Questions about AA LLONE4 for Candy Stealing

[openseat]

I hope you will be able to help me.
I am helping a friend plan a LLONE4 and she has decided that she would like to do the Candy Steal as well, so it will be plated on AA and use AA codeshares where possible. I have two series of questions:

1. I have some vague recollection of reading that the first international segment has to be with AA. Is this true? (I searched for an answer in vain).
If so this leaves the only option flying MEL-AKL. Then AKL to HKG which she would have to credit to QF (No doubt not easily achieved). She was hoping to fly direct to London in the initial stages.

2. If it is possible that she can fly to London direct, then does she have to notify AA from the beginning that she wants to fly WT+, or can she decide later? And will she be charged the USD or AUD amount for the upgrade?

Thanks very much in advance for your help.

 

[Mal]

I don't think AA cares that the first sector is on AA metal (or an AA codeshare). There has been talk of "pressure" from AA to get their flights on the trans-pacific/trans-atlantic type sectors as there are large financial benefits to them.

That said, I've also heard reports that AA will sell tickets without the flights above being included.

A few of the AA experts will probably pop along shortly and add their views and relevant information.

I'm not too sure about the WT+ upgrade option. I presume it would have to be sorted out before the ticket is ticketted, and if decided later would cause a reticket to occur.

 

[NM]

1. I have some vague recollection of reading that the first international segment has to be with AA. Is this true? (I searched for an answer in vain).
If so this leaves the only option flying MEL-AKL. Then AKL to HKG which she would have to credit to QF (No doubt not easily achieved). She was hoping to fly direct to London in the initial stages.

There is no requirement to use AA for the first international sector. Some TA's may try to impost their own rule that they issue with the airline operating the first segment, nut it is not a requirement of the fare rules. The AA ATW desk will book and issue a ticket on AA stock which does not have an AA flight as first international segment.

2. If it is possible that she can fly to London direct, then does she have to notify AA from the beginning that she wants to fly WT+, or can she decide later? And will she be charged the USD or AUD amount for the upgrade?

If changed later it will require the ticket to be re-issued and so will cost an additional re-issue fee on top of the surcharge fee.

If starting with SYD-LHR on BA WT+, they will complete the AA Plat Challenge on that one flight and hence also earn the 100% bonus on that flight. Well worth it if they can afford the surcharge.

 

[Dave Noble]

2. If it is possible that she can fly to London direct, then does she have to notify AA from the beginning that she wants to fly WT+, or can she decide later? And will she be charged the USD or AUD amount for the upgrade?

Thanks very much in advance for your help.

If the ticket is sold in AUD or NZD , then the AUD amount will be charged. If she chooses to go WT+ on the BA flight after the 1st sector has been flown, then there will be a reissue fee of USD125

Dave

 

[openseat]

Thanks guys for your help.
It looks like she will actually have enough miles to requalify for the next year (50000 EQM's).