Cathay Pacific Using AA miles

[avaction]

Has anyone booked on Cathay using AA miles, is it a simple process. I am looking at one way from Manchester (UK) to Sydney in April 2015 in business class. By looking at the Qantas FF booking site have found available seats on CX252 (Manchester to Hong Kong) & CX139 (Hong Kong to Sydney) but these do not show up in searches on the AA site.

Any advice for this newbie is welcomed.

 

[markis10]

You cannot book CX online, need to ring.

 

[auriga]

Cathay flights have to be booked via the phone. They won't show up on the AA site.

 

[Nizar]

Guys does anyone know a ballpark figure for what the cash component would be for mel-hkg on CX J one way per person ? Are we talking <A$100 ?

I'm tossing up between mel-hkg on CX J or doing mel-syd on QF J then syd-sin on BA F then sin-hkg on CX F but the latter three flights would have taxes probably approaching A$400 per person.
Ultimately trying to do mel-hkg-jfk then lax-mel.

So just gotta toss up SYD F lounge and trying out BA F versus the more direct route. For a small premium I would probably go the BA method so I can try the lounge plus another F. What are peoples thoughts on whether I should be flying CX J or BA F plus syd F lounge ?

I'm not fussed on not flying CX F to hkg because the long haul hkg-jfk will be on that product anyway but the sin-hkg would have been 744 CX F so would be nice to be in the nose before that product becomes completely extinct in one or two years.

Thoughts ?
Cheers

 

[seritonin]

Guys does anyone know a ballpark figure for what the cash component would be for mel-hkg on CX J one way per person ? Are we talking <A$100 ?

I'm tossing up between mel-hkg on CX J or doing mel-syd on QF J then syd-sin on BA F then sin-hkg on CX F but the latter three flights would have taxes probably approaching A$400 per person.
Ultimately trying to do mel-hkg-jfk then lax-mel.

So just gotta toss up SYD F lounge and trying out BA F versus the more direct route. For a small premium I would probably go the BA method so I can try the lounge plus another F. What are peoples thoughts on whether I should be flying CX J or BA F plus syd F lounge ?

I'm not fussed on not flying CX F to hkg because the long haul hkg-jfk will be on that product anyway but the sin-hkg would have been 744 CX F so would be nice to be in the nose before that product becomes completely extinct in one or two years.

Thoughts ?
Cheers

Just do a dummy booking on Cathay pacific website , the cash component will be the same as tax in the breakdown of the fare...

 

[Major]

Has anyone booked on Cathay using AA miles, is it a simple process. I am looking at one way from Manchester (UK) to Sydney in April 2015 in business class. By looking at the Qantas FF booking site have found available seats on CX252 (Manchester to Hong Kong) & CX139 (Hong Kong to Sydney) but these do not show up in searches on the AA site.

Any advice for this newbie is welcomed.

I have booked CX flights using AA miles. As others have said it's by phone and is easy.

Have other flight options ready if your 1st choice isn't available.

After the flights were ticketed I rang the local CX number and arranged seats

 

[Nizar]

Just do a dummy booking on Cathay pacific website , the cash component will be the same as tax in the breakdown of the fare...

I did as you suggested and did a dummy booking for one way mel-hkg for one pax for the date that I would want to redeem the miles, and this is what I got.

Total fare 779.52 AUD.
Base fare 580 AUD.
Carrier surcharges 123.50 AUD.
Taxes 76.02 AUD.

So with AA the cash component would be just 76.02 or would it be 199.52 (carrier surcharges + taxes) ?
Or do CX not impose carrier surcharges for AA miles redemptions ?

Thanks

 

[Isochronous]

Guys does anyone know a ballpark figure for what the cash component would be for mel-hkg on CX J one way per person ? Are we talking <A$100 ?

I'm tossing up between mel-hkg on CX J or doing mel-syd on QF J then syd-sin on BA F then sin-hkg on CX F but the latter three flights would have taxes probably approaching A$400 per person.
Ultimately trying to do mel-hkg-jfk then lax-mel.

So just gotta toss up SYD F lounge and trying out BA F versus the more direct route. For a small premium I would probably go the BA method so I can try the lounge plus another F. What are peoples thoughts on whether I should be flying CX J or BA F plus syd F lounge ?

I'm not fussed on not flying CX F to hkg because the long haul hkg-jfk will be on that product anyway but the sin-hkg would have been 744 CX F so would be nice to be in the nose before that product becomes completely extinct in one or two years.

Thoughts ?
Cheers

CX is infamous for last minute equipment switches on HKG-SIN services, which often results in F bookings being involuntarily downgraded to J.

 

[seritonin]

I did as you suggested and did a dummy booking for one way mel-hkg for one pax for the date that I would want to redeem the miles, and this is what I got.

Total fare 779.52 AUD.
Base fare 580 AUD.
Carrier surcharges 123.50 AUD.
Taxes 76.02 AUD.

So with AA the cash component would be just 76.02 or would it be 199.52 (carrier surcharges + taxes) ?
Or do CX not impose carrier surcharges for AA miles redemptions ?

