Best way to book an AA (US dom) flight?

[Dave Noble]

I would think if anything Qantas should be charging AA GST when it sells AA the seats, and AA charge the passenger the total amount (but no extra GST).

AA are selling the ticket and issuing it , hence why it is on AA ticket stock rather than QF stock ( ticket number 001 rather than 081 ). AA in the USA will through the machinations of the intra airline payments system send QF some money. Since the ticket is issued outside of Australia, there is NO GST OWING - as per the published tax rules

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

I would be intrigued as to how QF get away without charging GST to AA though - they are providing a service in Oz. We used to be able to not charge GST for work we did in Oz for overseas companies as our final product (a report) was provided to the overseas company rather than the local subsid.

Easy, AA is in Dallas/Fort Worth and that is who is being charged. regardless, it is specifically in the rules for the UO tax in that it is NOT applicable if ticket is issued outside of Australia

It is no different buying a ticket from AA to buying a book from Amazon.com and not paying GST on that. Difference is , is that the book is sent by the postal service whilst the ticket from AA is sent via electronic mail

Also, QF misses out , iirc, on receiving fuel fine payments from AA since they are not part of the fare structure

Dave

 

[justinbrett]

Maybe we should shut up about this before the tax man reads it and gets rid of the loophole.

 

[serfty]

It's a shame this thread got side-tracked; I found it a very useful thread and have used information from it and a few other related threads to make more than ½ a dozen intra US flight on booking AA. (most recent should garner 450 SC's for AUD880)

 

[JohnK]

2) not so legit, but much simpler:
Book your flight on the AA website and pretend that you've moved to the UK for a few minutes. Pay by credit card in pounds. Your flight will be confirmed in a couple of hours, and your card charged by either the UK or Ireland offices.
Your card will be charged in Pounds, but everything will be automatic. You'll still need to call up AA and get them to apply your Qantas FF number.

I just used this method with 2 one-way bookings. Now the nervous wait to see if everything turns out OK.

Is the confirmation email the only email that is sent? I have not received an email to acknowledge the booking.

 

[serfty]

Look up you booking at aa.com under 'My Reservations'.

If you see something like:

"
Status
Ticketed - Jul 13, 2007

"
then it's a goer ...

 

[simongr]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh

Trying to pay for my DONE4 in Sep is a nightmare. Currently in Paris so trying to call Oz to pay for the ticket isnt working. Trying on my mobile to call +61180673486 just wont work.

I migth call the US and use my boss' card at this rate and miss out on the 10K of Amex points

 

[Dave Noble]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh

Trying to pay for my DONE4 in Sep is a nightmare. Currently in Paris so trying to call Oz to pay for the ticket isnt working. Trying on my mobile to call +61180673486 just wont work.

I migth call the US and use my boss' card at this rate and miss out on the 10K of Amex points

The number you have there isnt right. should be +61 1 800 673 486 , you seem to be missing a 0

Phoning the US to pay and you will pay the ex-USA rate; if thats ok, then cool. If you have skype , you can call AA on 1800-673486 in AU from there

Dave

 

[simongr]

That was a typo in the above post - my mobile just did not like dialling +611800673486 - skype however did work (thankfully some juice still in the bluetooth headset given that charger is in suitcase...)

Still not been fully costed by revenue so need to call back today - just not sure when call centre is open until...

 

[JohnK]

Look up you booking at aa.com....

All done and ticketed and have received confirmation e-mail. I chickened out and I should only have 420 SCs from this side trip as I booked ORD-LGA-TPA-MIA-DFW-ORD. Now all that is left is to get to ORD on time assuming that AA74 is not playing up on the day I am there.

I guess I have to call AA to get my QFF number attached to the booking. Is row 3 the first row on 738s and MD80s? I have selected row 3 window for all flights except for row 2 on 763 MIA-DFW. I din't take too much notice of FEBO as I wanted to be in the first row and should be fed and watered in AC/FL before flight anyway.

 

[Mal]

. I din't take too much notice of FEBO as I wanted to be in the first row and should be fed and watered in AC/FL before flight anyway.

Nup, little in the AC to eat and drink. There are some snacks and something that resembles coffee and tea, but pay for food and pay for drinks. As a WP, you should get a couple of drink vouchers when entering and the bar is open (ask if they don't give them to you). You should be able to go back to the front desk for more as well. You're supposed to tip the bartender for the drinks.

On my last F trip in the U.S, I ended up swapping seats around on 3 different flights due to couples wanting to sit together, friends wanting to sit together, mother and child together etc. Not really an issue, but did happen quite a bit to me and you might see it... (suprised I wasn't moved for a FAM*, but I did choose seats specifically to avoid FAM likely seats)

*Federal Air Marshall. Undercover security officer working for the U.S Government protecting planes.

 

[JohnK]

Nup, little in the AC to eat and drink.

Either way I have chosen the first seat on each flight.

As a WP, you should get a couple of drink vouchers when entering and the bar is open (ask if they don't give them to you). You should be able to go back to the front desk for more as well. You're supposed to tip the bartender for the drinks.

