Basic Questions From Newbie

[Piers Hill]

Hi, Im a newbie. Presently a QFF but just joining AA. Based in Sydney, moving to San Francisco and likely to be flying whole family back and forth 3 or 4 times a year for the next year plus I will be flying solo back and forth once a month for business. Can anybody tell me, based on the above FF schemes:
If Im buying flights for the whole family (2 adults, 2 children, 1 infant) on Qantas or American or partners do all family members need to be members of whichever FF scheme or will I as the bill payer accrue points for all family members trips?
If all family members need to accrue their own points individually, can they be transferred or pooled to one member within either awards scheme?
If so can that member book award flights for all family members or friends?
Many thanks in advance - greatly appreciated.
PH

 

[Dave Noble]

You will all need separate accounts

I would recommend booking the flights to the USA on AA since then you can take the platinum challenge and all earn Platinum status very quickly. Flying SYD-SFO in economy, you can earn 7417 points leaving you the rest of 3 months to accrue the remaining 2583 points needed for status

You can transfer up to 15,000 points a year into an account for a fee , but if travelling 3-4 times a year, I would suggest just accruing independantly; it is perfectly ok for one member to use their points to redeem for any other person

Dav

 

[Piers Hill]

Thanks Dave,
Booking next flights to SFO shortly. When you say you would book with AA do you mean actually book an AA flight (which is operated by QF and is $5k more exy than QF) or book through QF and select AA as my chosen FF scheme?
Many thanks, esp for the PLT Challenge tips.
PH

 

[Mwenenzi]

For the AA Plat challenge you must fly with AA flight numbers. If the AA flight is a codeshare that is OK for the AA Plat Challenge.

You can book an QF flight mumber and select AA as the chosen FF scheme. However you need to check the AA earning rate for the given QF booking class.

Often AA is less $$$ than QF for a given flight.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Dave,
Booking next flights to SFO shortly. When you say you would book with AA do you mean actually book an AA flight (which is operated by QF and is $5k more exy than QF) or book through QF and select AA as my chosen FF scheme?
Many thanks, esp for the PLT Challenge tips.
PH

You need to book the AA flight operated by QF for the AA Challenge. I am surprised that it would be showing much difference in total price between AA and QF. What dates and class are you trying to book for? Comparing AA against a sale fare it was coming out $200 more expensive on a r/t economy booking and about $200 cheaper on a oneway. If travelling business class, the fares seem to be the same
Dave