Really disappointed with Aadvantage

[aus_flyer]

I was booked (on hold, not ticketed) for travel SYD(QF)HKG(CX)LHR later this year in F award. 5 day courtesy hold cancelled late afternoon Sat (Aus time).

I rang AA office in US (prior to cancellation) to have the ticket issued, but was told that it would need to be done by the Aus office. As the Australian office is closed on weekends, the hold cancelled.

I've been able to rebook the QF flight but not the CX - best available was U.

Since creating the booking, it appears CX have reduced the number of flights HKG-LHR that operate with F, so I suspect Z won't reappear.

I know there is the option to accept HKG-LHR in U and then have the ticket reissued if Z inventory becomes available, but it's still quite disappointing.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[djfuzz]

Did they tell you why it needed to be booked through the AA Aus office? Seems strange they can't do it themselves...

 

[aus_flyer]

I've had award tickets issued by the US office in the past without a problem... so I was surprised by this "new policy".

And no, first I'd heard of it was when I was told I couldn't do it.

 

[wandering_fred]

My condolences on the booking / ticketing experience.

Somehow I suspect an Australian credit card is involved which the AA reservations desk in the USA has trouble successfully charging. I have tried.

And why I still maintain a US card...... actually two but one has an Oz address and presents its own issues on occasion.



Fred

 

[aus_flyer]

Now I don't know what to do...

1. Accept the voluntary downgrade and hope for the best, or

2. Book a fairly indirect route to get F with QF, and then pay the $150 fee to change back to original itinerary if HKG-LHR becomes available

3. Book HKG-LHR with BA instead of CX and then pay the $150 if CX becomes available.

 

[Dave Noble]

What status do you hold with AA? if you have gold or higher then they can take your credit card to pay for it, though normally need to inform them of this

The other option would be to phone the UK to pay for it since they will take Australian credit cards without a problems . At 5pm in Sydney, the UK office should be open

Ticketing at the Australian office is the worst option anyway since they charge AUD60 booking fee whilst US charges USD20 and UK charges GBP15 and I would do what I can to avoid ticketing there

There should be no need for the holding office to issue the ticket ,unless there is something odd with the AU office. I always make the award reservations with the US office and tend to pay at the UK office , avoiding the AU office entirely

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

I always make the award reservations with the US office and tend to pay at the UK office , avoiding the AU office entirely

This is what I've always done in the past. Apparently, no longer possible.

 

[thegurio]

2. Book a fairly indirect route to get F with QF, and then pay the $150 fee to change back to original itinerary if HKG-LHR becomes available

Surely more time in an F seat can't be a bad thing?:mrgreen:

 

[IainF]

IN the past when I have had troubles with my CC to pay for the "+" taxes, I have asked for, and always received, an extension of time to pay.

Once, when the taxes had been paid but not been credited to the eticket, the booking fell over and they could not rebook it. (F award BNE-SYD-BKK vv) I spoke to a VP of the AA Advantage programon and they booked a PAID F seat for me.
I actually received FF points for this....
I have had 8-9 award tix from AA on Oneworld over the past 3-4 years and they have all been in J/F on QF/BA/CX/AA..
145,000 points for an F award on QF/AA from BNE-JFK return was probably the best value award I have used and for less than $200 in taxes... compared to nearly $20,000 for a paid fare.

I have been an AA plat & explat for the last 4 years and have always thought highly of the program.
The downside is that most of my paid flying is on QF and even though I am a oneworld Saphire, I cannot pre allocate my seats on QF Dom flights. Other than this, I would suggest that the AA program is the best program I have used. (Formerly was a QF Plat).

 

[Dave Noble]

This is what I've always done in the past. Apparently, no longer possible.

Not true. Did this very recently myself. I wouldn't go by the ramblings of a single agent

As far as booking goes, I would go for the BA flight and just change to CX if it becomes available. As far as ciruitous routings goes, that would be difficult to do on a partner award due to (a) the MPM limitations that now apply to awards and (b) the only routing to Europe from SWP permitted is Oz- SIN/BKK/TYO/HKG - Europe

Is there availability on CX travelling to somewhere else like AMS or FRA and then connect to UK.

Dave

 

[serfty]

... The downside is that most of my paid flying is on QF and even though I am a oneworld Saphire, I cannot pre allocate my seats on QF Dom flights. ...

