Can I upgrade with QF but earn Status with AA ??

[JamieB]

I hope someone can shed light light on the following subject.

I am flying with QF SYD-HNL-LAX and LAX-SYD in two weeks time, the fare class is V class and I would like to request an upgrade with points.
I don't need the SC with QF as I will just lose them in a couple of months so I wanted to do the AA challange.
How do I go about registering for an upgrade with Qantas and registering with AA so the flights can be credited with them??

If anyone has any suggestions it would be much appreciated.

 

[Alan in CBR]

Hmm, tricky.

I'll start the ball rolling, and I'm sure more knowledgable posters will be along soon.

Only way I can see to do this:
1. Put QF number in booking and request upgrade.
2. At check-in, if upgrade has come through (or not, depending on the issue below), ask them to take out your QF FF number and add your AA FF number.

Here's where my knowledge of QF upgrades lets me down. From memory upgrades are cleared the night before the flight. Is that right? If so, no further steps are necessary. If not, and there is a chance of an upgrade after check-in, then we need a step 3:

3. Once you've given up hope of the upgrade coming through, go to the Qantas Club counter and ask them to swap FF numbers and reprint Boarding Pass.

How's that sound?

Be aware that QF FF numbers can be quite "sticky", and the points may end up in your QF account. That's why it is important to have the AA FF number on the boarding pass - it will still be a pain to have it sorted out, but at least it will be clear that you are not trying to double-dip.

 

[chrisb]

That's why it is important to have the AA FF number on the boarding pass - it will still be a pain to have it sorted out, but at least it will be clear that you are not trying to double-dip.

I've done what "Alan in CBR" said and it worked fine (I even got the upgrade!). Note what he said about the FF number on the Boarding Pass - Mine all posted fine, but if you don't have a BP with your AA number on it by the time you board the plane then you're going to have issues. That said, i've never had any issues getting QF to change my FF number for me post checkin.

Actually, i was quite surprised that last time i got QF to change from my QF to AA FF number after checkin my AA status appeared on the BP.

Alan, as for upgrade timing, mine came through about 18 hours before the flight and appear in the QF booking system first as a waitlist Business and then a confirmed business. However, the load on the flight was very low. (SYD-LAX and i ended up in business with skybed and with an empty seat next to me)

Chrisb.

PS. I have also upgraded a domestic BP in the QC that had an AA number printed on it using my QF FF card. No problems, everything posted properly to AA.

 

[QF WP]

Yes, I did it on my recent trip with my wife...I upgraded us both on QF175 & QF26, she credited QF flights to AA. As alain in CBR says, once QF have allocated the upgrades, they take the points from your QFF account. Once that is done, then ring up QF and ask them to put in your AA number. Alternatively, get check-in CSA to do it and confirm.

Just expect that that AA won't automatically credit the QF flights, because they will probably be advised by the QF system that the flight was in U class (if you get the upgrade). You'll have to manually send copies of ticket [paper or electronic) and BP's to:

American Airlines AAdvantage Department
P O Box 619688
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9688

or fax to: + 1 817 963 7882

(as I'm doing today for my wife's flights QF175 and QF26 which didn't auto-credit).

 

[chrisb]

Just expect that that AA won't automatically credit the QF flights, because they will probably be advised by the QF system that the flight was in U class (if you get the upgrade). You'll have to manually send copies of ticket [paper or electronic) and BP's to:

Or they'll credit as J class. 8)

 

[QF WP]

No such luck,the QF system will show them as U class - the problem is that it doesn't acknowledge that they were originally in V class (as in the case of the OP). That's why the rigmarole of sending tickets & BP's