Earning QF status credits on AA to Mexico

[SoftDraw]

Hoping some of the AFF brains trust might be able to help me.

I am trying to book either a paid J or F ticket from Syd to Cancun with QF. When booking on Qantas it is routing me SYD-LAX-Dallas-Cancun flying QF11 on the Sydney-LAX leg which is fine with me. However it is saying I will only earn status credits and points on the SYD-LAX leg not the other two legs? However if I fly AA metal on the SYD-LAX route I earn status credits on all the flights. I would prefer to fly QF metal as I prefer their product to AA.

Furthermore if i try to break the trip up and book a separate ticket LAX-Cancun the QF website tells me I can only book this route with Qantas points.

Any help would be great as I would like to maximise my status and points earn.

 

[sudoer]

When booking on Qantas it is routing me SYD-LAX-Dallas-Cancun flying QF11 on the Sydney-LAX leg which is fine with me. However it is saying I will only earn status credits and points on the SYD-LAX leg not the other two legs? However if I fly AA metal on the SYD-LAX route I earn status credits on all the flights.

It sounds like when you select the QF flight for SYD-LAX, the LAX-DFW-CUN flights might come up as QF-coded (i.e. AA codeshare with flight number starting with QF) and these routes don't exist in the status credit calculator. If this is the case, the flights will certainly earn SC - probably at the same rate as the AA flights, but they will also count to the QF loyalty bonus. Are you able to share some screenshots?

Furthermore if i try to break the trip up and book a separate ticket LAX-Cancun the QF website tells me I can only book this route with Qantas points.

This is expected, Qantas cannot sell the AA flights for cash, but it can sell partner award seats on these routes for QFF points.

To book those flights for cash you would need to buy through AA or a third-party travel agent.

 

[justinbrett]

You'll earn status credits either way.

Price the trip through Expedia - I have done SYD-CUN before and QF actually recommended I book through a travel agent - and I used Expedia.

I'd also see if I can get a SYD-DFW flight instead of going through LAX - but I'm guessing you want the extra SCs.

 

[jpp42]

Qantas cannot sell AA flights wholly within the US for cash

Minor point but Cancun (CUN) is in Mexico, so that's an international itinerary for AA, despite what it may seem when you get there and everyone is speaking 'Murican. (Cancun is to the US as Bali is to Australia.) But the same point stands as this doesn't affect Qantas's inability to sell that sector separately.

 

[sudoer]

Minor point but Cancun (CUN) is in Mexico, so that's an international itinerary for AA, despite what it may seem when you get there and everyone is speaking 'Murican. (Cancun is to the US as Bali is to Australia.) But the same point stands as this doesn't affect Qantas's inability to sell that sector separately.

Good pickup - I did know this, but wasn't thinking straight!!

 

[SoftDraw]

It sounds like when you select the QF flight for SYD-LAX, the LAX-DFW-CUN flights might come up as QF-coded (i.e. AA codeshare with flight number starting with QF) and these routes don't exist in the status credit calculator. If this is the case, the flights will certainly earn SC - probably at the same rate as the AA flights, but they will also count to the QF loyalty bonus. Are you able to share some screenshots?



This is expected, Qantas cannot sell AA flights wholly within the US for cash, but it can sell partner award seats on these routes for QFF points.

To book those flights for cash you would need to buy through AA or a third-party travel agent.

Thank you for your the response. I have attached screenshots of a sample flight (I am yet to confirm my dates) and also going to wait for a QF sale or DSC offer. As you can see it is showing an earn of 270 Qantas points for the F flight.

If I book the domestic flights separately through AA and add my QF number I presume I will earn status and points?

 

[justinbrett]

If I book the domestic flights separately through AA and add my QF number I presume I will earn status and points?

Yes - but you won't have your bags connected in either direction - unless you book both tickets in one PNR through a travel agent.

One thing, I have not flown those routings, and maybe i don't know nowt, but...
Could the flights be flown by airlines carrying AA flight codes, but by airlines not in OW?

I'm not aware of AA codesharing in Mexcio - they have a huge presence there with their main hub in DFW (not to mention LAX, PHX & MIA) - a total of 28 destinations. So I don't know why they would codeshare.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, as AA is OW, you *should* be able to earn QFF SC and QFF points.
If the points don't appear after the flights, then you would need to make a claim.
Sometimes, the service might be operated by other airlines, on behalf of QF/AA, so you might have to claim ORC if they decline your points in the first instance, after the flights.
(Edit) just in case, just in case it happens.
Not saying it wouldn't/couldnt.
I think it was on another thread on the AFF, that a member's flight MEL to SIN was cancelled, and he/she was put onto QF MEL - BKK, and then BKK - SIN on TG.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, as AA is OW, you *should* be able to earn QFF SC and QFF points.
If the points don't appear after the flights, then you would need to make a claim.
Sometimes, the service might be operated by other airlines, on behalf of QF/AA, so you might have to claim ORC if they decline your points in the first instance, after the flights.

