ETIHAD - AA Partner

[Sethor]

Got the same issue with my AAdvantage award, can't select seats but I can book Chauffeur.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Through this thread the Doha connection gets mentioned a few times. Has anyone booked Europe-DOH-AUH-Aus combining QR and EY as one award? Technically it's routing through Doha on QR so *should* be allowed?!

I'm trying to book two F awards early next year back to Perth, but am limited to 180k miles max purchase - can't buy the 100k each required for EY F.

Availability into AU is close to non existent except early Jan except a rare QF flight. Decent EY 77w space into MEL though so through AUH looks to be best for my schedule...

 

[Nizar]

Through this thread the Doha connection gets mentioned a few times. Has anyone booked Europe-DOH-AUH-Aus combining QR and EY as one award? Technically it's routing through Doha on QR so *should* be allowed?!

I'm trying to book two F awards early next year back to Perth, but am limited to 180k miles max purchase - can't buy the 100k each required for EY F.

Availability into AU is close to non existent except early Jan except a rare QF flight. Decent EY 77w space into MEL though so through AUH looks to be best for my schedule...

I believe this will cost you 100k each I think for doha exception to apply DOH needs to be the sole connection point for both long hauls

 

[boomy]

Through this thread the Doha connection gets mentioned a few times. Has anyone booked Europe-DOH-AUH-Aus combining QR and EY as one award? Technically it's routing through Doha on QR so *should* be allowed?!

If you combine EY and QR it's two awards.
For one award you must travel QR all the way.

 

[Danger]

Through this thread the Doha connection gets mentioned a few times. Has anyone booked Europe-DOH-AUH-Aus combining QR and EY as one award? Technically it's routing through Doha on QR so *should* be allowed?!

I'm trying to book two F awards early next year back to Perth, but am limited to 180k miles max purchase - can't buy the 100k each required for EY F.

Availability into AU is close to non existent except early Jan except a rare QF flight. Decent EY 77w space into MEL though so through AUH looks to be best for my schedule...

I recently found the answer to this on FlyerTalk.

As noted for Europe to South Pacific via Middle East on the one award it needs to be QR connecting to QR or QF connecting to QF.

If you combine EY and QR it's two awards.

For one award you must travel QR all the way.

I may well be wrong but it may be possible for EY and QR to be one award, just not in this example (Europe-Middle East-South Pacific). For example, DEL-xAUH-xDOH-CDG. Maybe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I may well be wrong but it may be possible for EY and QR to be one award, just not in this example (Europe-Middle East-South Pacific). For example, DEL-xAUH-xDOH-CDG. Maybe.

If it meets any routing restrictions, would still depend if there is a published fare.

We tried AUH-MOW-LED EY/S7 (which is technically allowed as in 'partner->OW') but as no published fare it can't be ticketed as a single award.

 

[Lemon_Party]

OK - thanks for the guidance. I may have a quick attempt on the phone to see if it can sneak through, but otherwise its a toss up between J to AUH and F to MEL on EY for 180k AA miles, or F LHR to SYD with Qantas for 160k. If EY A380 space opens up I'm going for that, but can only see 777 at the moment.

 

[boomy]

OK - thanks for the guidance. I may have a quick attempt on the phone to see if it can sneak through, but otherwise its a toss up between J to AUH and F to MEL on EY for 180k AA miles, or F LHR to SYD with Qantas for 160k. If EY A380 space opens up I'm going for that, but can only see 777 at the moment.

Yea, I'd take EY J to AUH then F to MEL over QF F all the way if all travel done on A380.

 

[Franky]

This is a question, not a reply but am using this thread is it involves both AA and Etihad. Think we have been put thru the hoops for a couple of recent award bookings made thru AA for EY flights out and back from Perth. I have opened accounts in the names of my son, his wife, and their daughter and bought points on each. Made outbound bookings using the son's account, and the only hiccup was AAs requirement to use his CC to pay for the fees. Called them back with his details, all OK. About 10 days ago, tried to book the return flights using the daughter-in-laws account, had the booking made, but they advised that they would not only need her CC details, but needed to call her to confirm that she was happy for the points in her account to be used for the booking. Supplied her number, they never called, but later asked us to have her call them. When she did, she was put thru the normal identity checks, but they then asked that she supply both my and my wife's dates of birth, which are readily available on our own accounts. Eventually, finalisation was achieved, but the process seemed unnecessary and over the top. Different procedures were used for the two bookings for no apparent reason. Was concerned that the delay would result in these scarce seats being lost. Wont relax until the confirmation emails are received. Have others encountered this situation with bookings they have made?

 

[sergeyvzn]

This is a question, not a reply but am using this thread is it involves both AA and Etihad. Think we have been put thru the hoops for a couple of recent award bookings made thru AA for EY flights out and back from Perth. I have opened accounts in the names of my son, his wife, and their daughter and bought points on each. Made outbound bookings using the son's account, and the only hiccup was AAs requirement to use his CC to pay for the fees. Called them back with his details, all OK. About 10 days ago, tried to book the return flights using the daughter-in-laws account, had the booking made, but they advised that they would not only need her CC details, but needed to call her to confirm that she was happy for the points in her account to be used for the booking. Supplied her number, they never called, but later asked us to have her call them. When she did, she was put thru the normal identity checks, but they then asked that she supply both my and my wife's dates of birth, which are readily available on our own accounts. Eventually, finalisation was achieved, but the process seemed unnecessary and over the top. Different procedures were used for the two bookings for no apparent reason. Was concerned that the delay would result in these scarce seats being lost. Wont relax until the confirmation emails are received. Have others encountered this situation with bookings they have made?

Never. How odd!

