AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry question

[Jaymez]

Thanks to this forum I got on to US Air Dividend miles and became a dab hand at the relatively simple process of booking Perth - Europe return, or Perth Bangkok with Thai as I have family there. (all J Class). I don't take to change well, but managed a Perth Doha- Dubai rtn with Qatar (Business and First) during the US Air/AA transition, which was wonderful! And I have had a number of Perth - Eastern States rtn J class with Qantas which is easy.

But now I am trying to get out of Perth to the US return, J class. I figured I'd fly Qantas Per - SYD - LAX, but online came up as no availability. I called the AA Advantage call centre and they said Qantas haven't released any Business or First class seats for August or September 2015. I haven't had trouble booking this far ahead before. I said to the operator that I didn't mind flying any airline, but she said there was no availability.

Anyone had the same experience? Got any tips? I see all the successful bookings here and think I must be doing something wrong.

Since Thai aren't part of OneWorld, any suggestions on the best way of getting to BKK from Perth now?

Also, I noticed that suddenly my AA Advantage account has an expiration date on the points. I had never noticed one with US Airways Dividend miles. Any comments on that? Can the expiration be extended with activity? The reason for the concern is I have a LOT of points!

Cheers

 

[Oxy]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

Getting reward seats on QF from MEL/SYD/BNE to US in premium cabins quite difficult, more-so when using AA as the QF members have a month head start on redemptions. Do a search using the AA tool first for the QF flights. Other routes would be via HKG on CX, or now PER-SIN is back you could utilise that is desperate, perhaps PER-SIN-TYO-USA. Depending where you heading in US, PER-AUH-USA may be an option for you, or via DOH with QR.
As for BKK, via HKG with CX would be first choice for product, else KUL with MH or SIN with QF and waiting for CX's flight SIN-BKK (next day).
Points expiry resets every time you have mileage activity, so keep using them and you will have no problems. I believe you can even pay to re-activate your miles should you get distracted.

 

[Jaymez]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

Thanks Deeskick. I'll give your suggestions a try. Just to clarify, when you mention the AA tool, are you referring to the "book AA Award travel' link on the AA advantage site?

 

[Oxy]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

That's the one. When it comes to looking for QF awards it's the best free tool I know of.

 

[NM]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

I have managed to find JL flights when no QF trans-Pacific is available. But that required a call to AAdvantage Platinum Desk as JL award flights don't show on-line. At fairly short notice, during January school holiday period, I managed LAX-NRT-SYD-BNE using JL First for LAX-NRT-SYD and QF in J SYD-BNE for my daughter. There wasn't even an economy option on any QF services available over the week window she had for the flight. But JL was available on several days.

 

[AV8]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

I have also flown LAX-HNL-SYD with AAwards and have seen the reverse available.

 

[Jaymez]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

I have managed to find JL flights when no QF trans-Pacific is available. But that required a call to AAdvantage Platinum Desk as JL award flights don't show on-line. At fairly short notice, during January school holiday period, I managed LAX-NRT-SYD-BNE using JL First for LAX-NRT-SYD and QF in J SYD-BNE for my daughter. There wasn't even an economy option on any QF services available over the week window she had for the flight. But JL was available on several days.

NM, I assume as I am not Platinum level so can't use the Platinum desk. But do you think if I suggested a look at JL to the AAdvantage operator it may help? Especially if I pick out a JL flight first?

 

[Jaymez]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

AV8 (love the tag) - which airline was that?

 

[AV8]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

AV8 (love the tag) - which airline was that?

AA from LAX-HNL & HA from HNL-SYD. Flights booked on AA website as a single award.

 

[NM]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

NM, I assume as I am not Platinum level so can't use the Platinum desk. But do you think if I suggested a look at JL to the AAdvantage operator it may help? Especially if I pick out a JL flight first?

I am no longer Platinum (now back to Gold), and would still call the USA AAdvantage number. Non-Platinum member may be charged some extra service fee but they will still look for the same flights.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

I managed LAX-NRT-SYD-BNE using JL First for LAX-NRT-SYD and QF in J SYD-BNE for my daughter. There wasn't even an economy option on any QF services available over the week window she had for the flight. But JL was available on several days.

In your example LAX-NRT-SYD, would that be two awards though?

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

In your example LAX-NRT-SYD, would that be two awards though?

Yes. As would PER-SIN-NRT-->USA

Bite the bullet and get a cheap paid flight to SIN and save 25/35K points. Remember the return is likely cheaper exSIN than a full return from PER.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[NM]

Re: AA Adv Perth to US, no availability for J class, also BKK, and points expiry ques

In your example LAX-NRT-SYD, would that be two awards though?

It was a little more confusing than that. Originally booked as a Australia to North America return - itinerary was BNE-xLAX-xDFW-YYC-xDFW-LAX-BNE with about a month in Calgary and 3 nights in LA. Booked before the changes that stopped the free stopover at international gateway. So was originally booked as 75,000 miles and US$194.70 in taxes per person for two people travelling (150K miles and US$389.40 in total).

Then as she had to return home early to start her new career, I had to take whatever changes would get her home in time to pack-up and move to Canberra. This requirement to be home early was only identified after they were already in Canada. Her friend decided to return on the original itinerary, so only need to change one. But first they had to split the single 2-person reservation into two separate PNRs. This was done by reinstating 2 x 37500 miles into my account and then immediately taking 37500 back out for the original return flight.

Then I was charged for three separate awards as follows:

• 12,500 miles for US Airways economy YYC-PHX-LAX (she still wanted 2 nights in LA to visit Disneyland.
• 62,500 miles for JL First Class LAX-NRT, connecting to
• 60,000 miles for JL First Class NRT-SYD, connecting to QF Business Class SYD-BNE

The original taxes for the YYC-DFW-LAX-BNE routing were refunded (exchange had changed in my favour) and I was charged US$97.80 for the total new taxes for the three awards that made up the new homeward itinerary.

So it ended up costing me an extra 97,500 miles and the monetary component came out about even. But that got her home with about 6 days to finalise her preparations for moving to Canberra and in considerable more comfort than her friend's return about a week later (in QF economy LAX-BNE).

Both she and I were happy with the outcome.