QF SG Benefits on AA

[Princess Fiona]

MIA AC as FL was closed for renovations.

Although now that I think about it - perhaps that's why there was what may have been an "enhanced service"

It might have been a short lived thing as neither AC had enhanced service last week that I could see, the Tanqueray was spot on however

 

[parsonstrish]

The other person travelling with you also gets free luggage allowance. Look @ conditions on aa under baggage exclusions.

 

[serfty]

A (temporary) MIA F/L opened at Terminal E very this month - I believe in the old A/C space there.

 

[reductionist]

Just a quick note regarding my AA flight LAX-AUS (Texas) this morning.

Preface: Yesterday's instant upgrade fare (ORD-LAX) qualified me for QFF Gold. My profile on Qantas.com was updated overnight to reflect this.

When I got to the airport this morning I used a kiosk to print out my boarding pass. My QFF/OneWorld status was not printed on it. This resulted in me having to wait much longer at security as my flight was in the Y cabin today.

On top of this, because I was seated near the front of the cabin I was one of the last to board. This meant that there was no space for my roll-on bag and it had to be checked.

In hindsight I should have arrived at the airport with a print-out of my QFF summary page so I could have obtained a priority access boarding pass from the business/first check-in desk. Boo.

I don't know if the cause of this was that my Gold qualification was too recent, or that the kiosks simply don't print status on boarding passes. But I thought it'd be useful for the OP to know.

 

[dfcatch]

Just a quick note regarding my AA flight LAX-AUS (Texas) this morning.

Preface: Yesterday's instant upgrade fare (ORD-LAX) qualified me for QFF Gold. My profile on Qantas.com was updated overnight to reflect this.

When I got to the airport this morning I used a kiosk to print out my boarding pass. My QFF/OneWorld status was not printed on it. This resulted in me having to wait much longer at security as my flight was in the Y cabin today.

On top of this, because I was seated near the front of the cabin I was one of the last to board. This meant that there was no space for my roll-on bag and it had to be checked.

In hindsight I should have arrived at the airport with a print-out of my QFF summary page so I could have obtained a priority access boarding pass from the business/first check-in desk. Boo.

I don't know if the cause of this was that my Gold qualification was too recent, or that the kiosks simply don't print status on boarding passes. But I thought it'd be useful for the OP to know.

Are you sure that your QF number was in the booking?

I've always had Priority AAccess printed on kiosk BPs.

Even if the system still thought you were Ruby, then it should have.

 

[reductionist]

Are you sure that your QF number was in the booking?

I've always had Priority AAccess printed on kiosk BPs.

Even if the system still thought you were Ruby, then it should have.

Yep. QF number is actually printed on the boarding pass. Weird.

 

[branners]

I have to say that I have generally had a pretty good run with AA lounges and check-ins.
I was flying from LAX to JFK not long after 9/11 and the level of security was, understandably, high to the point of near-paranoia. I got stuck in Security through no fault of my own, and when I got to the Gate, a bit hot and sweaty, an AA staffer told me I had 5 mins before I had to board -- the hint being, you look like cough, so go straighten yourself out. So I dashed up to the Lounge, used their washroom and tidied up -- then I realised I still had 2 of the 5 mins left. So I grabbed a beer from the bar (it was a Budweiser but WTF, it was wet and cold) and put the time to good use.
In the meantime, the AA staffer at the lounge desk printed me a new boarding pass, with an exit seat.
I have had some lousy runs with AA as well, but they can excel when they want to.

 

[straitman]

Just a quick note regarding my AA flight LAX-AUS (Texas) this morning.

I have had it in the past where my QF FF number and status have not shown on an AA BP. Rare but possible.

 

[Crowne11]

The answer to both questions is YES.

Thanks for your help Serfty

 

[Blackadder]

I have to say that I have generally had a pretty good run with AA lounges and check-ins.
I was flying from LAX to JFK not long after 9/11 and the level of security was, understandably, high to the point of near-paranoia. I got stuck in Security through no fault of my own, and when I got to the Gate, a bit hot and sweaty, an AA staffer told me I had 5 mins before I had to board -- the hint being, you look like cough, so go straighten yourself out. So I dashed up to the Lounge, used their washroom and tidied up -- then I realised I still had 2 of the 5 mins left. So I grabbed a beer from the bar (it was a Budweiser but WTF, it was wet and cold) and put the time to good use.
In the meantime, the AA staffer at the lounge desk printed me a new boarding pass, with an exit seat.
I have had some lousy runs with AA as well, but they can excel when they want to.

Had nothing but good service from the AAngels as a OW Sapphire, inc gettting a non status pax travelling from JFK-SNA to the head of the stand by queue after a late arrival at JFK.

 

[reductionist]

I have had it in the past where my QF FF number and status have not shown on an AA BP. Rare but possible.

AUS-DFW-SFO today.

Neither OW status or "Priority Access" shown on boarding pass, printed on a kiosk.

Asked the AA staff in the lounge and was told "you sound like you know more about it than we do". They couldn't help me any further.

Once again had a seat near the front but opted to pay a small fee to board as part of Group 1 to ensure some overhead space. Totally full flight and a lot of people had no bin space and had to check their carry-on.

 

[drewbles]

AUS-DFW-SFO today.

Neither OW status or "Priority Access" shown on boarding pass, printed on a kiosk.

Asked the AA staff in the lounge and was told "you sound like you know more about it than we do". They couldn't help me any further.

Once again had a seat near the front but opted to pay a small fee to board as part of Group 1 to ensure some overhead space. Totally full flight and a lot of people had no bin space and had to check their carry-on.

