Confirmed - AAdvantage now enforcing 4 segment rule for status

[TheBOSman]

AA codeshares on QF metal need to be in conjunction with an international ticket I believe.

Yes, this is the case. You can book something like MEL-SYD-LAX-SYD-MEL, all with AA flight numbers and on QF metal, but it has to go to or from the USA generally to get the AA flight number. Such an itinerary does count, however, towards the four segment minimum. You simply need four AA-coded segments, but don't have to actually lower yourself from QF to flying a plane with "American" or, worse yet, "US Airways" on the side .

 

[Kangol]

Yes, this is the case. You can book something like MEL-SYD-LAX-SYD-MEL, all with AA flight numbers and on QF metal, but it has to go to or from the USA generally to get the AA flight number. Such an itinerary does count, however, towards the four segment minimum. You simply need four AA-coded segments, but don't have to actually lower yourself from QF to flying a plane with "American" or, worse yet, "US Airways" on the side .

Yes, and for those who may not be sure - AA has to issue the ticket.
I haven't tried, but if time is not on your side, one idea is to book a flexible one way MEL-SYD-LAX, fly the first leg and not fly the second (and get it refunded). Depends how much you value - time or money.

 

[knasty]

Yes, and for those who may not be sure - AA has to issue the ticket.
I haven't tried, but if time is not on your side, one idea is to book a flexible one way MEL-SYD-LAX, fly the first leg and not fly the second (and get it refunded). Depends how much you value - time or money.

AA has to issue the ticket? I've not seen that mentioned anywhere.

 

[TomVexille]

I thought this was coming. They also got rid of the soft landing I believe.

 

[NM]

Cheapest and quickest option is probably to fly MEL-SYD-HNL return on AA codeshares operated by QF. But likely cheapest option will be V class unless you can find N or S class available.

 

[Kangol]

AA has to issue the ticket? I've not seen that mentioned anywhere.

I should have been specific; if you are booking a straight up QF one-way or return on QF metal with an AA flight number, QF will not be able to book you onto the AA codeshare - but AA will. That is what I mean by "AA has to issue the ticket" because QF won't. As for other OW partners I haven't tried.

The OW fares (ie xONEx, Circle Pacific, etc) are an exception.

 

[drron]

I guess it is another one I owe QF WP.He set me on the path to AA LTP.So no need for 4 sectors.just fly earn and redeem.Ah the serenity!

 

[knasty]

I should have been specific; if you are booking a straight up QF one-way or return on QF metal with an AA flight number, QF will not be able to book you onto the AA codeshare - but AA will. That is what I mean by "AA has to issue the ticket" because QF won't. As for other OW partners I haven't tried.

The OW fares (ie xONEx, Circle Pacific, etc) are an exception.

Right. I am thinking more of QF to LAX/DFW then AA onwards connections (x 4 at least).

 

[JohnK]

So you would need to visit the USA every year?

 

[TheBOSman]

So you would need to visit the USA every year?

Oh come on, we aren't that bad . But I speak only for myself, not CBP...

But yes, you'd have to visit the USA every year. I'm not aware of any fifth freedom routes on which AA has traffic rights between the two intermediate points at the current time.

 

[Danger]

I should have been specific; if you are booking a straight up QF one-way or return on QF metal with an AA flight number, QF will not be able to book you onto the AA codeshare - but AA will. That is what I mean by "AA has to issue the ticket" because QF won't. As for other OW partners I haven't tried.

The OW fares (ie xONEx, Circle Pacific, etc) are an exception.

I assume it's not possible to do this solely with Australian domestic flights. For example, if I phone AA it still wouldn't be possible to book PER-SYD-PER on the AA codeshares, correct?

 

[TheBOSman]

I assume it's not possible to do this solely with Australian domestic flights. For example, if I phone AA it still wouldn't be possible to book PER-SYD-PER on the AA codeshares, correct?

Correct, no AA codeshares on solely Australian domestic flights. They would have to be booked in conjunction with a ticket involving the USA in some form.

 

[TomVexille]

Oh come on, we aren't that bad . But I speak only for myself, not CBP...

But yes, you'd have to visit the USA every year. I'm not aware of any fifth freedom routes on which AA has traffic rights between the two intermediate points at the current time.

Great country to visit as well

 

[Kangol]

Correct, no AA codeshares on solely Australian domestic flights. They would have to be booked in conjunction with a ticket involving the USA in some form.

Yeah, like I mentioned you could try and book a flexible domestic flight connecting to an international flight all on AA codeshares, fly the first domestic leg only and then cancel it/don't fly to the US to get part of your money back - then again I haven't tried it so I can't comment on the validity. Yes, there are all the issues of customs, immigration and whatnot. If you are WP you could even visit the F lounge!

 

[v8Statesman]

Yeah, like I mentioned you could try and book a flexible domestic flight connecting to an international flight all on AA codeshares, fly the first domestic leg only and then cancel it/don't fly to the US to get part of your money back - then again I haven't tried it so I can't comment on the validity. Yes, there are all the issues of customs, immigration and whatnot. If you are WP you could even visit the F lounge!

I watch with eagerness to see if someone will try this. I don't need it personally. Have many AA sectors per year. But the Cheek of it makes me smile. I suspect you'd get away with it once. Maybe twice, but would catch on before you did it the required 4 times.

 

[colomboplan]

A little trick that's potentially useful for Aussies looking to meet the 4 segment requirement: AA may be able to switch codeshare flights on AA metal to their AA-coded equivalents.

AA have been able to do this for EY- and QR-issued tickets for me this year. Recently, I was flying CAI-DOH-JFK-LAX on QR ticket stock, and a kind (and competent) check-in agent at JFK had no issue with changing the JFK-LAX segment of my ticket to AA133 rather than the QR5102 codeshare I had originally ticketed.

 

[JohnK]

I watch with eagerness to see if someone will try this. I don't need it personally. Have many AA sectors per year. But the Cheek of it makes me smile. I suspect you'd get away with it once. Maybe twice, but would catch on before you did it the required 4 times.

Surely no one is going to go this far?

But then I didn't think anyone would purchase a fully flexible ticket to visit a business lounge and then cancel ticket on exit from lounge.

 

[TheBOSman]

I watch with eagerness to see if someone will try this. I don't need it personally. Have many AA sectors per year. But the Cheek of it makes me smile. I suspect you'd get away with it once. Maybe twice, but would catch on before you did it the required 4 times.

Well, if you could book something like PER-MEL-SYD-LAX, I have no idea if AA codeshares on both segments, but if so then you would only need two of those.

 

[Kangol]

Surely no one is going to go this far?

But then I didn't think anyone would purchase a fully flexible ticket to visit a business lounge and then cancel ticket on exit from lounge.

If they are actually needing to go MEL-SYD, or SYD-BNE, etc they can just do that domestic leg and without stepping foot in the international terminal, ring to cancel and go about their merry way...? That's kinda what I was referring to, not so much a status/squiggle run for the sole purpose of qualifying for AA status.

 

[TheBOSman]

Surely no one is going to go this far?

But then I didn't think anyone would purchase a fully flexible ticket to visit a business lounge and then cancel ticket on exit from lounge.

Or intentionally subject themselves to JQ purely to fly out of the international terminal and get QF F lounge access . I have no problems with JQ, but at only about 170 cm (5'7) with short legs, the pitch isn't the same issue that it is for quite a few.