A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I just got off the phone with AA in the US and they could offer one additional flight: PER-xBNE-SYD in J (approximately 90 minutes between arrival and departure in BNE). I still think that's pretty poor availability but my bigger concern is they've quoted me 35k miles, not 17.5k. I asked why it wasn't 17.5k and the agent said because it was two one-ways (in J), which equals 35k.

What have I done wrong?

Eh, you didn't call back.
If have ticketed PER-BNE-AKL in business for 17.5K
Return flights in Y were 10K.

The other options are:
1. QF will not release the flight as a connection, ie no fare.
2. QF have changed the rules.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I just got off the phone with AA in the US and they could offer one additional flight: PER-xBNE-SYD in J (approximately 90 minutes between arrival and departure in BNE). I still think that's pretty poor availability but my bigger concern is they've quoted me 35k miles, not 17.5k. I asked why it wasn't 17.5k and the agent said because it was two one-ways (in J), which equals 35k.

What have I done wrong?

You've done nothing wrong!
AA awards are booked as one-way fares (so a return is two awards) at the rate of 17500 miles in J (so that is 35000 miles total). For that number of miles you can fly "anyhere to anywhere" in Australia and New Zealand. Considering that the current QF price for a PER-SYD return in J is at least $3000 I think you have got a good deal. What taxes and charges did you have to pay?

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

You've done nothing wrong!
AA awards are booked as one-way fares (so a return is two awards) at the rate of 17500 miles in J (so that is 35000 miles total). For that number of miles you can fly "anyhere to anywhere" in Australia and New Zealand. Considering that the current QF price for a PER-SYD return in J is at least $3000 I think you have got a good deal. What taxes and charges did you have to pay?

But if I've done nothing wrong then why is it different from the following?

It's 10K for a one-way journey with no stopover; limited to 16 segments.:shock:

So PER-xADL-xCBR-xSYD-xBNE-AKL would be valid as long as X class is available for each flight.

(Also, it's 17½K for Business and U class - same deal as far as routing goes.)

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Once you "stopover" in Sydney your award flight is completed. If you want to continue on to AKL (without a stop in Sydney) that would be OK, but if you want to return to PER then it is an additional award flight.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

But if I've done nothing wrong then why is it different from the following? ...

The agent was wrong - you were having a transit in BNE and the charge for the entire trip PER-//-[-]AKL[/-]SYD is 17.5K/10K (Business/Economy).

wandering_fred has the good oil - call again, and keep doing so until you get someone who knows what they are doing on the other end.

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Once you "stopover" in Sydney your award flight is completed. If you want to continue on to AKL (without a stop in Sydney) that would be OK, but if you want to return to PER then it is an additional award flight.

The agent was wrong - you were having a transit in BNE and the charge for the entire trip PER-//-AKL is 17.5K/10K (Business/Economy).

wandering_fred has the good oil - call again, and keep doing so until you get someone who knows what they are doing on the other end.

I'd hoped I'd got a not-so-cluey agent.

My post concerning AKL a couple of pages back was all about me getting my head around AA burning, using PER-//-AKL as an example. I'm now looking at getting from Perth to Sydney (stop) on 1 June as an actual trip (rather than the theoretical AKL example). The AA agent's information that it was going to cost me 35k in J when I was only transitting BNE had me very worried that I'd misunderstood the benefits of AA burning. I'm pleased to hear that's not the case.

 

[grussellt]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

PER-SYD is certainly 17500 miles in J. However the AA agent should be able to see multiple choices on that day. I suggest you pick out the flight that best suits your timing and quote those flight numbers to AA. If needs be have the QFF options on your screen while you book.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I just got off the phone with AA in the US and they could offer one additional flight: PER-xBNE-SYD in J (approximately 90 minutes between arrival and departure in BNE). I still think that's pretty poor availability but my bigger concern is they've quoted me 35k miles, not 17.5k. I asked why it wasn't 17.5k and the agent said because it was two one-ways (in J), which equals 35k.

What have I done wrong?

I'd hoped I'd got a not-so-cluey agent.

My post concerning AKL a couple of pages back was all about me getting my head around AA burning, using PER-//-AKL as an example. I'm now looking at getting from Perth to Sydney (stop) on 1 June as an actual trip (rather than the theoretical AKL example). The AA agent's information that it was going to cost me 35k in J when I was only transitting BNE had me very worried that I'd misunderstood the benefits of AA burning. I'm pleased to hear that's not the case.

OK, your posts seem to have confused.

Did the AAgent tell you that PER-xBNE-SYD was going to cost you 37K?

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Hmmm. Sorry.

Yes, the agent told me PER-xBNE-SYD (all on 1 June) was going to cost me 35k in J.

My reference to AKL in the post below is unrelated to my search for a PER-SYD AA award flight. That post was only about me learning how far AA miles can go.

I'm seeking some help understanding AA's other airline awards.

I know, for example, that 10k AAdvantage miles gets a one way flight with Australia and New Zealand but I'm sketchy on how it's applied. I understand that that 10k is perfectly valid for a flight, say, PER-xMEL-AKL. Is this correct? If so, would PER-xMEL-xBNE-AKL be valid for 10k? I'm assuming not, obviously because it isn't economical for AA. So where is the line drawn? Similarly, I note 45k will get you a one way flight from South Pacific to the Middle East in J. This would mean, I think, a business seat on Emirates from SYD-AUH. But it would it also include, say, SYD-xAUH-LHR?

The response from serfty, below, lead me to believe (correctly, I think) that you can essentially pay 17.5k/35k for more than one flight provided there are no stopovers. Then, when the AA agent told me PER-xBNE-SYD was going to cost me 35k in J, rather than the 17.5k I'd expected, I was puzzled and wondered if I'd misunderstood the post from serfty.

