Can't use Australian credit card for AA reward booking

[Nick C.]

Has anyone had this problem?

I tried to book a reward seat on Aadvantage. The small cash fee (about $15) needs to be paid so I enter my credit card details.

You need to select "billing address" so I try to select Australia. It says I need to make the booking on the AA Australia website. But the reward bookings are only on the US website.

Anyway around this?

 

[I love to travel]

Yes put in us address and zip code. Pick a hotel iaddress in the us and all will be fine.

 

[Growing Older]

You can also call AA and pay over the phone, using an AU credit card. Your reward booking will be in a pending state, so just take note of the booking reference, quote that to the phone operator and all is done. AA customer service staff have been pleasant and competent every time that I have done this - if only QF would outsource to AA!

 

[drron]

I always put in my Australian address but add a zero to my postcode. it becomes 04551 which is in maine so put that as my state. has worked for over 15 years now.

 

[bam71]

Same - apparently i live in Kentucky for AA

 

[cjd600]

I'm sure someone will wade in with El Segundo

 

[NM]

I always put in my Australian address but add a zero to my postcode. it becomes 04551 which is in maine so put that as my state. has worked for over 15 years now.

This is exactly what I do. I believe this is the best approach rather than using a false address. Use the correct address and Australian post code with a leading zero to make up the 5 numbers that the computer is expecting to see in that field.

 

[SYD]

This is exactly what I do. I believe this is the best approach rather than using a false address. Use the correct address and Australian post code with a leading zero to make up the 5 numbers that the computer is expecting to see in that field.

This is one of those déjà-vu threads that comes up every 6 mths or so. The other is AA.com vs AA.com.au (gouging).

On my last booking, we resorted to using a friends address in Chicago (we’re flying ORD-BOS). The zero in front of postcode didn’t work but I’ve used that method in the past. I’ve also used a suburb name in the US the same as mine… As well as El Segundo!

I have no problem using a hotel address. In fact, we’ve probably all got some random Hotel in our ESTAs that doesn’t get updated even though we may have flown to the US multiple times on the same ESTA…

 

[Nick C.]

Thanks all, I got it to work by using a US address.

 

[justinbrett]

I always put in my Australian address but add a zero to my postcode. it becomes 04551 which is in maine so put that as my state. has worked for over 15 years now.

That works for gas stations too where you have to prepay (for AMEX at least).

 

[SYD]

That works for gas stations too where you have to prepay (for AMEX at least).

All zeros used to work at some. Staying OT, but I had no drama with Chevron servos. Inserted my 28° MC no drama.

 

[justinbrett]

All zeros used to work at some. Staying OT, but I had no drama with Chevron servos. Inserted my 28° MC no drama.

I think it depends on the bank & card.

My HSBC Visa doesn’t work at any of those gas stations. My AMEX is great.

 

[SYD]

I think it depends on the bank & card.

My HSBC Visa doesn’t work at any of those gas stations. My AMEX is great.

“76” was a PITA. They wouldn’t even take an authorisation - wanted to know how much I wanted to put in (just before I was returning a rental…). Found another Chevron nearby…

 

[MrShhh]

Is the AA site for reward redemptions even extra glitchy the last few days?

 

[trendwhore]

Is the AA site for reward redemptions even extra glitchy the last few days?

Just tried to check.. no fares displayed ever. Always with an error

 

[jastel]

Booked an AA fare yesterday as a nobody so I could put in my Qantas Gold number.
My Aust MC didnt work but my Amex did. (its only a basic one too)
No fudging address needed.

 

[dpfarce]

Booked an AA fare yesterday as a nobody so I could put in my Qantas Gold number.
My Aust MC didnt work but my Amex did. (its only a basic one too)
No fudging address needed.

Was this just a typical revenue fare on aa.com? You just put your aus details even though you selected USA as country of residence?

This would greatly simplify the process for me if it works like this!

 

[Lynda2475]

You can also call AA and pay over the phone, using an AU credit card. Your reward booking will be in a pending state, so just take note of the booking reference, quote that to the phone operator and all is done. AA customer service staff have been pleasant and competent every time that I have done this - if only QF would outsource to AA!

This is best way, as it then has your correct Australian contact details. Generally no wait time and be sure to state you want to be charged in USD.

 

[dpfarce]

Just to clarify - I am not talking about reward bookings, but full revenue fare/cash/not sure what they are called/the normal way to buy tickets for plebs like me.

Can I read the itinerary out over the phone and have them piece it together? I am importing an itinerary via matrix and I can't seem to get it to import to the AU site, only the US site.

 

[Lynda2475]

Don't use the .au it costs more.

Use the US site, save the itinerary when ready to pay, it will give you the pnr. Then call up AA (Aussie number) quote the pnr and say you want to pay over the phone in U SD. They will then update your Aussie address onto to the booking, take payment via Aussie credit card and issue the e-ticket.