As QP NB you will not have Priority AAccess on the Boarding pass, as Bronze is not any level within OneWorld (the OW levels kick in at PS, being OW Ruby).

Interesting they're charging to board as part of Group 1. Not unsurprising, but interesting!

 

[reductionist]

As QP NB you will not have Priority AAccess on the Boarding pass, as Bronze is not any level within OneWorld (the OW levels kick in at PS, being OW Ruby).

Oh, I'm SG. Forgot to update my AFF profile.

 

[parsonstrish]

AUS-DFW-SFO today.

Neither OW status or "Priority Access" shown on boarding pass, printed on a kiosk.

Asked the AA staff in the lounge and was told "you sound like you know more about it than we do". They couldn't help me any further.

Once again had a seat near the front but opted to pay a small fee to board as part of Group 1 to ensure some overhead space. Totally full flight and a lot of people had no bin space and had to check their carry-on.

reductionist, curious, how did you go abt. paying to be in grp. one, in the lounge and how much? being ff gold, i have access to priority boarding, just curious. thanks.

 

[reductionist]

reductionist, curious, how did you go abt. paying to be in grp. one, in the lounge and how much? being ff gold, i have access to priority boarding, just curious. thanks.

It was presented to me as an option on screen when I was checking in at the kiosk prior to security.

The kiosk gave me boarding passes for both flights and I was allocated group 1 for both too.

Don't take my word that this option will be available to you though. I have used the kiosk to check-in for the Y cabin only 2 times and the first time there was no group 1 option presented to me. Ended up in Group 6 which is meh if bin space is important to you.

 

[dfcatch]

It was presented to me as an option on screen when I was checking in at the kiosk prior to security.

The kiosk gave me boarding passes for both flights and I was allocated group 1 for both too.

Don't take my word that this option will be available to you though. I have used the kiosk to check-in for the Y cabin only 2 times and the first time there was no group 1 option presented to me. Ended up in Group 6 which is meh if bin space is important to you.

It sounds to me like your QF number is not in the booking properly. Or that your status did not load.

Assuming your status displays correctly when you login to the QFF website then I would have your FF number removed from your booking, and reloaded in. With any luck that should load your status properly.

But the checkin / lounge staff should be able to identify/fix the problem upon presentation of your OW Sapphire FF card.

 

[serfty]

Much to the consternation of Elite AAdvantage members who frequently book economy seats, AA last year introduced a pay for premium service that provides for seating to the front of economy and Group 1 boarding.

More here from FlyerTalk: (FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - FAQ: American Airlines and AAdvantage - Please check here first!)

• What are Express Seats?

Express Seats are available for purchase at or near the front of the coach cabin, including bulkhead rows, on flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S.V.I. Group 1 boarding is included with the purchase of an Express Seat. Pricing starts at $19 per flight one-way and is based on flight distance. Express Seats cannot be reserved in advance and are available for purchase only at airport self-service kiosks between 24 hours and 50 minutes prior to departure, even after previously checking in online. Those traveling on AAdvantage Award Tickets are not eligible to purchase Express Seats.

FT members report being able to select Express Seats at no charge when selecting seats with an airport agent (e.g., Admirals Club, gate agent), but not when using self-service kiosks.

AA.com: Your Choice: Express Seats
FT: Express Seats - Paid Premium Seating in Economy

 

[drewbles]

It sounds to me like your QF number is not in the booking properly. Or that your status did not load.

Assuming your status displays correctly when you login to the QFF website then I would have your FF number removed from your booking, and reloaded in. With any luck that should load your status properly.

But the checkin / lounge staff should be able to identify/fix the problem upon presentation of your OW Sapphire FF card.

What i've also found is that if you made the booking when you were NB, and then quickly qualified (Say over a week or two) to SG, the AA system may not have caught up.

I made WP whilst in the USA, and for flights I was checking in for my BP's were still saying OW Sapphire. AAngels then removed and re-added my FF number, and low and behold, OW EMERALD appeared.

I had one situation where I was issued two boarding passes, with different status' on them too. I have no idea what happened (but remove and re-add fixed it in LAX).

 

[reductionist]

What i've also found is that if you made the booking when you were NB, and then quickly qualified (Say over a week or two) to SG, the AA system may not have caught up.

I made WP whilst in the USA, and for flights I was checking in for my BP's were still saying OW Sapphire. AAngels then removed and re-added my FF number, and low and behold, OW EMERALD appeared.

I had one situation where I was issued two boarding passes, with different status' on them too. I have no idea what happened (but remove and re-add fixed it in LAX).

I think you may be right.

I have just checked in at SFO. This time I checked in at the First/Business desk instead of the kiosk. Again the boarding pass was issued without my OW Sapphire status.

Since I am in the First cabin for this flight I didn't bother to ask the guy at the desk to correct it because all I care about is getting some bin space for my bag.

But when I checked into the admirals club the woman behind the desk there tore up my boarding pass and said "I have to give you a new one to reflect your status". Sure enough it has "Sapphire" now printed on it.

*shrugs*

I can understand her doing this if I was flying Y, since I'd theoretically get priority boarding. Otherwise I don't really see the difference. The FAs certainly aren't going to treat me any differently, are they?

 

[DC3]

... But when I checked into the admirals club the woman behind the desk there tore up my boarding pass and said "I have to give you a new one to reflect your status". Sure enough it has "Sapphire" now printed on it.

*shrugs*

I can understand her doing this if I was flying Y, since I'd theoretically get priority boarding. Otherwise I don't really see the difference. The FAs certainly aren't going to treat me any differently, are they?

Maybe just doing her job.