AA Platinum Challenge - Tips

[simongr]

Sorry for the smugness of my last post - I should have added YMMV

I will work on the points costing for you tomorrow (unless someone else gets there first )

I was thinking more about the guys who have similarish profiles as me who would be much better off on AA.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry for the smugness of my last post - I should have added YMMV

No not at all. I do not think that your post came across that way.

There is no doubt that the AA FF program is very good but it is only suitable for certain travellers. Some, probably the majority, travellers do not know that it exists, others could not care less, while the rest have made decisions weighing up the pros and cons. With the new rule, of 4 AA flights, coming into force sometime next year it would be even be harder for people to complete the challenge. Time will tell.

I want QF Platinum/OW Emerald status, and will get it, so AA Platinum/OW Sapphire status is useless to me. I simply do not do enough flying to even come close to AA Exp. For me, right now, the choice is easy. But I never say never, especially if Macquarie Bank gets their way.

 

[serfty]

I was thinking more about the guys who have similarish profiles as me who would be much better off on AA.

As a QF WP with 80% of flight discount Oz Domestic; QFF generally works better for me than AA PLAT. For a QF SG with a similar travel breakdown it becomes borderline.

 

[serfty]

... One other thing just out of interest. Please tell me how many FF points you will need with AA to fly SYD-ADL-ASP-AYQ-PER-BME-KNX-DRW-GOV-CNS-SYD. Stopovers in PER, BME & DRW. BME-KNX-DRW is on Air North.

That's a trick Q.

That can be done in 4 trips if the segments for each 'trip' are on the same calandar day.

Trip 1: 25K pts SYD - - - PER
Trip 2: 12K pts PER-BME
Trip 3: 12K pts BME - - DRW
Trip 4: 18K pts DRW - - - SYD

That's a total of 67K pts and +++ is an additional $467.

Interestingly, no points co-pay is being offered on line. It would have been 4 x 6.5K or 26K.

 

[simongr]

With the new rule, of 4 AA flights, coming into force sometime next year it would be even be harder for people to complete the challenge. Time will tell.

Has that been heralded? I have only heard of the AA metal (codeshare) for the challenge? If requal includes AA metal then there will be limited non-US people who will be ok. Personally I have really enjoyed the AA service so have no qualms about flying with them on segments of my RTW/US trips.

 

[JohnK]

That's a trick Q.

Not a trick question as such. Just my personal experience and wanted to see whether it was possible on AA and how many AA FF points would be required.

That can be done in 4 trips if the segments for each 'trip' are on the same calandar day.

Each mini trip is on the same calendar day.

That's a total of 67K pts and +++ is an additional $467.

Not quite right. Remember there was a 25% discount recently? Total cost 53,250 FF points and +++ cost of 9,750 FF points and an additional ~$108. How? Where there's a will there's a way!

Interestingly, no points co-pay is being offered on line. It would have been 4 x 6.5K or 26K.

Again not quite right. The only mini trip where you can't pay for taxes is BME-DRW because of flying Air North. Plus issued with manual ticket not e-ticket.

 

[Dave Noble]

Has that been heralded? I have only heard of the AA metal (codeshare) for the challenge? If requal includes AA metal then there will be limited non-US people who will be ok. Personally I have really enjoyed the AA service so have no qualms about flying with them on segments of my RTW/US trips.

I have heard no rumours relating to requiring 4 sectors on AA for regular activity

Dave

 

[GeorgeD]

Min qpoints is 500 so you should get a little more



Two things - are you a Silver/Gold/Plat QFF? If not then it wont make any difference. If you are then leave the number until the last minute - you can even do it in the Qantas Club after your BP has has been issued. Just make sure you do it. I regularly have them change my FF number after they issue the BP at the check in desk as my TA refuses to input my AA number.

Welcme to AFF GeorgeD

Thanks Simongr! I'm a silver QFF, but will never make gold given my current flying habits...hence the reason I'm so happy to jump on the AA platinum bandwagon And unfortunately at the moment I don't have lounge access, so perhaps as Dave Noble suggested, I should try putting it in before.

And thanks Dave, information has been noted. I generally find them to be pretty relaxed about luggage allowances in Milan and London in general...I've never been pulled up for overweight luggage before in either place (I've just jinxed myself!!) but have definitely had to repack once or twice when leaving Australia.

And thanks for the info, looks like I am going to meet the challenge...woohoo!!

 

[serfty]

Again not quite right. The only mini trip where you can't pay for taxes is BME-DRW because of flying Air North. Plus issued with manual ticket not e-ticket.

