The great points transfer to AAdvantage

[QF WP]

Sorry, I'm new to AA program and wanted to clarify.

I've discovered that I have 2 AAdvantage accounts. Does anyone forsee issues buying 40k points in each account, then requesting them to be combined? Would it be better to open an account in my partner's name and buy the second lot there?

I'd merge them both together now, open a new one in your partners name and buy the maximum in both accounts (just in case they don't allow it when they merge the two accounts and discover what you have done) but YMMV.

Why does AA charge to "share" miles which I presume is how one transfers between accounts?

Because they can, it's become a great revenue raiser for a cash strapped airline...

 

[QF WP]

Well certainly last month AA were crediting an upgrade into F on QF1 as an F flight.

One of the excellent glitches in the system transfer of information between QF and AA

For all those who are crediting to Aadvantage and are close to 1 or 2 million miles there are credible rumours that there will be changes to the life time status program and some informed people are advising transferring points now if you are close.See here-
Question for Jon & Other Experts - Lifetime Status Program - Traveling Better Forums
I personally am trying to get as close as possible to the 2million mark hoping that if the program changes-eg to BIS miles only counting-that they will start the BIS miles from where you sre at the change date.

Wow, I hadn't logged in there for 23 months. Thanks for the heads up drron

 

[MrJetset]

I'd merge them both together now, open a new one in your partners name and buy the maximum in both accounts (just in case they don't allow it when they merge the two accounts and discover what you have done) but YMMV.


Because they can, it's become a great revenue raiser for a cash strapped airline...

Thanks. I read on FT that AA does not look upon 2 accounts favourably, and in fact, has cancelled both accounts leaving members without any miles. I called the AUS number and they said "don't worry about it," so I insisted that they close the old account with 0 points.

Bought 40k in my account and already transferred 40k (resulting in 50k) from SPG. Will buy another 40k in my partner's new account. With the 12k bonus for each account, as well as Hyatt Gold Passport's The Great 10k promotion AA is really coming into it's own as a secondary FF program.

 

[NM]

Oh yes, the $ savings on the bookings were amazing. Inbound flights for example were 576.97 GBP for mini#2 (including 15 GBP for booking fee) and 88.77 GBP for Mrs LW and me (mini#1 no fuel fines as a child?) Converted to $1,067.50 + $180.30 x 2 = $1,428.10 AUD. Outbound were very similar costs.

I hate to think what it would have been through QF.

Ahh, if one of the Minis is travelling as an infant (no assigned seat) then you have found an area where QFF is superior. QFF does not charge for the infant while AA will charge 10% of the regular fare for the cabin booked.

Also note that AA will charge taxes the same for a child as for an adult, so even through a child under a certain age (12 years from memory) does not have to pay the AU departure tax, AA still charge it on award tickets because their system is unable to differentiate the taxes and assumes all award tix are for adults.

 

[QF WP]

Ahh, if one of the Minis is travelling as an infant (no assigned seat) then you have found an area where QFF is superior. QFF does not charge for the infant while AA will charge 10% of the regular fare for the cabin booked.

Damn, I've wasted $2,200 then by not getting the right advice from here (don't tell Mrs LW) - but could I have booked mini#2 through QF by himself (linking him to one of our AA award ticket)...

 

[QF WP]

Hang on NM, I think (well, dsn, QF web site and I) think you may be incorrect :shock:

QF charges for infants internationally, but not domestically - doesn't it??

dsn tested on QF web site and found to be true...

 

[NM]

Damn, I've wasted $2,200 then by not getting the right advice from here (don't tell Mrs LW) - but could I have booked mini#2 through QF by himself (linking him to one of our AA award ticket)...

An infant can only be associated with an issued ticket. So you can't use AA to issue the award tickets and then ask QF to add an infant. So one of the adults would have needed to be using QFF points for a Classic Award to get the "free" infant.

