constructing their award ticket eligibility - and it's something to do with having a published fare on the route for the airline(s) you want to travel on. So if there is a published fare out there SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC then the award is possible. If not, has to be constructed separately. I'm not an expert on AA award construction though - only know the concepts rather than the technicalities.

 

[alieninperth]

According to ITA matrix LAN and QF run SYD-SKL-SCL-IPC. You might have to pay for SWP-SA award though as it touches SCL.

 

[burmans]

So a bucket load of miles which are going to be difficult to use for award bookings ~6 months from travel.

Well have done some financial analysis vs. the regular other opportunities that come up. Not really that many cases where AA wins on either price or availability.

Choice of airline though may get it the vote where prices are close (e.g. Europe or some parts of Asia). The exceptions where the AA price seems good are Easter Island (if you can do it), Middle East. South America price pretty good (not quite the best) but availability is fairly horrible!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well have done some financial analysis vs. the regular other opportunities that come up. Not really that many cases where AA wins on either price or availability.

Choice of airline though may get it the vote where prices are close (e.g. Europe or some parts of Asia). The exceptions where the AA price seems good are Easter Island (if you can do it), Middle East. South America price pretty good (not quite the best) but availability is fairly horrible!

if you are a platinum/gold maybe qf offers additional award availability. but if you are a regular member I cannot see how AA can't win over qf? AA has the same availability as qf, for half the number of miles, and for no fuel surcharges. even if you factor in double miles earnings for plats, the fees and surcharges are off the planet.

 

[wafliron]

if you are a platinum/gold maybe qf offers additional award availability. but if you are a regular member I cannot see how AA can't win over qf? AA has the same availability as qf, for half the number of miles, and for no fuel surcharges. even if you factor in double miles earnings for plats, the fees and surcharges are off the planet.

Where burmans said "vs other regular opportunities that come up", pretty sure he meant "vs Dividend Miles and LifeMiles" - not QF

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Where burmans said "vs other regular opportunities that come up", pretty sure he meant "vs Dividend Miles and LifeMiles" - not QF

ah! yes - could mean that too but then AA wins because of mixed class over LM. And AA wins over USDM because of one ways. I'm paying a $200 surcharge over LM on AA for F travel back to AU, including a domestic connector in business. LM would only allow me BKK-SYD in F and then I'm on my own.