Must remember to get $20 worth of $1 bills for the tips. Least I can do for the hard working bar staff even though I am unemployed.

On my last F trip in the U.S, I ended up swapping seats around on 3 different flights due to couples wanting to sit together, friends wanting to sit together, mother and child together etc.

Not swapping my front seat for anyone.

*Federal Air Marshall. Undercover security officer working for the U.S Government protecting planes.

Except for maybe FAMs! I may not have a choice.

Oh and by the way I used that AA discount code you gave me last month. Thank you very much. I was able to use the published one for returning back to ORD.

 

[Mal]

Except for maybe FAMs! I may not have a choice.

Nah, Front row Window is not a FAM friendly seat...

Glad I could help with a discount code. Enjoy your flights!

 

[serfty]

... I guess I have to call AA to get my QFF number attached to the booking. ...

Yep, the AAustraaliaan AA office in IndiAA is fine for this- call 1 800 673 486. (Get them to look your booking up and Clearly say something like "I would like to add my Qantas Frequent Flyer to the booking")

... Is row 3 the first row on 738s and MD80s? I have selected row 3 window for all flights except for row 2 on 763 MIA-DFW. I don't take too much notice of FEBO as I wanted to be in the first row and should be fed and watered in AC/FL before flight anyway.

FEBO is somewhat overrated IMO -you will get something reasonably substantial to eat if not a choice. (mind you some of those pasta dishes have an suprising amount of cheese binding them together)

As MAL said, there's not much to eat in A/C's unless you wish to pay extra. Most substantial I have seen are crudites with sour cream.

Here a link to the AA A/C page: Admirals Club® Lounges (There's none at Tampa)

Note: you may have access to the F/L at ORD, there may be something more filling there.

 

[serfty]

One thing about A/C's is that they generally don't call flights in the lounge.

I find it best to be at the gate no less than 35 minutes before boarding commences. Perhaps earlier - I find it somewhat interesting watching the circus as people try to upgrade/standby etc.

Boarding normally commences ½ an hour before the scheduled flight time, sometimes slightly earlier. Pre-Boards (Elderly, infirm and (sometimes) people with young children) normally go before this.

Then come those in First Class, then Elites by status (Group1, Group2 ...) down to status nufin's (group 6).

 

[oz_mark]

Not swapping my front seat for anyone.
Except for maybe FAMs! I may not have a choice.

Not so undercover if you have to move seats for them

 

[JohnK]

Yep, the AAustraaliaan AA office in IndiAA is fine for this- call 1 800 673 486. (Get them to look your booking up and Clearly say something like "I would like to add my Qantas Frequent Flyer to the booking")

Done and very painless. Or at least I hope it is done.

FEBO is somewhat overrated IMO -you will get something reasonably substantial to eat if not a choice. (mind you some of those pasta dishes have an suprising amount of cheese binding them together)

Some of these flights have no meal and some have only refreshments. I think having front seat was the overriding factor this time around. I only need some food intake, whatever that may be, to absorb the fluids.

As MAL said, there's not much to eat in A/C's unless you wish to pay extra. Most substantial I have seen are crudites with sour cream.

Sour cream sounds good. May just buy a loaf of bread and spread sour cream on it. Vegetables and fluids do not mix well.

Note: you may have access to the F/L at ORD, there may be something more filling there.

My understanding is that AA FL is in the international terminal. There is always McDonalds, Burger King etc.

Should be able to have something to eat in ORD BA first lounge before international flight.

 

[Dave Noble]

My understanding is that AA FL is in the international terminal. There is always McDonalds, Burger King etc.

Should be able to have something to eat in ORD BA first lounge before international flight.

The AA FL is in T3 which is where all AA flights depart and where all non international AA flights arrive. If departing on AA, then the FL is at the end of the K concourse at K17; the AA longhaul flights normally depart from gates near the FL

If departing on BA, then that will be in T5 and the BA F Terraces lounge is not nearly as good as the FL and there are no food options unless departing in J or F in which case Pre-Flight dining is offered in the dining rooms across the way in the Business Terraces

As far as taking bread to eat into the AA lounge, this is prohibited under AC rules


Dave

 

[simongr]

Still not been fully costed by revenue so need to call back today - just not sure when call centre is open until...

Well I got the form emailed to me 6 hours after the call to India and now I have to find somewhere to print the form and fax it to Oz for first thing Monday - all getting close with timing as needs to be paid by Monday 9PM US EST...

 

[NM]

The FL at ORD is i T3 at the end of the K concourse. Unless you know its there it can be hard to find. And when I went to the AC and asked, I was told it was too far to walk and I would be better off staying in the AC. Well I like to walk so I went off and found it. I will never use the AC if I have access to the FL.

So follow the signs to the high numbered K gates and keep walking to the end of the concourse. At the end, look to your right for a glass door with the FL logo and enter. Its a great lounge with food and self-serve drinks. The desk staff there have always been very friendly and helpful.

Note that they do not make boarding calls for domestic flights, so keep an eye on the time. The desk staff are happy to advise the status of your flight. They have always welcomed me as a QF Platinum member.