Hang on NM, I think (well, dsn, QF web site and I) think you may be incorrect :shock:

QF charges for infants internationally, but not domestically - doesn't it??

dsn tested on QF web site and found to be true...

From the QFF web site terms and conditions:

14.3.4 Infants under two years and not occupying a seat, travel without the need to redeem Points as long as the accompanying adult is travelling on a Classic Award. There is a limit of one infant per adult travelling on a Classic Award. Surcharges, charges, fees, GST and taxes (including all ticket taxes) may be payable in relation to infants as specified by Qantas at the time a Member books a Classic Award.

The International vs Domestic things, and the premium cabin vs economy cabin seemed to change quite a few years ago (maybe around 2003?).

 

[QF WP]

Phew *wiping sweating brow*, glad to know that I did the right thing after all.

My understanding is you meant that an infant can travel with a QF award passenger for free.... so if I'd used QFF points then mini#2 would have been free..... BUT... QF would have charged fuel fines which would have eaten up most of that saving anyhow.

I think I did well.... considering QF might have allowed us a free infant but the cost would have been double in points to save ~ $800 (after all, cost to get $500K QF points is significant)

 

[medhead]

You can usually do it by calling up the booking while logged into your QFF account and submitting the request there. The other alternative, if that doesn't work (which seems to happen from time to time), is to ring and request - just make sure they don't change the number in your booking to your QF one.

So you can upgrade a qantas flight that has an AA number using QF points? I also wasn't sure that I would be able to add such a flight onto my QF account. I'll have a look.

Is there a basic primer on the various types of miles with AAdvantage. Their website seems to have nothing. I'm just not sure what EQM, EQP, RDM and all that means, and how they are earnt.

I assume that an O fare ADL-SYD (725 BIS miles) would earn 500 miles. Or is that just for elites. I see there is a 4 AA segment rule, given that I don't expect to fly any AA segments then if switching to AA I would just be accessing the better burn rates as I wouldn't get to an elite level?

By way of explanation of my thoughts, I see myself easily getting back to WP with qantas this year but not to PG. I'm thinking of credit some of my domestic O class flights to AA, just to get a start with them. Stupid idea?

 

[Flashback]

So you can upgrade a qantas flight that has an AA number using QF points? I also wasn't sure that I would be able to add such a flight onto my QF account. I'll have a look.

That's right, NM has mentioned he has done this many times.

 

[TonyHancock]

This seems like the appropriate place to post, but I have loads of questions about QF/AA and starting to earn miles with AA. (Simongr has set me on the path, and I have been at least intrigued by Lindsay Wilson's switch.)

QF LTG will be mine in July (as will PG), and I really don't know what to do. I'm a bit fed up with QF, but I'm not sure if I'm fed up enough to do any thing.

Here is the background.

I travel to the UK 5 times a year minimum. These are normally paid Y+. I allow myself a budget of about $5k for each of these flights.

I travel to Shanghai 2-3 times per year in Y. Domestically I'm likely to go to PER twice and BNE 3-5 times, with a bit of travel to SYD, NTL and ADL.

Usually the US is not part of my travel.

This calender year I have used JASA's and FASA's combined with paid J and Y+ to meet my travel budget on trips to the UK.

I have an AMEX Plat Charge Card and Ultimate Card, and a Woolworth's EDR MC.

My QF year is August to July. In a year I will earn 300-400k through flying, and 200-250k on credit cards, with a few thousand on car hire and others.

I'll also pick up about 100k PC points a year.

I'm pretty much assured of WP status in 2012/13 with my UK flights later this year. I like the ability to get good seats and I like the F lounge and check in.

Having read this thread I'm wondering if I should look at AAadvantage. I'm not sure if it will help me though.

I don't particularly want to do the amount of travel I do so making my travel as comfortable as possible is top priority.

