Valentine's Day miles offer

[kpc]

How do you guys check AA award availability for CX, EY and other OW partners? I was thinking of buying 40K + 40K AA miles with this offer, netting 104K AA miles to get +1 on EY J class Syd-Auh-Dub but I gather from the fb page that I need two separate awards which will cost 75K [Syd-Auh (45K) and Auh-Dub (30K)] one way as opposed to 60K as stated in the AA chart. I do have though enough Velocity pts for a 1 way Syd-Auh-Dub on EY in J which costs 125 VA pts

When are we expecting US Airway miles to convert to AA miles (I have a stack of bought US airway miles in my account)? March 31st?

 

[anat0l]

How do you guys check AA award availability for CX, EY and other OW partners? I was thinking of buying 40K + 40K AA miles with this offer, netting 104K AA miles to get +1 on EY J class Syd-Auh-Dub but I gather from the fb page that I need two separate awards which will cost 75K [Syd-Auh (45K) and Auh-Dub (30K)] one way as opposed to 60K as stated in the AA chart. I do have though enough Velocity pts for a 1 way Syd-Auh-Dub on EY in J which costs 125 VA pts

I use QFF for oneworld. It generally works fine, but there are reports that it can under report the availability.

Others say BA Avios is more accurate for oneworld.

For EY I don't know. ExpertFlyer apparently can search EY availability. I'm not sure if EY allows you to log into its awards programme and check availability of routes even if you lack the points required. I guess another alternative is you could call VFF, who will transfer you to Partner Rewards, and let them do the leg work for you

When are we expecting US Airway miles to convert to AA miles (I have a stack of bought US airway miles in my account)? March 31st?

Expect? Well it won't be 31 March (but happy to be wrong on this bet when the date rolls around).

 

[zainman]

you can search EY award availability using their own website without logging in or even registering.

For CX I just use QF and for MH I use BAEC

 

[kpc]

Thanks anat01 and zainman. I found this FT thread quite useful: FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - AWARD DESK: Information about AA, Partner, and oneworld Awards

 

[dalereardon]

Do not trust the Qantas FF site for CX availability. Either get a free Asia Miles account or a BA Exec Club account.

I booked 2 J seats on CX for August this year (HKG-MEL) and Qantas was saying no seats at all. BA told me there were flights available and indeed when I rang AA they were able to book them fine.

You need to have an AA account for 14 days before you can buy miles. Get your family and friends to open an account now just in case they want to buy in the future.

As far as I know you can't use EY out of Australia with AA miles.

If you want to be able to buy enough miles and get a J seat then really consider Malaysian Enrich program. You only need 1000 miles to use their cash and points awards and you get 1000 free miles when you open an account. It ends up costing around AUD$3400 including taxes and fuel fines for Aust to LHR or CDG return in J. Best part is you can get a seat on almost any of their flights.

Alaska Miles has a special at the moment and they have no restriction on buying miles just max of 40K per transaction. There is another thread about their current sale on miles.

Dale.

 

[kpc]

As far as I know you can't use EY out of Australia with AA miles.

why is that?

 

[dfcatch]

Dammit...bugger...bugger...damn....bugger....bugger

 

[kpc]

As far as I know you can't use EY out of Australia with AA miles.

why is that?

I have searched around regarding this and found this post on FT which seems to be at odds with your statement, Dale. Also, the AA website below does not make any mention that you cannot use AA miles to book flights ex Aus on EY so I'm curious as to where you got that info.
FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles

[url]https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/earnMiles/travel/airlines/etihad.jsp


[/URL]

 

[dalereardon]

Heading offline now but will look it up tomorrow. As far as I know it was information from a US blogger I follow.

I'm very happy to be wrong and hope I am.

Dale.

 

[dalereardon]

Hi,

I reached out to American on Twitter and was told that Etihad is only able to be used for within the "India subcontinent and Middle East"

You do have Qatar as a member of OneWorld though.

Dale.

 

[Kangol]

Hi,

I reached out to American on Twitter and was told that Etihad is only able to be used for within the "India subcontinent and Middle East"

You do have Qatar as a member of OneWorld though.

Dale.