Even as a QF WP, I cannot pre-allocate seats on QF Dom flights.

(I could for a short time with Qantas' botched implementation of on-line seat selection earlier this year.)

 

[Dave Noble]

The downside is that most of my paid flying is on QF and even though I am a oneworld Saphire, I cannot pre allocate my seats on QF Dom flights. Other than this, I would suggest that the AA program is the best program I have used. (Formerly was a QF Plat).

Nor can Qantas members , so isn't much of a downside

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

Surely more time in an F seat can't be a bad thing?

Given a choice between being in an aeroplane or being at the destination, the being at the destination would win pretty much every time for me

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

Is there availability on CX travelling to somewhere else like AMS or FRA and then connect to UK.

Not at this stage, but I'm hoping.

I think I'll book BA and hope that CX becomes available to LHR/AMS/CDG or FRA.

I've been trying to work out how far in advance CX releases extra Z availability - it seems to be 2 months from what I can see.

 

[simongr]

Even as a QF WP, I cannot pre-allocate seats on QF Dom flights.

(I could for a short time with Qantas' botched implementation of on-line seat selection earlier this year.)

The main drag I found was the coughpy seats for AA EXP rather than preallocation. As most of my travel switched to Oz DOM and I got comped to WP it is better to stay with QF for a while...

 

[adrian]

I have redeemed maybe 5 or 6 AA awards this year, as recently as 1 week ago. All through the US advantage desk (EXP desk). They will always have a problem ticketing, but they can never figure out what the problem is, suggesting that I just keep checking back later to see if it has been ticketed. From experience I have learned that the problem is always the Aust based credit card.

Now, whenever I give them credit card details, I warn them that they will have a problem with the address, and suggest that they use the AA address in Dallas instead. Usually they don't believe me, so will try my real address at first, then try the AA address.

Anyway, it works everytime with a US based address. Now I never have any problems with ticketing, and I can complete a transaction with AA, including selecting the flights & making payment, within 5 to 10 minutes.

FWIW, I think Aadvantage are the best, particularly their US based staff, and their entire programme. Yesterday I flew PRG-LHR-HKG-SYD in CX J for 60000 points. I booked less than a week in advance, a painless transaction with a human over the phone. The taxes were around US$70 or 80. Qantas would have cost me 139,000 in points (I think??), and I am sure a whole lot in fuel charges.

 

[IainF]

Simongr "I got comped to WP it is better to stay with QF for a while..."

This is something new for me !
Did you really get a comp to WP from aa Explat ?
Cos that would be really useful right now !!!!!!

 

[serfty]

Yep, AA certainly can have better redemption rates, especially in the Premium Cabins.

It's just that it somewhat harder for an Oz based member to generate AAdvantage miles either with CC spend or with travel in discount economy.

Also a QF WP can get a better earn/burn ratio sticking with QFF.

e.g. MEL-LAX in O class special. WP earns nearly 16,000 QFF points, EXP/PLT earns nearly 8000 AAdvantage Miles.

$60,700 spend on 1:1 QF Amex can earn 60,700 QFF points, same spend on Amex can earn (via SPG) 25,018 AAdvantage miles.

 

[Keith009]

I have had AAgents tried that "you need to call Brisbane as we can't process Australian credit cards" trick on me before, even those on the EXP desk. I persist and insist that they get a 2nd opinion, ask the help desk, get their supervisor, whatever. And yes it can be done.

Usually what causes a problem for the US office is the postal code on the billing address which must fit the 5 digit US format. Looking at my award PNRs ticketed through the US office, there seems to be a few ways to get around this issue:
1) Put an extra zero in front of the postal code
2) Enter postal code as '00000'
3) Create a fake US address entirely. :shock: Eg:

ADDRESS                                                         
    N/<NAME ON CARD>                                               
    A/500 GREGSON DR                                            
    C/CARY, NC                                                  
    Z/27511

However if i have time I'd usually call Brisbane for payment in order to avoid currency conversion fees on the AMEX.

 

[serfty]

...
e.g. MEL-LAX in O class special. WP earns nearly 16,000 QFF points, EXP/PLT earns nearly 8000 AAdvantage Miles. ...

To keep all things equal,
WP/SG earns nearly 16,000/12,000 QFF points,