A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[MEL_Traveller]

I've booked 2x AA business class awards, ADL-HKG-LHR, flying on CX. Confirmed and ticketed. When I put the info into the CX website, (either the booking ref or the ticket numbers) it can't find them. Does anyone know if I have to phone CX to select seats etc or is there an easier way?

It can be one of a couple of things - you either need the CX record locator (booking reference), if that happens to be different to the one issued by AA (I can't keep track of which systems airlines are using these days - it used to be a different locator). Or it could be that you need to enter middle names if you have them - and you might need to play around with that on the CX website... sometimes it's firstnamemiddlename joined together, sometimes it's firstnameinitialofmiddle joined together.

Rather than just calling to reserve seats, it's better to have the record locator or be able to access your booking directly with cathay's manage booking. This will allow you to monitor seats, change seats if necessary as better ones open up, etc.

 

[The Flying Brick]

I've booked 2x AA business class awards, ADL-HKG-LHR, flying on CX. Confirmed and ticketed. When I put the info into the CX website, (either the booking ref or the ticket numbers) it can't find them. Does anyone know if I have to phone CX to select seats etc or is there an easier way?

AA use a different booking engine to CX so the booking reference is different for both even though it links to the same ticket.
Also, your eTicket is issued by AA on their stock (001) and the number wont be recognised by the CX website.

There are a couple of ways to deal with this.

1) Go to the Qantas website Manage My Booking section and plug in your AA PNR (Booking ref) and surname. This should actually come up with your booking even though you aren't travelling on QF as the OneWorld booking systems do talk to each other. Your flight details should show up along with a different PNR (Booking Reference). (This also works for some other OneWorld carriers such as Finnair and Qatar)

Note this booking reference down and then go to the CX site and enter that number under their Manage My Bookings section and you should be able to view your flight and manage your seat selections.

2. If the above doesn't work you can ring up AA and ask them to give you the Amadeus PNR (Booking Reference) for your flights and then follow the above steps.

 

[DAC1]

It can be one of a couple of things - you either need the CX record locator (booking reference), if that happens to be different to the one issued by AA (I can't keep track of which systems airlines are using these days - it used to be a different locator). Or it could be that you need to enter middle names if you have them - and you might need to play around with that on the CX website... sometimes it's firstnamemiddlename joined together, sometimes it's firstnameinitialofmiddle joined together.

Rather than just calling to reserve seats, it's better to have the record locator or be able to access your booking directly with cathay's manage booking. This will allow you to monitor seats, change seats if necessary as better ones open up, etc.

With recent AAdvantage bookings on CX, I’ve needed to add in my middle name into the given names box alongside my first name (with a space in between them). I did also have the CX reference too (the AA one didn’t work from memory).

 

[nightelves]

Anyone know is AA allows stopover? Say if I want to fly Mel-Hkg-Sgn. Would it he considered as two separate bookings?

 

[The Flying Brick]

AA don’t allow stopovers unless they are less than 24 hr (technically in transit - rather than a stopover).

e.g. In April I am flying back from CDG and will transit Doha for just under 23 hours before continuing my journey and although I will spend a night at the hotel and clear through customs and immigration this is not viewed as a stop over by AA.

If you flex MEL-HKG then stopped off for less than 24 hours and then continued on to SGN that would be 1 AA award if you can find the seats. Anything more than a 24 hour stop over and it will be 2 awards.

 

[nightelves]

AA don’t allow stopovers unless they are less than 24 hr (technically in transit - rather than a stopover).

e.g. In April I am flying back from CDG and will transit Doha for just under 23 hours before continuing my journey and although I will spend a night at the hotel and clear through customs and immigration this is not viewed as a stop over by AA.

If you flex MEL-HKG then stopped off for less than 24 hours and then continued on to SGN that would be 1 AA award if you can find the seats. Anything more than a 24 hour stop over and it will be 2 awards.

Excellent. Thanks heaps.