In my experience, anything with an AA code gets treated as AA by Qantas.

I've flown AS metal (pre them joining oneworld) and Westjet and both received normal points & SCs.

 

[jpp42]

Yes - but you won't have your bags connected in either direction - unless you book both tickets in one PNR through a travel agent.

This won't have much practical impact as he'd need to collect bags at the first US port of entry in both directions anyway. (Cancun does not have the US customs & immigration preclearance that otherwise might help with this issue for connecting flights.)

 

[sudoer]

This won't have much practical impact as he'd need to collect bags at the first US port of entry in both directions anyway. (Cancun does not have the US customs & immigration preclearance that otherwise might help with this issue for connecting flights.)

I guess more importantly there is no protection from misconnection.

 

[justinbrett]

This won't have much practical impact as he'd need to collect bags at the first US port of entry in both directions anyway. (Cancun does not have the US customs & immigration preclearance that otherwise might help with this issue for connecting flights.)

The post customs bag drop is a lot easier than going to check in. Also you get the friendly AA staff greeting you at the gate with the fluro orange folders when you have a tight connection.

If the return route is CUN-DFW-LAX (AA) // LAX-SYD (QF), the bags would have to be rechecked in both DFW and LAX - if one booking, only at DFW. You'd have the reverse problem outbound if you changed tickets at DFW - as you'd recheck in LAX and then check in again at DFW.

 

[SoftDraw]

Cheers for the all the responses. I will book it all as one ticket, as there is no F on lax-dfw-cun I presume that they will earn at the business rate?

 

[jpp42]

Cheers for the all the responses. I will book it all as one ticket, as there is no F on lax-dfw-cun I presume that they will earn at the business rate?

LAX-DFW will have "First" (domestic) but this is equivalent to domestic business in Australia. DFW-CUN will have International Business but this is a similar seat - upright seats in a narrow body, just like many Qantas trans-Tasman flights. I believe these will both code as business for purposes of SC earn but hopefully someone else can confirm for sure.

 

[justinbrett]

LAX-DFW will have "First" (domestic) but this is equivalent to domestic business in Australia. DFW-CUN will have International Business but this is a similar seat - upright seats in a narrow body, just like many Qantas trans-Tasman flights. I believe these will both code as business for purposes of SC earn but hopefully someone else can confirm for sure.

Yes, that is correct about domestic F on two class aircraft earning J.

However you will sometimes get a three class aircraft between LAX-DFW, in which case they will sell F & J I believe - as they do on LAX-JFK.

So basically, there's "First" on two class aircraft, which is business, and real first, alongside actual business.

Real first should earn as F with QF. But with the AA widebody shortage at the moment, probably won't see it this year.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Thank you for your the response. I have attached screenshots of a sample flight (I am yet to confirm my dates) and also going to wait for a QF sale or DSC offer. As you can see it is showing an earn of 270 Qantas points for the F flight.

If I book the domestic flights separately through AA and add my QF number I presume I will earn status and points?

You would earn status credits and points either booking the whole thing as one PNR or separately.

One potential disadvantage for booking it separately is dealing with the connection. If you book SYD > CUN, the baggage policy of the longest segment of the trip (e.g. SYD > LAX) would apply for all downstream segments, whereas if you were to book say LAX > CUN separately you would be under whatever conditions AA sets for such "domestic" flights. The other concern I see is what would happen if you were to misconnect in the US. If everything was on one PNR, its the airline's responsibility to get you to your final destination whichever way is possible. In addition, things like lounge access may be handled differently if booked as a separate itinerary versus as one itinerary. For instance, you would not normally have access to the AA clubs in the US on domestic flights in the US and Mexico despite being in business class. However, flying SYD > CUN, your whole itinerary is considered international and you'd have lounge access all the way regardless of what status you hold.

The devil's advocate for booking those trips separately would of course be if the sum of those two itineraries is cheaper than booking the whole thing out as one trip. I've certainly been in that position before. In which case, I'd advise you to provide ample connection time between your connecting flight from the first itinerary to the second itinerary. At least 8 hours (since weather happens) and ideally overnight.

One gotcha I must warn you of too is US domestic flights within the US and to other "domestic" destinations like Canada and Mexico may be marketed as First class but in the eyes of Qantas they'll only earn at the Business class rate. The only exception to this rule are domestic flights which have a separate business and first cabin where you are indeed booked into First class.

Hope that helps.

-RooFlyer88