Buying FF Points

[Jo145]

I read on the Webinar summary that if I am a member of AAdvantage with American Airlines I can purchase points and use them to buy flights. My plan is to use QF points Mel-LAX which will exhaust my points. I want to purchase points with AA to fly NYC-MEL Bus Class. The price seems too good to be true (around $1360). Has anyone done this? Is there a catch I can't find on the AA site? Really appreciate any feedback.
Ta

 

[smit0847]

The catch is there's unlikely to be any availability on QF and AA won't let you fly via Asia unless you buy 2 separate (and more expensive) awards.

 

[Hvr]

And sometimes they route it through Hawaii on HA who don't have the best seats for a long haul journey.

Think a little out of the box and look for JFK-(HKG)-SIN which is on CX and then pay for a cheap flight back from SIN.

However, plan a long time out and have flexible dates to maximise your chances of a successful redemption.

 

[Jo145]

Thanks - figured there would be a catch

 

[Jo145]

Thanks, will have a look

 

[anat0l]

Don't tell me the webinar left out the part where it would be prudent to check award availability. That would be an egregious oversight.

FWIW it is possible to use AA miles to travel between Australia and the USA and it can be very good value (at least far cheaper than buying a commercial premium class ticket). I have done it myself before and assisted a few others in obtaining such award flights.

The key thing to understand is that your ability to fly on AA miles (or any miles / frequent flyer programme, for that matter) depends on award availability, which is not the same as just having a seat available for sale. Given that the Trans-Pacific market is notoriously popular for award redemptions (and also a good yield market for the airlines that fly it), it is difficult at times to find Business or First class seats on relevant sectors. Sometimes you'll have to fly indirect; e.g. if you were proposing to fly from Melbourne to Los Angeles, you may need to consider the option of flying via Sydney or Brisbane. If your ultimate destination is New York, you may want to consider flying via Dallas Fort Worth rather than Los Angeles.

You should also be prepared to be as flexible as possible with dates. There's a good reason for the maxim, "You do not plan your premium award travel around your vacation; you plan your vacation around your premium award travel." If you are thinking of travelling during known peak periods, the difficulty in finding award seats will naturally increase, usually non-linearly.

I would think most of these would have been covered in the webinar or the relevant Knowledge Centre modules.

Good luck and good hunting!

 

[Jo145]

Thanks, I have been hunting the AA website and they do seem to have flights available - I am looking at Dec/Jan 2015/16 and figure if I keep an eye out every week for new availability closer to the end of the year I might luck out!!. One more quick question - did you book via the website or over the phone? Thanks in advance!!

 

[markis10]

Don't tell me the webinar left out the part where it would be prudent to check award availability. That would be an egregious oversight.

Actually the scenario was discussed during the webinar with regard the North American routing to Aus and VV with a mention that the seats are hard to get but certainly not impossible. I note the Op talks about a webinar "summary"

 

[knasty]

Consider buying Alaska miles. Gives you the option of CX to US via HKG as well as QF.

 

[anat0l]

Thanks, I have been hunting the AA website and they do seem to have flights available - I am looking at Dec/Jan 2015/16 and figure if I keep an eye out every week for new availability closer to the end of the year I might luck out!!. One more quick question - did you book via the website or over the phone? Thanks in advance!!

That seems a bit too far out to see availability, so I'm surprised you can see seats during that time. (Award seats nominally are only made available approximately 330 days before departure; there are some variances). You're also considering travel during a known peak period.

If you see what you want (or even a decent plan B), if you have the points I would not hesitate! Remember you can always change or cancel your award, and with AA changes which do not affect the routing are normally free of charge. But in any case taking a hit from a change fee is better than having nothing at all - you're still ahead.

If you can book on the AA website you might as well do it that way. Otherwise, booking on the phone is also fine. I booked via phone.

Consider buying Alaska miles. Gives you the option of CX to US via HKG as well as QF.

This is also a good idea, if only that buying AS miles can be a bit quirky (unless you have a credit card in North America).

You should also use the JAL tool to check for CX availability.

 

[straitman]

Thanks - figured there would be a catch

There is always a catch:!:

We could not get what we wanted for BOS-MEL so we hopped to Paris and then used 80,000AA miles each to go CDG-LHR-MEL in F. Still need to book well aheD but there is better availability. Fly out of Paris and only transit LHR to avoid the horrendous UK taxes.

 

[Limewood]

I thought J OZ to USA return was about 120K AA points, but one can only buy less than that in one calendar year?.

 

[markis10]

I thought J OZ to USA return was about 120K AA points, but one can only buy less than that in one calendar year?.

OP is looking at a one way journey as per their post.

 

[amaroo]

I liked the look of buying AA points in multiply accounts and transferring to one/two accounts to enhance the annual cap......then I worked out that transfers between accounts are very, very expensive. One needs to do plenty of homework to ensure buying points is a good option.

 

[markis10]

I liked the look of buying AA points in multiply accounts and transferring to one/two accounts to enhance the annual cap......then I worked out that transfers between accounts are very, very expensive. One needs to do plenty of homework to ensure buying points is a good option.

Its not expensive at all when there is a share promo on

 

[amaroo]

Its not expensive at all when there is a share promo on

Lots of things to align.....

 

[Limewood]

Its not expensive at all when there is a share promo on

How often do they have that?.

 

[markis10]

How often do they have that?.

Often enough : http://www.australianfrequentflyer....airlines-aadvantage/aa-share-promo-60873.html

 

[amaroo]

Good timing on the thread - received email today offering discounts for buying miles https://buy.points.com/PointsPartne...?language=EN&product=BUY&CAMPAIGNCODE=IesumPE

IMO the bonus offers are better value but if you need them in a hurry..

 

[JohnK]

Its not expensive at all when there is a share promo on

Would that depend on one's definition of expensive?

The thread you posted quotes sharing miles at 3 cents per mile. That is not cheap.