Qantas status on AA flights

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm not aware of the AA rules changing again(?) but I just rechecked a future AA booking (SFO-JFK on a 4Class A321T) and the AA app let me select the first row of MCE for free (2x QF WP/OWEs flying).

Thanks for highlighting that. I was able to get the seats for two upcoming AA flights switched from preferred to main cabin extra for free as a QF Gold: LAX > DFW and DFW > DTW. For those curious the main benefits are extra leg room and an enhanced catering experience including free booze.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Cloud9]

Thanks for highlighting that. I was able to get the seats for two upcoming AA flights switched from preferred to main cabin extra for free as a QF Gold: LAX > DFW and DFW > DTW. For those curious the main benefits are extra leg room and an enhanced catering experience including free booze.

-RooFlyer88

Is that enhanced in the sense of "more pumpkin"?

 

[SYD]

Thanks for highlighting that. I was able to get the seats for two upcoming AA flights switched from preferred to main cabin extra for free as a QF Gold: LAX > DFW and DFW > DTW. For those curious the main benefits are extra leg room and an enhanced catering experience including free booze.

-RooFlyer88

The AA website hasn’t been updated (QF status PAX still MIA)

Main Cabin Extra − Travel information − American Airlines

www.aa.com

But hopefully this “enhancement” doesn’t get reenhanced.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Is that enhanced in the sense of "more pumpkin"?

Per the AA site (emphasis added)

Complimentary snacks and drinks​

Enjoy complimentary beer, wine and spirits; plus free Biscoff cookies or mini pretzels and soft drinks.**

Main Cabin food

So that’s a pretty big deal. Not even Qantas offers complimentary spirits on domestic flights in coach despite them claiming to be the spirit of Australia!

As for the Biscoff cookies yet another upgrade in catering compared to the scowls by AA flight attendants as they make their way down the aisle!

 

[sqrt()]

I've found they usually give you two minis to keep you quiet too!

 

[DC3]

As for the Biscoff cookies yet another upgrade in catering compared to the scowls by AA flight attendants as they make their way down the aisle!

I’ve probably done 40-plus flights on AA and that’s not my experience. However, most unfortunate for you to see such a thing.

Edit: And don’t forget the warm nuts

 

[justinbrett]

Per the AA site (emphasis added)


So that’s a pretty big deal. Not even Qantas offers complimentary spirits on domestic flights in coach despite them claiming to be the spirit of Australia!

As for the Biscoff cookies yet another upgrade in catering compared to the scowls by AA flight attendants as they make their way down the aisle!

Qantas has a “thing” with spirits. It’s really annoying.

 

[Dismounted]

To add one more data point - I booked a few AA flights today where I was able to select MCE for free (QF WP)

 

[Daver6]

I assume this is part of the broader roll out of OW alliance wide upgrades (there's another thread here). They were pretty poor value.

But the implementation in QF is very new. I have an upcoming AA SFO-JFK flight booked as a QF CR in whY. Quite recently I clicked on the "Upgrade" button and was told "Unavailable" (no surprise) but when I just clicked through on the link, it accepted the QF PNR and took me thru to AA.

"Only" 85,200 pts each to upgrade from whY to Biz (on a 3 class A321). Think I'll stick with the front row of MCE we were able to select for free!

Is that back that OWE have access to MCE again?

 

[SYD]

Is that back that OWE have access to MCE again?

Specifically QF OWE seemed to have got it back as an undocumented feature.

Again, another thread here I mentioned several months ago that I was able to select MCE. Initially AA were going to charge about US$80 ea but I went back a few weeks later and it was freely available - front row, 2x aisle seats. Others here have confirmed they can select MCE for free also.

 

[henrus]

Again, another thread here I mentioned several months ago that I was able to select MCE. Initially AA were going to charge about US$80 ea but I went back a few weeks later and it was freely available - front row, 2x aisle seats. Others here have confirmed they can select MCE for free also.

Was this on an AA only booking or booked via QF?

 

[justinbrett]

Was this on an AA only booking or booked via QF?

I've had it on an AA coded flight booked as a CR

 

[SYD]

I've had it on an AA coded flight booked as a CR

Yep. Obviously used the seperate AA PNR to select seats.

About 2yrs ago, flew ORD-JFK booked direct with AA but MCE not available but scored a cheap Y->F paid upgrade a few weeks out.

I’m not expecting it to be offered but will happily explore $$$ paid upgrade if offered for the flight mentioned earlier.

 

[Daver6]

Specifically QF OWE seemed to have got it back as an undocumented feature.

Again, another thread here I mentioned several months ago that I was able to select MCE. Initially AA were going to charge about US$80 ea but I went back a few weeks later and it was freely available - front row, 2x aisle seats. Others here have confirmed they can select MCE for free also.

That's awesome! It was a great perk and brilliant that it's back. It definitely wasn't available in Jan/Feb this year.

 

[SYD]

That's awesome! It was a great perk and brilliant that it's back. It definitely wasn't available in Jan/Feb this year.

OT, but I can’t for the life of me find the AA MCE thread* which would be handy to continue the positive enhancement discussion but I booked the flight back in Jan (no MCE during the booking process - QF usually gives you a one off seat selection during booking process but not afterwards. You have to go via AA and their PNR).

I went back in shortly after via AA and saw the pay to play for MCE but it was only a week or two latter that I checked again and it was free.

Edit: comments moved to this thread.

 

[justinbrett]

That's awesome! It was a great perk and brilliant that it's back. It definitely wasn't available in Jan/Feb this year.

It never made any sense why QF didn’t make the inner circle list as apparently the list was supposed to be airlines that AA have JVs with (which QF does).

I can only assume it was a Covid quirk as they brought it in whilst regular QFi was grounded. I don’t know why it took so long to fix.

Also handy now you need a credit card loaded before the flight to buy drinks so being in MCE fixes that.

 

[jimmy hutspah]

OT, but I can’t for the life of me find the AA MCE thread which would be handy to continue the positive enhancement discussion but I booked the flight back in Jan (no MCE during the booking process - QF usually gives you a one off seat selection during booking process but not afterwards. You have to go via AA and their PNR).

I went back in shortly after via AA and saw the pay to play for MCE but it was only a week or two latter that I checked again and it was free.

It’s most definitely back, I’ve got 8 AA legs coming up on a trip in Oct, a mixture of AA rev fares and QF CR fares, and all have allowed me to select MCE for free.

Back on topic, 39k points to upgrade for a 3 hour flight DFW - PSP? Not sure it’s worth it, given the MCE perks already.

 

[henrus]

It’s most definitely back, I’ve got 8 AA legs coming up on a trip in Oct, a mixture of AA rev fares and QF CR fares, and all have allowed me to select MCE for free.

If I put in my QF Plat number at booking I can select the preferred seats for free but not MCE. Did it kick in after ticketing or take some time to come through?

 

[jimmy hutspah]

If I put in my QF Plat number at booking I can select the preferred seats for free but not MCE. Did it kick in after ticketing or take some time to come through?

Straight after I booked I was able to choose MCE seats, via AA site with AA reservation code.

 

[SYD]

Also, 5-6 mths on since noticing the change, the AA website* for MCE access for OW members still doesn’t specifically include QF FFs.

*link above at post #63