The great points transfer to AAdvantage

[Dave Noble]

Cheers Dave. Seriously considering switching over now, or when I hit LTG.

Is it much easier to qualify for Exec Plat if the flight has an AA flight number rather than a QF flight number? And will Qantas happily change the flight number to an AA flight number?

Thanks,

JOBU

If you are travelling in discount economy then AA flight numbers are better, but wuth flexible economy, business or 1st class then it makes no odds whether on a QF flight number or an AA flight number.

As far as putting the AA number in the booking, there is no issue and may even be able to be done online in manage your booking

Dave

 

[Siegfried]

I've been following this thread with interest - I'm QFF LTG, and it looks like QFF just comped me to another year of WP (currently 380 SC short with anniversary at the end of September).

I have a question for those who have moved to AA. If I join the AAA program while still a QFF WP, but have no status with AAA (I'm not sure what AAA "color" equivalent to WFF NB, so I'll call it Bronze for now), do your BP's print with AAA status of Bronze, AND OW Emerald? Or does it show a OW status based on AAA's status?

 

[samh004]

I've been following this thread with interest - I'm QFF LTG, and it looks like QFF just comped me to another year of WP (currently 380 SC short with anniversary at the end of September).

I have a question for those who have moved to AA. If I join the AAA program while still a QFF WP, but have no status with AAA (I'm not sure what AAA "color" equivalent to WFF NB, so I'll call it Bronze for now), do your BP's print with AAA status of Bronze, AND OW Emerald? Or does it show a OW status based on AAA's status?

It would show with AA’s status, or no status as the case would be, unless you got a status match.

 

[NM]

I've been following this thread with interest - I'm QFF LTG, and it looks like QFF just comped me to another year of WP (currently 380 SC short with anniversary at the end of September).

I have a question for those who have moved to AA. If I join the AAA program while still a QFF WP, but have no status with AAA (I'm not sure what AAA "color" equivalent to WFF NB, so I'll call it Bronze for now), do your BP's print with AAA status of Bronze, AND OW Emerald? Or does it show a OW status based on AAA's status?

Your boarding pass will show the status of the program to which you are earning points/miles. However, even if your boarding pass says you are AAdvanatge no-status, you can still present your QF Platinum card for benefits such as lounge access.

This is where the AAdvanatge Gold or Platinum Challenge come in handy as a way to get to a status level with AAdvantage fairly quickly. When I started crediting to AA, any OneWorld flight counted for the challenge (now its on AA flight numbers that count) and I jumped to AAdvantage Platinum status in one flight (MEL-LHR on QF, booked in D as part of a DONE4 and upgraded to F with QF FF points).

 

[Siegfried]

Thanks for that NM. I did realise that the WP card could be used, but I was just interested in whether you could get a BP with the slightly ridiculous combination of no status / top tier.

I've got a trip to SCL in October, and I'm thinking of going the long way round (DONE4), so I'll be definitely looking at the AA Plat Challenge. It's a pity that the only AA codeshares out of Aus are to the US - it would be nice to if I could get the whole run on AA.

 

[Dave Noble]

I've got a trip to SCL in October, and I'm thinking of going the long way round (DONE4), so I'll be definitely looking at the AA Plat Challenge. It's a pity that the only AA codeshares out of Aus are to the US - it would be nice to if I could get the whole run on AA.

Once you have completed 6667 miles on AA, you will be platinum and after that oft makes no difference if on AA or another OW partner other than no status bonus miles on BA or JL

 

[Siegfried]

OK - thanks. I think I understand how the challenge conditions work, but if someone could check my logic, I would appreciate it.

So, assuming I start my DONE4 by heading from Aus to the US to pick up the AA codeshare, and go BNE-MEL-LAX. As I understand it, the "earn" would be

BNE-MEL
Carrier: QF
Distance: 860 miles
Miles Accrual: 1075 (860 x 1.25)
EQP Accrual: 1290 (does not count toward challenge, but does count towards ExPlat)

MEL-LAX
Carrier: AA (Codeshare)
Distance: 7500 miles
Miles Accrual: 9375 (7500 x 1.25)
EQP Accrual: 11250 (counts toward challenge)

So at the end of these sectors, I would be AA Plat, have 10,450 miles available to redeem, and have 12540 EQP towards qualifying for ExPlat. Also, from that point on, I would be earning 100% mileage bonus for any OW flight (except for BA and JL) plus 25% class bonus (assuming J / D / I class), and accruing EQPs at 150% (again assuming J / D / I class).

Have I got this right, or am I being rectally vocal? :?:

 

[Dave Noble]

So at the end of these sectors, I would be AA Plat, have 10,450 miles available to redeem, and have 12540 EQP towards qualifying for ExPlat. Also, from that point on, I would be earning 100% mileage bonus for any OW flight (except for BA and JL) plus 25% class bonus (assuming J / D / I class), and accruing EQPs at 150% (again assuming J / D / I class).

Have I got this right, or am I being rectally vocal? :?:

Very Close.

