AA/US merger, SC credits for US post 31Mar2014

[Stoopidsteve]

With US joining OW as an affiliate "under the American umbrella" (US Airways to Join oneworld on March 31 2014 :: American Airlines Newsroom), I had a few questions about QF FF and US/AA.

I'm trying to plan for some US travel later in 2014. Do we assume that, as an affiliate under American umbrella, the same points and SC earn table as for AA (and its existing affiliates) will be valid for US flights after 31 March, even if they are booked now?

If so, can someone point me in the direction of researching good SC runs on US in USA (similar to the AA ones like BOS-JFK-DCA-MIA-SJU for <$400, 270SC)?

And yes I recognise that US schedules may change after merger.

apologies if this has already been discussed.

 

[drewbles]

End of the day, no one knows what will happen post March. Reciprocal agreements are in place for US and AA, but the FF program won't be changing until the end of 2014 at the earliest.

For current AA runs, suggest you take a look at How to research and book an AA "Instant Upgrade" fare to maximise status earn (but BOS is not a good place to start; I spend a bit of time in BOS, and have not found a decent run from there, I typically leave BOS and stop off somewhere else).

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Thanks drewbles.
What we DO know is that US join Oneworld on 31st March "under the American umbrella" so from then they earn SC. I was wondering if there anything in the collective FF wisdom about such mergers before, in terms of booking NOW and getting SC for post 31Mar flight?

I was also wondering about US (not AA) SC run opportunities (already know of some AA SC runs, BOS-JFK-DCA-MIA-SJU not the greatest but less than $1.50/SC).

 

[Orphelinus]

Until QF add US to the Airline Earning Table, there is no word on which fares or booking classes will earn points or SC. So it's a case of "wait and see"

 

[serfty]

The is no doubt in my mind that April + travel on USair flight numbers and metal in first or business class will earn QFF points & SC's, even if booked now.

As to "how many", that remains to be seen. SC earning is basically "flat rate" across all partner airlines (I suspect that won't change) while points earning does vary between them (although I conject it would be little, if at all, different from that currently for AA).

January 7 has been long mooted as a date when further announcements are to be made - I'll be watching closely.