So that's why my dummy booking for next year did not quote a points co-pay.

 

[NM]

Just an interesting observation that again reinforces the benefit of the AA program. I was just discussing mrssimongr's potential trip next year with me on a RTW award in J. Itinerary is likely to be syd-lax-jfk-lhr-lca-lhr-hkg-syd in J. That would require a 35K miles oneworld award on the AA program costing 140K points (slightly more than I budgeted - but that's ok - and we still 3K miles at the end to play with ). I put the same itinerary into the QF "how many points do I need" tool and it suggested 396K points!!!

And people still think this is not worth doing?

Also keep in mind that a business class award itinerary using QF FF points will have the AA domestic 2-class flights booked in the coach cabin, while the AA award will have them booked in the First Class cabin. In your itinerary it would not mater since the only AA domestic flight included is generally a 3-class operation, but it can makde a different for many people.

 

[simongr]

Thanks again - just really waiting to see if my boss gets his budget for next year approved so that all travel can start to be booked. There will certainly be a new thread for that trip

 

[JohnK]

I will work on the points costing for you tomorrow (unless someone else gets there first )

Did you get a chance to have a look at this one? I guess it would be 4 x 20,000 points awards on AA plus any real taxes & charges unlike QF.

Can you redeem AA awards on Air North? If not then BME-DRW would need to route something like BME-PER-DRW. Also I am guessing there would not be any issue routing SYD-ADL-ASP-AYQ-PER-SYD for 20,000 points and not completing the PER-SYD leg.

 

[one9]

I have a question regarding lounge access:

If I am AA Platinum (Sapphire oneworld), and I am taking a domestic flight in Australia with Qantas, am I able to bring one guest who is not flying into the Qantas Club?

 

[mainly tailfirst]

I have a question regarding lounge access:

If I am AA Platinum (Sapphire oneworld), and I am taking a domestic flight in Australia with Qantas, am I able to bring one guest who is not flying into the Qantas Club?

Based on the reciprocal arrangements for oneworld members, I would say no. Both you and your guest need to flying on QF. Now strictly speaking, you both should be on the same flight as per, but I have heard of that being waived (or they don't check too closely).

I tried to find the exact page on the QF site for reference, but alas, it's very QP membership focused. This for SG/WP access to oneworld lounges, but I believe the reverse applies for AA PLT as well.

"Note that both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on an eligible flight that is marketed^ and operated by a oneworld alliance airline."

mt

 

[Febs]

Then again, it all depends on the time of day.

Recently when I've been into a Qantas Club, the desk staff couldn't care less about who's entering. I started to pull my boarding pass out in SYD recently, and the lady just waved me through (and about 10 other people). In MEL people (myself included) were just flashing their boarding pass as they walked past (including my OLCI printed BP, which at that distance, could've been anything at all).



Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[simongr]

Based on the reciprocal arrangements for oneworld members, I would say no. Both you and your guest need to flying on QF. Now strictly speaking, you both should be on the same flight as per, but I have heard of that being waived (or they don't check too closely).

I tried to find the exact page on the QF site for reference, but alas, it's very QP membership focused. This for SG/WP access to oneworld lounges, but I believe the reverse applies for AA PLT as well.

"Note that both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on an eligible flight that is marketed^ and operated by a oneworld alliance airline."

mt

As febs says - it depends. Strictly no. However you can always ask at check in. I recent;y flew F on CX and my colleague was flying Virgin. I got them to add +1 guest to my lounge invite. Worked a treat.

S

 

[isdoo]

What is PLT CHALLENGE BONUS-REG MEMBER
We have it on one account, but not the other? Would there be a reason for this. Both accounts were basic accounts.

Thanks.

 

[Dave Noble]

What is PLT CHALLENGE BONUS-REG MEMBER
We have it on one account, but not the other? Would there be a reason for this. Both accounts were basic accounts.

Thanks.

Have both accounts changed to Platinum status? How long ago was the flight posting; it can take up to 2 days for the accounts to be fully updated. If the account shows the status has changed, leave it n see how it goes by wed

Dave

 

[isdoo]

Hi,

Yes both changed over the weekend. I wasn't sure what it was. Both were originally just basic accounts.

I will wait patiently Thanks.

 

[Dave Noble]

Due to the size of this thread , I have created a new thread detailing the candy stealing challenges , updated with the amendments for 2007

The details of the challenge listed in this thread are still valid for any challenges with start dates in October, November or December 2006

Hope this thread has helped people stock their larders with candy this year

This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.