Qantas status on AA flights

[Fatcat_jr]

Hello,

Super impressed by the speed of response to my last question, so thought I would throw out another one to the collective.

I want to know how much Qantas status I get for flying AA within America.
See screen shot below, of a trip I want to take SFO - PHL. The 2 options I have are "main cabin" and "first".
Specifically, does "first" here refer to first class according to Qantas standards (because looking at the pictures of A321 neo - it seems more akin to domestic business class in Australia)
On Qantas points calculator, it shows when flying with AA between SFO and PHL, that I should get 100 QFF status for business and 150 for first. My question is does the "first" on the AA website really translate to the 150 status points?

I have the same questions regarding flights I want to take PHL - SAN, and SAN - SFO.

Thanks for the help.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Long gone are the days where AA first was considered first. They're considered Business.

For any partner airlines use this table to find out what earn category your fare class is. you can find this information under fare basis in your screenshot:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html?int_cam=au%3Aairline-earning-tables%3Aarticle%3Afrequent-flyer-earn-categories%3Aen%3Ann

Then from there onwards, find your earn category under the relevant routing.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/partner-airline-earning-tables.html?int_cam=au%3Aairline-earning-tables%3Aarticle%3Apartner-airline-earning-tables%3Aen%3Ann

 

[Fatcat_jr]

Long gone are the days where AA first was considered first. They're considered Business.

For any partner airlines use this table to find out what earn category your fare class is. you can find this information under fare basis in your screenshot:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html?int_cam=au%3Aairline-earning-tables%3Aarticle%3Afrequent-flyer-earn-categories%3Aen%3Ann

Then from there onwards, find your earn category under the relevant routing.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/partner-airline-earning-tables.html?int_cam=au%3Aairline-earning-tables%3Aarticle%3Apartner-airline-earning-tables%3Aen%3Ann

Thanks Rich for the quick reply. Sorry I don't quite understand.
So I went down to the AA section in the first link and got this. How do I align this with the earn category?

 

[Fatcat_jr]

Oh.. ok. the fair basis shows "Y7AUPRD6"
Does this mean it's Y class? which only translates to flexible economy? The pricing of $2555 doesn't seem quite right for flexible economy...compared to the main cabin price of $415.80

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Thanks Rich for the quick reply. Sorry I don't quite understand.
So I went down to the AA section in the first link and got this. How do I align this with the earn category?

So in the table you see above, the "first" fare most likely will be one of the booking codes under "Business". Again this depends on your fare basis which you can find out in the first screenshot you provided under "fare basis". The first letter of the fare basis (e.g. Ixx_XX or Cxx_XX) is your booking class.

Matrix ITA is a much better tool to quickly identify what your fare basis or booking class is. Airlines often don't explicitly tell you what the booking codes are to keep it "simpler". I haven't used the AA site in a while so I'm not sure if they include it in the check out page before you purchase but other OTAs like expedia will list it out.

So let's assume you find out your booking code is I which falls under "Business". So your earn category will be "Business". You take this information to the "Partner Airline Earn Table" and find your route and match it with your earn category.

so SFO-PHL will be East Coast to West Coast (these have their own categorisations) and will earn 100 SCs.



Alternatively you could use the QF calculator but you'll still need the earn category.

Post automatically merged: Mar 27, 2023

Oh.. ok. the fair basis shows "Y7AUPRD6"
Does this mean it's Y class? which only translates to flexible economy? The pricing of $2555 doesn't seem quite right for flexible economy...compared to the main cabin price of $415.80

And yep here is where it gets complicated... I believe these are YUP tickets which means Y fares that get booked into Business booking classes. In this instance, I would just use ITA Matrix or Expedia to find out what the booking class for the specific fare.

 

[Lynda2475]

Noting that on some trans-continental (LAX-NYC or vice versa) routes AA does operate 3 class planes where there are genuine first earning seats, but the price is much higher than another timeslot on the same route where they only have 2 classes.

