Best way to book an AA reward flight out of Melbourne

[Sheenaec7]

The last award flight I booked was through US Airways DM and I'm now wanting to book a J flight from MEL to anywhere in Stockholm (or close) in May 2016. When I was with US DM I'd check for flights using the KVS Tool then call the US number to book.

Is the process much the same?

Does anyone have the best contact number for AA.

Can I fly into Sweden (make own way to Italy) fly out of Italy?

Can I book stopovers on both legs?

Thanks in advance

 

[Kaiser]

Are you looking for awards on AA metal or a oneoworld partner award? I normally use the BA and JAL search tools on their respective sites to check oneworld award availability and then call AA to book if it isn't showing on their booking engine. You could try for MEL-DOH-ARN on QR or MEL-HKG-HEL-ARN on CX/AY. The Australian AA contact number is (02) 9101 1948.

 

[Sheenaec7]

Thanks Kaiser. I'm looking to book a oneworld partner redemption. So far I've just been looking on the AA website and there does seem to be some availability. I'll go and check out the BA & JAL websites (my KVS membership has lapsed so I'll check the others websites first before I go renewing my membership). Thanks for the phone number as well

 

[TomVexille]

I've been calling the Australian number. It seems to direct to Japan and they have been rather competent in my experience (bar one but that was remedied by HUCA).

 

[Pushka]

I've used the Australian number and they are excellent. Isn't it based in Fiji?

 

[casanovawa]

I called up a couple of times the Australian AA number to put on hold a one redemption from DEL to PER...

Looked on BA to find flight availability and then read it out to the phone agent... One time I could see availability of MH flights on the BA site that they couldn't to get from BKK to KUL, but then she found a seat on a Royal Jordanian 787 which didn't show up on BA, so was happy with that over an MH 737....

 

[madrooster]

she found a seat on a Royal Jordanian 787 which didn't show up on BA, so was happy with that over an MH 737....

This might be useful for your reference:

Carriers visible on QFF: QF, CX, BA, AA, QR, IB, RJ, AB, AY, UL, EK
Carriers NOT visible on QFF: JL, MH, LA, JJ, S7
Carriers visible on BAEC: QF, CX, BA, AA, QR, JL, IB, MH, AB, AY, LA, JJ, UL
Carriers NOT visible on BAEC: RJ, S7

 

[exceladdict]

And watch out for CX and IB ghost space on QF. I wasted hours on hold trying to book inexistent seats.

Edit: BA or JAL to double check CX. Not much use me creating a problem without trying to help with it.

 

[madrooster]

Edit: BA or JAL to double check CX. Not much use me creating a problem without trying to help with it.

BA also uses Amadeus so is affected by the same phantom space issue as QF is. JL is the only reliable way without needing to ring up.

 

[straitman]

I've used the Australian number and they are excellent. Isn't it based in Fiji?

Suva to be precise.

My last few dealings with them have been very successful.

 

[KVS]

When I was with US DM I'd check for flights using the KVS Tool then call the US number to book.

Is the process much the same?

Yes, the KVS Tool continues to support 100% Award Availability coverage across all OneWorld airlines:
http://Help.KVSTool.com/#OneWorld

 

[Sheenaec7]

I've now reregistered on KVS and doing a MEL - ARN search. I initially used Oneworld/QF as the method and that brought up a lovely EK F ticket for the day I wanted. It's been a year since I used KVS but am I right in thinking that we can't redeem on EK with AA Miles? I have done another search in BA & JL and, of course, the too good to be true flight isn't there.

 

[Doggy]

It's been a year since I used KVS but am I right in thinking that we can't redeem on EK with AA Miles?

You are right.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

BA also uses Amadeus so is affected by the same phantom space issue as QF is. JL is the only reliable way without needing to ring up.

Correct - except that JL can under-report as well (but not as common as BA/QF phantom availability).

 

[KVS]

I've now reregistered on KVS and doing a MEL - ARN search.

Welcome back to the KVS Tool!

I initially used Oneworld/QF as the method and that brought up a lovely EK F ticket for the day I wanted. It's been a year since I used KVS but am I right in thinking that we can't redeem on EK with AA Miles?

That is correct -- EK is not an AADV partner.

You can easily restrict search results to OneWorld flights only by clicking the [*O] button on the [Filter] Tab.

You can also search for Awards on EY (which is an AADV partner) via the [Awards/EY] Method.

 

[Jane-Doe]

The Aus number provides excellent service. If you find yourself in a long wait, try dialling the same number from another phone - eg mobile or Skype. In my case, many times the second call connected earlier.

I've been calling the Australian number. It seems to direct to Japan and they have been rather competent in my experience (bar one but that was remedied by HUCA).

 

[TomVexille]

The Aus number provides excellent service. If you find yourself in a long wait, try dialling the same number from another phone - eg mobile or Skype. In my case, many times the second call connected earlier.

My experiences this year have seen my calls answered almost instantly.

 

[Sheenaec7]

Need some trouble shooting help for KVS. I keep getting these two messages when I try to search using the Oneworld/BA method. It was working ok yesterday. All other methods are working fine. Can't see anything about it in the troubleshooting/FAQs

 

[KVS]

Need some trouble shooting help for KVS. I keep getting these two messages when I try to search using the Oneworld/BA method. It was working ok yesterday. All other methods are working fine. Can't see anything about it in the troubleshooting/FAQs

You have exceeded the velocity limits that are imposed by [Awards/BA-OneWorld] Engine.

In the meantime, you can use [Awards/QF-OneWorld] or one of the airline-specific Methods.