Only bit wrong is that you would earn as mentioned for BNE-MEL and EQP earning and miles earning towards EXP is correct however you would actually earn 16,875 (7500*2.25) spending miles on the MEL-LAX flight since you will be given the platinum bonus on the flight on which you attain platinum via the challenge . You can fly BNE-LAX direct if desired and still get platinum on BNE-LAX direct if you have no other reason to be going to MEL

Once Platinum, then indeed you get 100% status bonus plus 25% bonus for business class.

Dave

 

[JohnK]

If I'm in coach on an AA flight and booked into a non QFF earning booking class (e.g. Q), as an AA Gold I would still be able to put my AA number into the booking and get premium seat allocation (including exit rows) as well as "Priority AAccess".

You in WHY on an AA flight? Why?

So it is really only useful if one travels to the USA quite a lot and purchases AA airfares that do not earn on QFF. Have I missed anything else?

Luckily the USA is not my preferred holiday destination and for now I will concentrate on reaching QF Lifetime Gold.

 

[samh004]

So it is really only useful if one travels to the USA quite a lot and purchases AA airfares that do not earn on QFF. Have I missed anything else?

I think the big advantage is always trumpeted as more affordable milage redemptions, compared to QFF, on most routes.

 

[Dave Noble]

So it is really only useful if one travels to the USA quite a lot and purchases AA airfares that do not earn on QFF. Have I missed anything else?

You have missed a lot; AA Platinum gives very similar benefits to QF Gold plus a far superior redemption rate and has no need to travel to USA to get benefit from it; going to USA gives additional benefits

 

[Siegfried]

Very Close.

Only bit wrong is that you would earn as mentioned for BNE-MEL and EQP earning and miles earning towards EXP is correct however you would actually earn 16,875 (7500*2.25) spending miles on the MEL-LAX flight since you will be given the platinum bonus on the flight on which you attain platinum via the challenge . You can fly BNE-LAX direct if desired and still get platinum on BNE-LAX direct if you have no other reason to be going to MEL

Once Platinum, then indeed you get 100% status bonus plus 25% bonus for business class.

Dave

Thanks Dave - I assumed that the status bonus kicked in after the flight. BTW, the only reason I included MEL was to clarify the difference between AA and non-AA sectors.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Dave - I assumed that the status bonus kicked in after the flight. BTW, the only reason I included MEL was to clarify the difference between AA and non-AA sectors.

Ah, I see... if you did a BNE-MEL on QF after completing the challenge, then you would get 850+850+213=1913 spending candy

 

[serfty]

You in WHY on an AA flight? Why?
...

Actually, SWMBO and I are currently booked in Q class LAX-SFO next month.

I have just ticked over PG for this "year". Being LTG I have no real use for SC's until November.

The Q class fares were USD49 each, N class USD79 and since we'd only earn 500 QFF points in any case it was a no-brainier. (Given such, I was certainly not going to spend USD363 each for such a short flight to travel in P class - I was easily able to allocate exit seats on the 738 online as a WP.)

 

[JohnK]

I think the big advantage is always trumpeted as more affordable milage redemptions, compared to QFF, on most routes.

I agree but what about the earning rate on even the cheapest airfares including E, N and Q class. No point having more afforardable redemptions if you need to spend more to earn those miles.

You have missed a lot; AA Platinum gives very similar benefits to QF Gold plus a far superior redemption rate and has no need to travel to USA to get benefit from it; going to USA gives additional benefits

Don't think I have missed much Dave as I am a Qantas Platinum on the way to Lifetime Gold.

I am just trying to understand how the AAdvantage program can benefit me and so far I am drawing blanks. As always horses for courses....

 

[Jobu]

AA Platinum gives very similar benefits to QF Gold plus a far superior redemption rate and has no need to travel to USA to get benefit from it; going to USA gives additional benefits

Is this the same for AA Exec Plat vs QF Plat?

Is attaining/retaining AA Exec Plat considered tougher than re-qualifying for QF Plat?

Cheers,

JOBU

 

[Dave Noble]

Is this the same for AA Exec Plat vs QF Plat?

Is attaining/retaining AA Exec Plat considered tougher than re-qualifying for QF Plat?

Cheers,

JOBU

Pretty similar. An AA EXP member gets 8 systemwide upgrades on AA which can be very good if you ( or a friend ) are heading on an AA international flight

Which is easier to attain depends on what type of travel you do. Typically harder to get it if someone who travels in 1st/business class but often a lot easier for economy travellers

Dave

 

[Jobu]

Pretty similar. An AA EXP member gets 8 systemwide upgrades on AA which can be very good if you ( or a friend ) are heading on an AA international flight

Thanks for the info Dave.

Can the systemwide upgrades be used on codeshare flights? (e.g. QF SYD-LAX)

Cheers,

JOBU

 

[Dave Noble]

Can the systemwide upgrades be used on codeshare flights? (e.g. QF SYD-LAX)

Nope.... can do NRT-JFK on AA though for example

Dave

 

[serfty]

I'm doing LAX-xBOS-FCO as part of a LONE4 on AA metal/flight numbers. These segments have been upgraded to Business class.