AA award in Australia/New Zealand

[GC_Engineer]

Hi,

I am looking at an AA redemption from BNE to ZQN on Friday 6th August.

I notice direct flights have no ecomony redemption seats available for July/August (maybe this is because I am an NB )..

So I have figured I will overnight in AKL and continue to ZQN the next morning. The only problem is that AKL to ZQN is on Jetstar. Will this be classified as an Aadvantage All Airlines Award (ie. 10k award)??

Would be happy to consider other routings, however, it doesnt look like anything is available.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[futaris]

You cannot redeem on Jetstar using AA miles. If you want to fly down to ZQN on Jetstar from CHC or AKL, then you will have to buy a separate ticket.

If you cannot get SYD-ZQN or MEL-ZQN then you cannot fly to ZQN from BNE or OOL using AA miles.

Try using SQ miles or BMI miles for a one-way trip on Air New Zealand.

Otherwise buy a ticket on NZ, QF or DJ.

Pacific Blue is $349 oneway SYD-ZQN on 7 Aug.

Air New Zealand is circa $375 BNE-ZQN.
Flying QANTAS BNE-ZQN via AKL with NZ for AKL-ZQN is ~$400.

NB, BNE-ZQN is direct only on Sat on QANTAS, and Wed/Sun on NZ.

Also, BNE-CHC on Jetstar is only $219 (inc baggage) on Thu 5 Aug or Sat 7 Aug.

I wouldn't be spending 10k AA miles + ~$100 taxes+booking fees to fly oneway on QF only to AKL, in economy.

 

[Dave Noble]

You cannot redeem on Jetstar using AA miles. If you want to fly down to ZQN on Jetstar from CHC or AKL, then you will have to buy a separate ticket.
.

You can redeem on Jetstar if there is award availability on a QF codeshare

Dave

 

[GC_Engineer]

I have enough FF points on QF to also do BNE - AKL - ZQN.

Do you think seats will be released on either of the BNE-ZQN or SYD-ZQN flights during August... or is that just dreaming?

Would seats be available through the Qantas frequent flyer phone service that I cant see online?

Thanks again for your replies

Just for curiosity what do you think is the best way to utilise AA points.. I only have 13k.. and only have domestic trips planned so dont plan on getting anymore AA points soon.

 

[serfty]

10K AA miles will get a one-way trip wholly within Australia, New Zealand on QF flight numbers with award availability.

 

[drron]

For AA awards it is best to phone the BNE AA number.It is difficult to find a lot of AA awards on QF on line.I certainly have been able to get AA awards on QF that I couldnt as a QFF member-but then again I have status on AA and not on QF-though on 1 occasion mrsdrron as a QF SG could not get a QF award that i could get through AA.
So go ahead and ring the AA BNE office.

 

[futaris]

Wed 4 Aug has SYD-ZQN direct availability, as does Sat 7 Aug. I can see that availability (of 9+ seats in economy on the 7th, 8 seats on the 4th) as a NB.

You will be able to book BNE-SYD-ZQN, eg:
QF501 BNE-SYD 0600-0735
QF121 SYD-ZQN 0835-1330

The above should cost 18k QF + $84.16 AUD taxes. Should be about 10k AA + ~$50-60 AUD taxes + 60 AUD booking fee. You might be able to reduce the 60 AUD booking free to 20 USD if you ring the AA US office, and you are an elite member.

NB, that is a 60 min connection time, which should meet the Minimum Connection Time (MCT) for SYD.

Always search the direct routes separately, as the award engine will generally want to route you through AKL or CHC rather than SYD or MEL.

To buy the same fare will cost you $394 inc taxes. BNE-ZQN direct is only available in the Super Saver bucket, so will cost $581.

The Jetstar alternative I mentioned above is:
BNE-CHC 1730-2255 Thu 05Aug $219 AUD
CHC-ZQN 0835-0935 Fri 06Aug $89 NZD

 

[Dave Noble]

You might be able to reduce the 60 AUD booking free to 20 USD if you ring the AA US office, and you are an elite member.

If not, then I would suggest phoning the UK office and paying the GBP20 booking fee (AUD34)

Dave

 

[wandering_fred]

Or if you actually have AA elite status using Skype (or similar) to call AA in the USA and avoiding the booking fees?

Fred

 

[Dave Noble]

Or if you actually have AA elite status using Skype (or similar) to call AA in the USA and avoiding the booking fees?

just being "elite" ( what a dire term ) does not exempt telephone booking fees

 

[wandering_fred]

Well unless AA buried the booking fees in the taxes I didn't see a booking fee charge from either the PLT or EXP desks when I booked reward flights in Australia......... More than 21 days in advance though

Fred