 

[potm]

For Aus to Europe flights, I know that you can route through Asia 1, Asia 2 or Doha.
Is it possible to route through 2 of those regions? Is it dependent on wether there is a separate routing restriction for those zones. For example Europe to Asia 1 can be routed through Asia 2 not vice versa.

So would Mel-Hgk-Nrt-Lhr be ok?
Or would Mel-Nrt-Hgk-Lhr be ok?

Thanks

 

[casanovawa]

Do they need to be a published fare to be able to access them, so can't just make up any potential routing you want??

 

[hossein_au]

S

For Aus to Europe flights, I know that you can route through Asia 1, Asia 2 or Doha.
Is it possible to route through 2 of those regions? Is it dependent on wether there is a separate routing restriction for those zones. For example Europe to Asia 1 can be routed through Asia 2 not vice versa.

So would Mel-Hgk-Nrt-Lhr be ok?
Or would Mel-Nrt-Hgk-Lhr be ok?

Thanks

Shot answer is "no". I had the same routing as your first example above (well, I had MEL-NRT-HKG-LHR-HAM), and I was charged 2 separate awards. Basically, AA needs you to go from A to B directly unless they specify exceptions. As you have noted, routing via Asia1, or Asia2, or Doha are the exceptions. There is no exception for touching 2 separate regions going from Aus to EU (I presume you cannot go via, for example, Asia1 and Doha either).

 

[earlyriser]

Hi all, I am seeing availability CBR-SYD-DOH to various US cities with Qatar in J on QFF and BA sites but AA cannot ticket these. Any tips?

 

[earlyriser]

Hi all, I am seeing availability CBR-SYD-DOH to various US cities with Qatar in J on QFF and BA sites but AA cannot ticket these. Any tips?

Ignore my question. They found one, but 150K points one way.

 

[serfty]

I have been offered MEL-(QF)-NRT-(BA)-LHR on AA.com at the cost of a SWP-UK award but as indicated that's a single region transit.

 

[nightelves]

Hi all very new to AA awards but wanted to check is it possible to do NRT-DOH-MLE on a single award? I'm thinking no based on the 3 region rule. Any way to get from Tokyo to Maldives on one award?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all very new to AA awards but wanted to check is it possible to do NRT-DOH-MLE on a single award? I'm thinking no based on the 3 region rule. Any way to get from Tokyo to Maldives on one award?

Only via asia 2. Should be able to do it on cathay pacific via hong kong. Provided CX has a fare.

 

[nightelves]

Only via asia 2. Should be able to do it on cathay pacific via hong kong. Provided CX has a fare.

Maldives is part of the Indian Subcontinent Region

Only via asia 2. Should be able to do it on cathay pacific via hong kong. Provided CX has a fare.

So how is different to Asia 1 - Middle East - Indian Subcontinent? Is it because AA states your flight has to be direct?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maldives is part of the Indian Subcontinent Region


So how is different to Asia 1 - Middle East - Indian Subcontinent? Is it because AA states your flight has to be direct?

Yes. MLE is in the subcontinent region.

AA's rules are that Asia 1 to subcontinent can be via Asia 2.

There is no third region rule for Asia 2 to the subcontinent. But you could transfer in Asia 2 if you wanted (ie it doesn't have to be non-stop). You could fly PVG-HKG-MLE for example on a single award.

 

[potm]

Yeah, there's no issues with transiting within the region. Etihad is another option to go to the Maldives.

 

[nightelves]

Yeah, there's no issues with transiting within the region. Etihad is another option to go to the Maldives.

I’m trying to go from NRT-MLE. How would Etihad be an option if you can’t transit to Middle East.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m trying to go from NRT-MLE. How would Etihad be an option if you can’t transit to Middle East.

If you are having difficulty finding availability on CX non-stop to MLE would might also consider CMB (cheap one ways from there on a varety of airlines) or else India itself and a paid ticket from there (but more expensive).

 

[potm]

Etihad would be NRT-AUH-MLE