Thanks

No carrier surcharge, just taxes $76.02 + $25 booking fee ( waived if u are EP)

 

[markis10]

No carrier surcharge, just taxes $76.02 + $25 booking fee ( waived if u are EP)

+$75 if travelling in under three weeks.

 

[Kangol]

No carrier surcharge, just taxes $76.02 + $25 booking fee ( waived if u are EP)

+$75 if travelling in under three weeks.

It's changed. See underlined text.

Q:

Are there any charges associated with tickets issued by reservations offices, airport locations or American Airlines Travel Centers?

A:

American Airlines Reservations $25 for travel within the U.S. $35 for international travel American Airlines Airport Ticket Counter And Admirals Club $35 for travel within the U.S. $45 for international travel American Airlines Travel Center A $35 USD charge applies Due to government and market requirements, a higher charge may be charged in Colombia This charge does not apply to: Involuntary changes Reissued tickets AAdvantage Executive Platinum members when the member is traveling on either a revenue or award ticket. The service charge will not apply to any passenger booked in the same reservation as the AAdvantage Executive Platinum member. AAdvantage award tickets issued within 21 days of travel and an expedite charge is collected. AAirpass tickets Government/military fare tickets Prepaid tickets

http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/FAQs/reservations/TicketingOptions.jsp#fees

 

[turtlemichael]

I have booked CX flights using AA miles. As others have said it's by phone and is easy.

Have other flight options ready if your 1st choice isn't available.

After the flights were ticketed I rang the local CX number and arranged seats

How did you handle the credit card aspect?

 

[markis10]

It's changed. See underlined text.



http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/FAQs/reservations/TicketingOptions.jsp#fees

No change:

AAdvantage Award Processing $75 For tickets issued 20 days to 2 hours prior to departure. AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, AAdvantage®® Platinum and AAdvantage® Gold members are exempt from this charge if they are using AAdvantage miles from their own account.

The link your referencing to says no phone booking fee if you get charged the AA fee for award processing expedited, which is why I said $75 and not $110

https://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/aacom_services_charges.jsp

 

[Kangol]

No change:

AAdvantage Award Processing $75 For tickets issued 20 days to 2 hours prior to departure. AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, AAdvantage®® Platinum and AAdvantage® Gold members are exempt from this charge if they are using AAdvantage miles from their own account.

The link your referencing to says no phone booking fee if you get charged the AA fee for award processing expedited, which is why I said $75 and not $110

https://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/aacom_services_charges.jsp

I was referring to the $25/35 change. That has changed.

I also took your post as +$75 in addition to your quoted text (ie "taxes + $25" + $75), which is a reasonable interpretation given you included the "+$25".
Anyway, no big deal.

 

[markis10]

I was referring to the $25/35 change. That has changed.

I also took your post as +$75 in addition to your quoted text (ie "taxes + $25" + $75), which is a reasonable interpretation given you included the "+$25".
Anyway, no big deal.

No worries - all those $$ extra are a big deal!

 

[Major]

How did you handle the credit card aspect?

I gave them the number over the phone...no problems

 

[jayday13]

I am in hospital in Amsterdam recovering from a hip replacement after a fall here (thats another story) and need to get home to BNE asap. I called the AA US number and a very helpful agent got me 2 seats J class in 2 days time may 19th on BA to LHR connecting with CX to HKG and on to BNE. I was really happy with this but then we had the Aussie CC problem... She tried everything but to no avail and told me I needed to call the Australian number in sydney 0291011948 to get it ticketed. (this is the new number apparently). I called and after explaining everything she got it together and quoted me a lower price than the US agent. She processed CC no problem but then said their is a additional charge for something (i couldnt understand her and the pain meds were kicking in) so i just said fine, do it. Anyway I got the email confirmation and it is ticketed and the taxes/fees total A$180 per person. I will wait and see if anything else appears on my CC statement. Just want to get home now!

 

[Paddy55]

I am in hospital in Amsterdam recovering from a hip replacement after a fall here (thats another story) and need to get home to BNE asap. I called the AA US number and a very helpful agent got me 2 seats J class in 2 days time may 19th on BA to LHR connecting with CX to HKG and on to BNE. I was really happy with this but then we had the Aussie CC problem... She tried everything but to no avail and told me I needed to call the Australian number in sydney 0291011948 to get it ticketed. (this is the new number apparently). I called and after explaining everything she got it together and quoted me a lower price than the US agent. She processed CC no problem but then said their is a additional charge for something (i couldnt understand her and the pain meds were kicking in) so i just said fine, do it. Anyway I got the email confirmation and it is ticketed and the taxes/fees total A$180 per person. I will wait and see if anything else appears on my CC statement. Just want to get home now!

Sounds like good Customer Service.
Hop all is well with your travel home

 

[JohnK]

I have been trying to get business flights SYD/BNE-BKK/HKG in November on CX using AA miles and there is no availability. Can get economy flights on the dates I want but didn't want to waste the AA miles on an economy redemption.

 

[knightman7]

Really? That's strange. Normally November should have plenty of availability SYD - HKG in CX J, especially this far out. I just snagged a seat for Tuesday on that route yesterday using QF points.