QP access when flying MEL-LAX on AA

[Dave Noble]

Oh well... I just have to hope they print QF93 on the tix... Or I can check in online at qf.com and hope that works!

It will say on the boarding pass

QF93
Sold as AA7349

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

I had a brief search, but what exactly is Platinum challenge?

Yes... once living in the US I will probably switch to AA FFP... The job will involve a bit of domestic travel... and some international...

In which case I would recommend signing up for the platinum challenge on this trip and getting platinum status ( assuming in a suitable booking class ) and so have the benefits for the future when you go back

I have a post with details of the challenge on

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html

In brief.
It costs USD150 to sign up ($167)
You can start the challenge on the 1st or 16th of the month
You then have 3 months to complete the challenge
If you do it this month, you will have Platinum status through to end of Feb 2011
During the 3 month period you need to attain 10,000 Elite Qualifying Points from AA flights ( codeshares count )

For economy travel you will earn

1 point per mile flown if in H K L M V or W class or
0.5 point per mile flown if in G N O Q or S

MEL-LAX-ORD is 9666 miles so if in a 1 point per mile flown class you will attain platinum on the ORD-LAX flight on way back.

If on a 0.5 point per mile flown class you will be within 334 points of completing it. 1 flight on AA could then complete it easily

AA PLT status will be great to have when travelling AA in the future since you will be able to use electronic upgrade credits to upgrade plus be able to pre-select exit row seats in economy

What is the booking class for the trip you are doing?

Dave

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Economy (M)

wow... what odd things exists in the world of FFP

 

[Dave Noble]

Economy (M)

wow... what odd things exists in the world of FFP

M class is perfect.

You can attain platinum status on the ORD-LAX flight with that booking. You will also earn the Platinum bonus on the flights ORD-LAX-MEL. This will give you spending miles of 9466 from the outbound and 18,932 from the return giving a total spending miles earn of 28,398

Would seem well worthwhile signing up for it, especially given the likelihood of moving to the US.

Dave

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Ok... read the thread...

So you are telling me that in one OS trip (purchased through AA) I can make OW Sapphire??

Yikes!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

and best thing is I should still be able to use my QP card to access AC lounges Ex LAX and ORD

 

[Dave Noble]

Ok... read the thread...

So you are telling me that in one OS trip (purchased through AA) I can make OW Sapphire??

Yikes!

It doesn't have to be purchased through AA, you just have to fly on AA flights

But yes, the one trip which you are taking will indeed enable you to attain AA Platinum status and so get OW Sapphire status.

You can indeed , as mentioned, use your Qantas Club card for access to lounges.

What I would recommend doing , if you do it, is to sign up for an AA membership and then phone AA Platinum desk in the US to sign up for the challenge. Then remove your QF number from the booking u have ; make sure it is completely gone and then go to AA.com and add your frequent flyer number into the booking. Then phone QF and make sure that it is showing in there and , if not, get it added there.

When checking in, the BP should state the AA number.

As another reason for crediting to AA, if you were to credit to Qantas , you would only earn 9466 plus 25% giving a total of 11,833 miles for the trip.28,932 AA miles is a lot better to have ... lot more value to them

Dave

 

[serfty]

And show your QP card for lounge access ... until you become Plat.

BTW, once you are Plat, your QP membership becomes slightly redundant as you are then oneworld sapphire.

Note that your Plat status would carry though until Feb 28, 2011.

 

[Dave Noble]

BTW, once you are Plat, your QP membership becomes slightly redundant as you are then oneworld sapphire.

Not if he moves to the US since AA PLT members do not get lounge access when travelling domestically. The QC card will be most usefu to carry around for lounge accessl for domestic travel. The AA number will be the best to have in the bookings though for access to exit seats and for upgrades

 

[Cyclogenesis]

So in summary it seems the only disadvantages are:
*Having to use Y class check in (flying on AA FN, and using a non-status FF number, as against using my QF Silver number and no QC as not a QF marketed flight)
*Might get coughpier seats... although I did enter my QFF into the booking and select already... so hopefully it lets me cancel that and use my AA FF
*$$$ to join the challenge

but for OW Saph seems worth it!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Another quick Q: If I make Plat on the ORD-LAX (or Gold on LAX-ORD) will that status be automatically updated? ie can I use the J-lounge Ex LAX? or do I need to wait for the card in the mail?

 

[Dave Noble]

So in summary it seems the only disadvantages are:
*Having to use Y class check in (flying on AA FN, and using a non-status FF number, as against using my QF Silver number and no QC as not a QF marketed flight)
*Might get coughpier seats... although I did enter my QFF into the booking and select already... so hopefully it lets me cancel that and use my AA FF
*$$$ to join the challenge

but for OW Saph seems worth it!

You can use the Qantas Club check in by virtue of Qantas Club membership; you do not need to have the number in the booking

You already have a decent seat , so no harm in just removing the number now and adding the AA number

There is the USD150 fee to join, but the additional miles and the status would seem well worth USD150

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Another quick Q: If I make Plat on the ORD-LAX (or Gold on LAX-ORD) will that status be automatically updated? ie can I use the J-lounge Ex LAX? or do I need to wait for the card in the mail?

You will need to wait for the flight to credit before the status updates. If you were to change your routing such that you attain Platinum status on the outbound journey, then depending on how soon you are returning, you may well have PLT status for the return trip and so be able to use the priority screening lanes at the US airports plus be able to use the AA 1st class check in lines

If you do this, make sure to remove your AA number from the booking and add it back in again once you have status showing on your account. Your boarding pass will then say PLATINUM on it and you should have no issues getting lounge access in TBIT

Dave

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Nice work... thanks Dave... What an amazing thing that I would have had *no clue* about if not for the people here... very nice indeed!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Hmm... I cant see where to change the FF number on either the QF or AA site... Can anyone confirm that they have been able to change a FF number after entering it into the system?

 

[notzac]

Call AA directly and have them remove the FF number altogether. After that's done, add your AA number online.

 

[Dave Noble]

Hmm... I cant see where to change the FF number on either the QF or AA site... Can anyone confirm that they have been able to change a FF number after entering it into the system?

Phone Qantas 1st and ensure it is removed from the Qantas legs
Then phone AA and ensure it is removed from the AA legs
Then go to your reservation on aa.com and add the AA number
Then phone QF and ensure that it is showing as far as Qantas can tell - if not, get them to add the FF number there

Those are the steps I would follow to ensure that it is successful

Dave

 

[straitman]

Your boarding pass will then say PLATINUM on it and you should have no issues getting lounge access in TBIT

Dave

As a by line to this. On our recent trip my wifes' OW 'Ruby" status showed on her AA boarding passes (6 legs) but mine did not show at all.

 

[Dave Noble]

As a by line to this. On our recent trip my wifes' OW 'Ruby" status showed on her AA boarding passes (6 legs) but mine did not show at all.

If this was a QF number, did the points actually credit automatically?

Dave

 

[straitman]

If this was a QF number, did the points actually credit automatically?

Dave

Yes.

Everything has posted automatically into both accounts except one leg (SFO-LAX) on 10th which I don't expect just yet.