I booked AA First (on 2 class aircraft) and all seats ticketed in I or D class which are classified as J class for SC earning.

 

[Fatcat_jr]

So in the table you see above, the "first" fare most likely will be one of the booking codes under "Business". Again this depends on your fare basis which you can find out in the first screenshot you provided under "fare basis". The first letter of the fare basis (e.g. Ixx_XX or Cxx_XX) is your booking class.

Matrix ITA is a much better tool to quickly identify what your fare basis or booking class is. Airlines often don't explicitly tell you what the booking codes are to keep it "simpler". I haven't used the AA site in a while so I'm not sure if they include it in the check out page before you purchase but other OTAs like expedia will list it out.

So let's assume you find out your booking code is I which falls under "Business". So your earn category will be "Business". You take this information to the "Partner Airline Earn Table" and find your route and match it with your earn category.

so SFO-PHL will be East Coast to West Coast (these have their own categorisations) and will earn 100 SCs.

View attachment 320829

Alternatively you could use the QF calculator but you'll still need the earn category.

Post automatically merged: Mar 27, 2023

And yep here is where it gets complicated... I believe these are YUP tickets which means Y fares that get booked into Business booking classes. In this instance, I would just use ITA Matrix or Expedia to find out what the booking class for the specific fare.

OK I don't understand what YUP tickets means and what ITA Matrix is.
What's even more confusing is I tried the same technique for my other flight I want to take (screenshot below). This time, the fare basis for BOTH main cabin and "first" was the same - "GVAWZRIZ". Does this mean using the fare basis thing is not reliable and I should be using the ITA Matrix/Expedia for everything like you suggested?

 

[Lynda2475]

The screen shot shows a 2-class aircraft therefore First will credit as Business for SC earn.

 

[justinbrett]

Long gone are the days where AA first was considered first. They're considered Business.

AA still has proper first - it's called Flagship First. This is available both on international and some (mostly transcon) domestic.

Regular First is just business, though it is actually sold as Business on international routes.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

OK I don't understand what YUP tickets means and what ITA Matrix is.
What's even more confusing is I tried the same technique for my other flight I want to take (screenshot below). This time, the fare basis for BOTH main cabin and "first" was the same - "GVAWZRIZ". Does this mean using the fare basis thing is not reliable and I should be using the ITA Matrix/Expedia for everything like you suggested?

I personally use Matrix ITA when I'm optimising earn rates and routings. The flight in question books into R which falls under Business.



You could keep it simple as Lynda said that it shows 2 class in First which earns in Business but when you're looking at other airlines (like MH), booking class does matter and it gets complicated. For example, MH sells business class tickets within Asia with an approrpriate Business booking code. However, Qantas will credit them as flexible economy.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Fatcat_jr]

Got it! Thanks everyone for the help!
ITA matrix shows the 2 flights as R and I, which are both equivalent to Business.
Will also keep in mind the KISS principles when flights show 2 classes.
Thanks very much!

 

[_TheTraveller_]

AA still has proper first - it's called Flagship First. This is available both on international and some (mostly transcon) domestic.

Regular First is just business, though it is actually sold as Business on international routes.

Ah yes, you're correct. I mostly meant in the context that intra-US besides LAX/SFO-BOS/JFK/MIA most will be two class. In OPs instance, SFO-PHL will definitely be two class.

Post automatically merged: Mar 27, 2023

Got it! Thanks Rich.
ITA matrix shows the 2 flights as R and I, which are both equivalent to Business.

Thanks very much!

No worries! ITA Matrix is definitely an amazing tool to plan out SC runs if you plan to do any in the US. There is also a powertool/script and a whole thread on it on flyertalk that provides some fantastic functionality.

ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK - FlyerTalk Forums

Travel Tools - ITA-Matrix-PowerTools - Userscript for Orbitz/DL/UA/AA/BA/CZ/IB/LA/LH/LX/TK - Function: Scrapes flight info from a ITA/Matrix Itinerary page and creates a clickable link to Orbitz/Cheaptix, United, and Delta for booking. I've moved the usage information to the thread's wiki.

www.flyertalk.com

 

[Lynda2475]

3 Class Aircraft which have genuine first look like this:



vs 2 CLass Aircraft



If you really want to fly First then you could consider flying into EWR in genuine first, then take the train from Trenton into Philadelphia, on SEPTA for $28.

 

[justinbrett]

3 Class Aircraft which have genuine first look like this:

View attachment 320834

vs 2 CLass Aircraft

View attachment 320835

If you really want to fly First then you could consider flying into EWR in genuine first, then take the train from Trenton into Philadelphia, on SEPTA for $28.

Interesting in your example that some are sold as Lie Flat first and others Flagship First. I thought all genuine First was sold as Flagship First. And those lie flat flights are a lot cheaper. I wonder what the difference is?

I guess AA is about to start dismantling proper First class in the next 12 months.

 

[Lynda2475]

Interesting in your example that some are sold as Lie Flat first and others Flagship First. I thought all genuine First was sold as Flagship First. And those lie flat flights are a lot cheaper. I wonder what the difference is?

I thought same as you, but clicking into seat map the First seats are 1 1 the Business seats as 2 2 and the Economy are 3 3. Maybe the age of the aircraft.

Whereas typically on two class, the first seats are 2 2 .

I guess AA is about to start dismantling proper First class in the next 12 months.

I hadn't heard that?

 

[justinbrett]

I thought same as you, but clicking into seat map the First seats are 1 1 the Business seats as 2 2 and the Economy are 3 3. Maybe the age of the aircraft.

Whereas typically on two class, the first seats are 2 2 .

If it's not sold as Flagship you would lose access to certain perks only available to Flagship First pax - eg baggage & Flagship lounge entry if you don't already have status - and if you are AA/AS you wouldn't get in the lounge at all.

This seems odd.

I hadn't heard that?

From next year

American Airlines Is Eliminating International First Class

American Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, Vasu Raja, confirmed the airline will no longer offer first class on international flights.

simpleflying.com

 

[Lynda2475]

If it's not sold as Flagship you would lose access to certain perks only available to Flagship First pax - eg baggage & Flagship lounge entry if you don't already have status - and if you are AA/AS you wouldn't get in the lounge at all.

I was able to use Flagship first lounge as Gold Flying non-flagship First last year. And if flying Y I would have expected Admirals club access.

Seems odd an AA FF member flying first wouldnt at least get admirals club access?

From next year

Makes sense very few offering first, and probably easier to sell more J. It does seem they are keeping the 3 classes on narrow bodies and trans-continental though.

 

[justinbrett]

I was able to use Flagship first lounge as Gold Flying non-flagship First last year. And if flying Y I would have expected Admirals club access.

Seems odd an AA FF member flying first wouldnt at least get admirals club access?



Makes sense very few offering first, and probably easier to sell more J. It does seem they are keeping the 3 classes on narrow bodies and trans-continental though.

Yeah I said if you don't have status. You don't normally get lounge access by cabin on domestic flights, an exception is made for booking in Flagship First or Flagship Business (or if on an international itinerary).

OWS get access to the Flagship Lounge regardless of fare/cabin, as long as their program isn't AA or AS. So even flying Y last year you would have got into the Flagship Lounge. (Note it's just Flagship Lounge, it's not actually a First Class lounge, it's combined J/F and elite. Just the flagship dining is reserved for Flagship First)

 

[Lynda2475]

OWS get access to the Flagship Lounge regardless of fare/cabin, as long as their program isn't AA or AS.

Interesting when I was PS I was always sent to the Admirals Club at JFK not Flagship First; good to know should I ever drop that low again.

 

[justinbrett]

Interesting when I was PS I was always sent to the Admirals Club at JFK not Flagship First; good to kow shoudl I ever drop that low again.

Sorry I meant oneworld Sapphire / SG and above get access.

PS / Ruby only get access to AC's if they have QP membership.