2011/2012

For my next QF year I still need to book three flights to the UK and two to Shanghai as well as my domestic travel. My current bookings JASA/FASA, two UK trips will yield me 1080 SC's. My current thinking is to gather as many QF points as possible to be able to book JASA's to the UK for my 2012/13 QF year. (Helping a quick retention of WP status and all of the WP privileges I enjoy.....if QF don't enhance them further.)

I have now had a new trip sprung upon me, probably in August/Sept, to GIG. I might be able to turn this into a paid J trip. This coupled with a possible conference in LAS in October has created my dilemma.

Help

I'm really looking for help to decide whether I should maintain WP with QF and try to get some status with AA, just continue with QF, or not bother with QF WP and chase AA Exec Plat (If I can even get it.). The better burn rate of AA is an attraction but I wonder if I would really benefit from it. (QF JASA's are a massive help in maintaining status.)

I guess I'm looking for a few pointers? What would you do? Can I even get and maintain status with AA given my travel?

 

[drron]

A year ago i would definitely have advised switching to AA but the goalposts are about to change.At present all miles earned count towards lifetime status on AA.It is likely in the near future this will not be so.
However you will have no problems becoming EXP with your travel.
MEL-LHR~10500 miles.On AA Y+ earns 1.5 EQP(points) so 5 return Y+ to LHR will earn you 157500 EQP and you only need 100000 to get to EXP.
As well once you get to Plat you will earn 100% bonus on QF,CX and now BA so your 5 returns to LHR once you get status earns you 230000 miles.With this earning you wont take long to get lifetime status even if just BIS.And an F award MEL-LHR on AA is 80000 miles.J is 60000.
As well when you get to EXP you get 8 system wide upgrades-obviously just on AA metal but you can usually confirm the upgrade as soon as ticketed.
So if you have got to LTG on QFF it probably would be good to switch.If not a little harder.

 

[QF WP]

Just got back to this thread and need to digest TonyHancock's information rich post. Give me a couple of days as I'm in PER at the moment.

 

[simongr]

The critical question is whether JASAs earn miles etc. on AA - that's why I havent yet commented as his travel includes a lot of those...

 

[medhead]

The critical question is whether JASAs earn miles etc. on AA - that's why I havent yet commented as his travel includes a lot of those...

The answer will be highly dependent on fare class. If picking up the "cheapest" JASA they are likely to be U fares, which isn't listed in the AA earning table for qantas.

 

[TonyHancock]

Thanks for the comments so far. There is a minor change in itinerary, and that is the trip to GIG is now likely to be in June. :-|

 

[QF WP]

I'd have to agree with drron's comments. I would see you getting benefit from both QF & AA programs by crediting appropriately. Once you have QF LTG, what is left? I see a better benefit from your travel is AA's SWU's (at least they are giving you something for achieving these levels).

I hadn't even thought of ASA's crediting to AA. Hmmm, pity I don't (and will never) have sufficient QFF points to crack my LTG with QF quickly, then move away to AA...permanently.

I'll need 125K x 4 (500K) to enjoy 4 x J fares to JFK in late 2012 (my 45th birthday present). I have the joy of looking at buying lots of AA points near year end, then again after it's ticked over to 2012, Between the purchase and transfer of miles from Amex > SPG > AA (and purchasing more points through SPG), ...Hmm, quite an ask when I am sitting on 25K now. Nothing like a challenge!

 

[TonyHancock]

I hadn't even thought of ASA's crediting to AA.

Thank you for posting, I'm still up in he air at the moment. (No pun intended although I did like AA's onboard wifi.)

I guess my question is: "Do JASA's credit to AA as they do QF?" If the answer is yes is it a case of booking a I normally do and then use my AA FF number?

As always thanks in advance for the help.

 

[QF WP]

I'd think it would be unlikely that it should count in AA, but heh, QF flights where an ODU is used and credits to AA posts as J, so who's to say....


Sent from my iPhone using AFF Mobile

 

[drron]

Or as an AA plat getting more miles than mrs.dr.ron as a WP on QF1 as AA posts as F and QF as J when points upgrade.