Interesting, on their "Airlines page" it says this:




Etihad Airways Service within the Middle East and between the Middle East and North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

American Airlines AAdvantage Airline Partners | aa.com

But there are reports of EY being available from Oz to Europe, however it looks like you have to price two awards when transiting through the Middle East..

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles
FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles

I can't find any published connection rules between SWP-Europe but this FT post seems to indicate that there are:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - AA and Partner Airline Award info, rules (NOT for oneworld Explorer Awards) ARCHIVED

Europe to/from South Pacific:
will allow for connections in Singapore or Bangkok only. Stopovers in these cities for this award are not allowed.

**this rule may actually be this now:
Award travel between Europe and the South Pacific will allow for connections in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Narita, Osaka or Singapore only. Stopovers in these cities for this award are not allowed.**

I take a "connection" as a change in flight numbers. Probably might explain why you can find and book QF1/2/9/10 (Oz-Europe and vice versa) on the AA website for SWP-Europe prices.

 

[dalereardon]

Definitely includes KUL as a transit point also as I did a first class redemption on Malaysian last year using AA miles. The rule told me to by the agent was you can transit in South Pacific or Asia but not middle East and yes they said Qantas covered because it keeps the same flight number.

But when US Airways joins OneWorld very soon you will be able to use OneWorld Airlines with US Airways routing rules and stopovers permitted etc. At least that is what everyone is hoping regarding their US miles.

Dale.

 

[QF029]

Has anyone successfully purchased the 40k + 40k?

 

[QF WP]

I'm probably too late to organise anything with the 10% discount unless I can sit down tonight and crunch how many miles we need for our next awards, however I'll definitely be in by end February

 

[Kangol]

Has anyone successfully purchased the 40k + 40k?

I have, 2x 40k. The 2x 40k have, but the bonus 2x 12k have not posted yet (as expected).

I'm probably too late to organise anything with the 10% discount unless I can sit down tonight and crunch how many miles we need for our next awards, however I'll definitely be in by end February

It's now 1.40am Central (Dallas) time on Feb 6 (6.40pm AEDST now), so you still have a bit of time....

 

[Nizar]

As far as I know EY is bookable using AA miles.

I checked availability once on EY to Europe over the phone with an AA agent and once I mentioned EY she said "You do realise that EY is only bookable to Europe as two separate awards?" and I said yes and she proceeded.

Ultimately didn't end up booking as there was no availability and it was for a mate who had zero flexibility and wanted to leave on the night of his wedding.

I think that's where the misunderstanding is. It can be booked but not for 60/80k to Europe in J/F. More like 70/100k.

 

[kpc]

As far as I know EY is bookable using AA miles.

I checked availability once on EY to Europe over the phone with an AA agent and once I mentioned EY she said "You do realise that EY is only bookable to Europe as two separate awards?" and I said yes and she proceeded.

Ultimately didn't end up booking as there was no availability and it was for a mate who had zero flexibility and wanted to leave on the night of his wedding.

I think that's where the misunderstanding is. It can be booked but not for 60/80k to Europe in J/F. More like 70/100k.

Nizar...based on my research and understanding, that is 100% correct. I have to pull the trigger to buy (or not) before I go to bed tonite

 

[TheEmu]

… I have to pull the trigger to buy (or not) before I go to bed tonite

Ditto - just about to submit my finance application to the Minister Of War & Finance… Based on her recent TG J experience thanks to Avianca Life Miles, I reckon I'm in with a good shot!
:mrgreen:

 

[dfcatch]

Ditto - just about to submit my finance application to the Minister Of War & Finance… Based on her recent TG J experience thanks to Avianca Life Miles, I reckon I'm in with a good shot!
:mrgreen:

Just make the executive decision!

 

[smit0847]

I'm trying to appease a fussy HWMBO who wants to go to HKG for NYE. Could someone please check if there is any availability using AA miles HKG-MEL in J on CX (or I guess QF provided it's A380 via SYD) for 2 pax on any flights Jan 1-3 2015 (which is about 333 days out). Not fussed as to flight times but prefer overnight.

Could you please also advise of the cost of buying the AA miles for this redemption with current promo? I have an old AA account but no miles.

Many thanks