It's 10K for a one-way journey with no stopover; limited to 16 segments.:shock:

So PER-xADL-xCBR-xSYD-xBNE-AKL would be valid as long as X class is available for each flight.

(Also, it's 17½K for Business and U class - same deal as far as routing goes.)

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

...

Yes, the agent told me PER-xBNE-SYD (all on 1 June) was going to cost me 35k in J. ...

Ok, we can deninitly state the AAgent was wrong.

Who did you call? AA with Mindpearl in Fiji (on the 07 number)?

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Ok, we can deninitly state the AAgent was wrong.

Who did you call? AA with Mindpearl in Fiji (on the 07 number)?

First, I called the 07 number where an agent told me the only availability was on the two JQ codeshares. (I wasn't filled with confidence when the agent said the flights were operated by Jet Airways (not Jetstar Airways).)

Second, I called AA's US number. With that agent I got no direct availability (other than the JQ codeshares). I then asked about flights via ADL, DRW, MEL, BNE, CNS, AKL, WLG, CHC (I was telling the agent I was willing to fly indirect and, at the same time, was curious to see if the 17.5k/35k multiple flights would come true for me). It was then that the agent found availability in J PER-BNE in the morning connecting with BNE-SYD that afternoon. But there was nothing else.

Good to know I got an agent who isn't completely familiar with the workings. I'll try again and report back.

 

[drron]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

On Tuesday when I rang the BNE AA number at 1545 I got an American based agent.Makes sense as 1545 BNE time is 1745 Fiji time.
Also my experiences with the Mindpearl agents has been good-ie no problems booking a J Aaward-BNE-SYD-BKK-AMM-IST-AMM-BKK-HKG-HND-CTS-NRT-SYD-BNE.The agent had it all done within 20 minutes,had to pass it on to a supervisor(presumably USA).Rang back in~ 20 minutes saying the supervisor wanted to make it 2 all partner awards but she had insisted for me that it be an OW award-less points and taxes and not as restrictive conditions.I thought she was very good.

 

[serfty]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

...

Good to know I got an agent who isn't completely familiar with the workings. I'll try again and report back.

How did it go?

I ask since there has been a further report of failure here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uble-mileage-redeem-any-37268.html#post570869

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

How did it go?

I ask since there has been a further report of failure here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uble-mileage-redeem-any-37268.html#post570869

Hmmm. That thread is a worry.

I did phone the US number and this time got availability only on the JQ late night/midnight departure that is direct to Sydney so unfortunately I can't offer anything new. I will try again in a coupe of days, though and given the above thread I will enquire about another date to see what is quoted for an indirect flight.

 

[LuisT]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Quick routing question - will AA allow a booking AUS-US via HKG (not a stopover)?

I called and they said that wasn't allowed, but I thought someone here (or maybe on FT) had done it...

 

[dfcatch]

Quick routing question - will AA allow a booking AUS-US via HKG (not a stopover)?

I called and they said that wasn't allowed, but I thought someone here (or maybe on FT) had done it...

No - must be direct transpacific.

Can perhaps do via AKL (until QF stops flying it).

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Quick routing question - will AA allow a booking AUS-US via HKG (not a stopover)?

Two options if you really want to go via HKG
1. Two awards a) Oz->HKG b) HKG->USA
Advantage that one can be Y and one J/F
2. one way award to SIN/HKG. Then base tickets there as originating point.
Paid tickets in premium cabins are cheaper in SIN/HKG and very much cheaper in CMB/TPE/ICN


And the intraAsia LCCs are quite inexpensive with the flights not more than 3 hours or so, allowing you to pick the most financially beneficial starting point.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[LuisT]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

Thanks folks...

Not particularly set on HKG, but found availability through there on my dates, where as the direct transpacs seem to have no availability in J anywhere close to when I want to go...

 

[Danger]

Re: Couple of AAdvantage questions from a newbie to it

I've just spoken to AA again looking at using miles for three separate trips.

First, I called the Brisbane number enquiring about Perth to New York on or about 23 December. The agent could find no availability from Sydney or Melbourne to Los Angeles, JFK or Dallas. The one routing she could find was, wait for it, PER-xADL-xHKG-xNRT-LAX. Apparently there was nothing from LAX but given LAX is a hub I suspect she was only looking at direct flight rather than trying connections. Anyway, the aforementioned routing (QF to ADL, CX to HKG and JL from there) was 107500 miles plus a piddly AUD154 in taxes. The agent said the fare was made up of three awards: PER-ADL for 17.5k, ADL-HKG for 35k and HKG-xNRT-LAX for 55k.

Second, I called the US number enquiring about the same. No way to get from Australia to the US across the Pacific.

Third, still on the US number, I enquired about an award PER-xSYD-AKL. I wanted to check to see if the information I'd been given above was wrong. It seems it may have been. The agent commenting "that's really good" when the cost of the two flights was 10k in Y and 17.5k in J. So, there's some good news there at least.

 

[dfcatch]

Aus - USA must be direct transpacific (or via AKL) to qualify for the 37.5/62.5/72.5 K award levels.

I'm mobile so can't check - but if you look at the AA All Partner AAwards you can see the points rates for Aus-HKG and HKG - USA.

Around 23 December is pretty much the worst time of year to find awards - especially QF transpacific.

Occasionally you might get lucky.... But that would have been 2 months ago.

You might still get lucky and find a J ex-LAX Xmas-NY week if you setup EF alerts.

But to get to the US you pretty much need to leave late Nov, early Dec at the latest.

EF is your friend - get a subscription if you don't have one.