AA BUY miles promo

[Gold Member]

First AA buy miles promo of 2012 with 37.5%bonus miles (40 + 15). Looks like both of my AA accounts wil be getting another top up! Bit weary of forex downside so at 1.02 AUD/USD I'm in now while markets are frozen over the break.

https://buy.points.com/PointsPartne...nguage=EN&product=BUY&CAMPAIGNCODE=AAMktPgDom

 

[Hvr]

Thanks, just purchased 40,000 plus 15,000 bonus miles. Am hoping to get a redemption in March and just need a few more miles so buy now and hope.

 

[JohnK]

I purchased 60,000 miles + 20,000 bonus miles this morning on the old promotion.

This promotion gives better bonus miles but is capped at 40,000 miles. So I guess one can purchase 40,000 miles + 15,000 bonus miles now and then when the limit is increased to 60,000 miles at the end of the year purchase another 20,000 miles + 6,667 bonus miles.

I am sure AA will have similar promotions through the year but the biggest concern for me would be how the AUD performs. Currently at USD1.02 which is reasonable.

 

[Gold Member]

I purchased 60,000 miles + 20,000 bonus miles this morning on the old promotion.

Likewise, purchased topup to 60k less than 24 hours ago. I figured this new promo would appear at some point beginning 2012 but didn't realize it would be from day 1. They offered 37.5% only once last year so this is among the best % bonus deals. Pretty confident AA will offer the extra 20k (up to 60k annually) towards the end of this year again.

 

[dfcatch]

They also offered the 30% off (or was it 20??) in May.

I value an AA mile at about $0.02 so I always use that as the benchmark. Of course - if you are needing the miles - then the bonus promotion is the best value.

 

[burmans]

MUst admit I'm struggling to work out why you guys invest in AA miles when to an (uneducated) outsider the US deals seems so much better. Anyone want to enlighten me?

 

[casanovawa]

Especially now that buying miles don't contribute to achieving lifetime status... But i guess you guys must love AA and flying Qantas etc.... But US Air does seem better value...

Guess you can't get into the FLounge flying *A either...

 

[dfcatch]

MUst admit I'm struggling to work out why you guys invest in AA miles when to an (uneducated) outsider the US deals seems so much better. Anyone want to enlighten me?

Well I fly transpacific - and US air doesn't offer too much for transpacific options (and no - i don't wish to fly via Asia).

Direct from Aus to US is fine thank you.

AA gives me that - US doesn't.

Plus - I have QF status so I may as well fly them.

My *G status is likely to expire this year so I don't forward plan on that.

Although I do enjoy it when flying on AC.

 

[JohnK]

MUst admit I'm struggling to work out why you guys invest in AA miles when to an (uneducated) outsider the US deals seems so much better. Anyone want to enlighten me?

It depends on where you want to go.

Let's assume that taxes and surcharges on US Airways awards and AA awards are the same

I just purchased 80,000 AA miles for USD1802.50(~AUD1770). I require 70,000 AA miles to get to Asia in business class or USD1580(AUD1610).

One can purchase 100,000 US miles for ~USD1880(~AUD1840). I require 90,000 US miles to get to Asia in business class or ~USD1690(~AUD1660).

Very very similar cost for the same type of flights but on AA I can book QF flights and as a QF Platinum I can get to use the SYD/MEL First Class Lounge. Now I know a lounge is just a lounge but is something nice to have before a flight when the cost is not too ridiculous.

The plus for US Airways is there is no limit to the number of miles one can purchase which means more trips per year....

 

[skywalkerLAX]

Not bad... I might be tempted.... Just bought 12k the other day with 4K Bonus!

Will think about it!

 

[casanovawa]

I think granted if most of your travel is east coast of Australia to the USA and you want it pretty direct (ie not via Asia or NZ) then AA might be competitive...

I guess US allows you to buy multiple amounts of trips a year where AA limits you to 40k or 60k plus whatever bonus you get... The other problem that AA seems to have is that its business class redemptions is around 66% the economy amounts where with US Air its more like 50% more or less... With US you also get a chance for a destination and a stopover, but you don't get the Flounge... So I guess its swings and round abouts in terms of where you travel to, how you like to travel and i guess if you already have some status...

 

[skywalkerLAX]

My problem with US is: They don't allow one way for 50%.

Another thing is I love CX First & JL First. AA allows a stopover on the first point of entry in North America, often I booked:

BKK-SIN (overnight < 24h )-HKG (overnight < 24h )-YVR (stop)-JFK. 67.500 Miles in F I think that's a pretty good deal.

 

[casanovawa]

Yeah if there is one thing they could definitely change at US Air to improve the program is to allow one way awards....

 

[dfcatch]

AA allows a stopover on the first point of entry in North America

really?

I didn't know that!

Damn - I could be taking more advantage of this!

 

[QF029]

I assume you call AA to make these bookings. Is it just a matter of finding equivalent seats on the home carrier (eg P or U on QF for 1st or business)?

 

[dfcatch]

I assume you call AA to make these bookings. Is it just a matter of finding equivalent seats on the home carrier (eg P or U on QF for 1st or business)?

Yes, and yes.

I use EF, find the P or U seats on QF, then call AA.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

Yes, and yes.

I use EF, find the P or U seats on QF, then call AA.

For partners I usually use the BA Tool or Asia Miles to look up availability. Only once did I have a discrepancy and that one cleared up overnight.

 

[Hvr]

I assume you call AA to make these bookings. Is it just a matter of finding equivalent seats on the home carrier (eg P or U on QF for 1st or business)?

I got my points very quickly and then rang AA in the USA to discuss my preferred dates and flights.

I wanted to travel from HKG-JFK in F on a particular date, and they were able to find a flight the day after which was perfectly acceptable to me. I also got a flight from SIN-HKG at the beginning (J only). Chose my seats as well.

I found that by having the CX page open with actual flights I could suggest flight numbers which may or may not have assisted the AA operator.

The US phone operators cannot accept Australian credit cards so they put the reservation on hold and then you have 24 hours to ring the Australian office to pay. They they issue the ticket.

 

[grussellt]

The US phone operators cannot accept Australian credit cards so they put the reservation on hold and then you have 24 hours to ring the Australian office to pay. They they issue the ticket.

I've had no problems having the AA agents in the US accept my Australian credit card for taxes and charges. The details are in my AAdvantage account but I don't think that matters.

 

[extracta]

I purchased 60,000 miles + 20,000 bonus miles this morning on the old promotion.

This promotion gives better bonus miles but is capped at 40,000 miles. So I guess one can purchase 40,000 miles + 15,000 bonus miles now and then when the limit is increased to 60,000 miles at the end of the year purchase another 20,000 miles + 6,667 bonus miles.

I am sure AA will have similar promotions through the year but the biggest concern for me would be how the AUD performs. Currently at USD1.02 which is reasonable.

Probably a stupid question and has been answered somewhere before, but what is the advantage of buying AA miles??