I have booked flights on several occasions using my partners account saying I was him, no questions ever asked

 

[DC3]

In the past few months I have used my points and my cc, booking EY on AA miles. I've also have used another's points and cc at around the same time. No need for other to speak with them. All just went through without any further contact.

Not heard of this before.

Edit: I did not say that I was the other person. The AA account and the cc were in the same name anyway

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is a question, not a reply but am using this thread is it involves both AA and Etihad. Think we have been put thru the hoops for a couple of recent award bookings made thru AA for EY flights out and back from Perth. I have opened accounts in the names of my son, his wife, and their daughter and bought points on each. Made outbound bookings using the son's account, and the only hiccup was AAs requirement to use his CC to pay for the fees. Called them back with his details, all OK. About 10 days ago, tried to book the return flights using the daughter-in-laws account, had the booking made, but they advised that they would not only need her CC details, but needed to call her to confirm that she was happy for the points in her account to be used for the booking. Supplied her number, they never called, but later asked us to have her call them. When she did, she was put thru the normal identity checks, but they then asked that she supply both my and my wife's dates of birth, which are readily available on our own accounts. Eventually, finalisation was achieved, but the process seemed unnecessary and over the top. Different procedures were used for the two bookings for no apparent reason. Was concerned that the delay would result in these scarce seats being lost. Wont relax until the confirmation emails are received. Have others encountered this situation with bookings they have made?

AA prohibits the exchange or barter of points. This method is probably better than AA closing the accounts and auditing them.

On the face of it, buying tickets for someone else gives a good reason for AA to conduct such an audit.

FWIW, I have sometimes had AA (and other FF programs) request to speak to the account holder. This should be seen as a positive thing to help prevent account theft.

 

[alieninperth]

I had this issue booking flights for my father in law using pts in my account. I put the booking on hold gave permission for him to finalise the transaction and then he called up and paid taxes on his CC and the flight was ticketed. All very smooth and reasonable in my opinion.

 

[Franky]

Thank you all for your responses, not surprisingly there seems to be a variety of differing results across the board. In this day and age I have no issue with identity checks, however I believe our daughter in law was put thru a few hoops too many. It was also disappointing that had I not followed up 5 days after AAs statement that they would call her, to then be asked if she could now call them, I would probably still be waiting. As alieninperth points out above, his relative was able to use his own CC to pay for the flight booked on alien's account. Last year when I made our first bookings with AA, booking tickets for each of us on our own accounts, under no circumstances would they let me pay for the booking in my wife's name on her account. They never suggested that I go and get her from the kitchen to authorise this. Having said all that, I guess we will be better prepared for our next bookings. Thanks again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you all for your responses, not surprisingly there seems to be a variety of differing results across the board. In this day and age I have no issue with identity checks, however I believe our daughter in law was put thru a few hoops too many. It was also disappointing that had I not followed up 5 days after AAs statement that they would call her, to then be asked if she could now call them, I would probably still be waiting. As alieninperth points out above, his relative was able to use his own CC to pay for the flight booked on alien's account. Last year when I made our first bookings with AA, booking tickets for each of us on our own accounts, under no circumstances would they let me pay for the booking in my wife's name on her account. They never suggested that I go and get her from the kitchen to authorise this. Having said all that, I guess we will be better prepared for our next bookings. Thanks again.

Was your D-I-L travelling on the same flights as you? I'm not sure if I was able to work that out from your original post. If she was, maybe there was one step too many. If she wasn't the security seems spot on.

I wouldn't have waited 5 days for AA to call. Your seats could have been cancelled in that time. I'm guessing one of the indicators of a genuine purchase would be that the account holder would call back straight away (or very soon) to complete the purchase. Waiting five days might indicate they didn't authorise it.

 

[Franky]

No, wife and I are the only ones travelling. I opened accounts in the names of my son, his wife and their daughter last year as I had already bought my max points in our own names, and needed certainty for some more points for an upcoming conference/holiday in September this year. Take your point about the 5 days and genuine purchase, but they stated they would call her and it wasn't until I went back and expressed my concern about the seats still being available, they then asked that she call them, which I arranged as quickly as I could. It was eventually resolved (I hope), as they told her that the flights were now in the 'booking queue'. Again, appreciate your thoughts.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No, wife and I are the only ones travelling. I opened accounts in the names of my son, his wife and their daughter last year as I had already bought my max points in our own names, and needed certainty for some more points for an upcoming conference/holiday in September this year.

If you bought the points for your D-I-L's account, or if you have reimbursed you D-I-L for the miles she purchased you are almost certainly (either way) breaching the terms and conditions of AA. A couple of extra steps for security are a pretty small price to pay I would be keeping this well under the radar rather than complaining.

 

[DC3]

... It was eventually resolved (I hope), as they told her that the flights were now in the 'booking queue' ...

Good to see that it's all on track. I had to keep onto them to push the ticketing along, although it seems that the further out the flight dates, the longer it may take to ticket. The nearer ones take priority it seems.

 

[Franky]

If you bought the points for your D-I-L's account, or if you have reimbursed you D-I-L for the miles she purchased you are almost certainly (either way) breaching the terms and conditions of AA. A couple of extra steps for security are a pretty small price to pay I would be keeping this well under the radar rather than complaining.

Have to come to grips with the concept of bartering, exchanging, and gifting I guess. You mentioned previously that exchanging or bartering is prohibited, and gifting of points I assume would be not unlike a family transfer with QF for instance. An AA account also allows tickets to be purchased for other parties, which when you compare all of those options, they all seem to be the same but different if you know what I mean. As an aside, I haven't raised any concerns with AA, but thought that I would raise what we went thru as I hadn't seen it reported previously. Regards.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have to come to grips with the concept of bartering, exchanging, and gifting I guess. You mentioned previously that exchanging or bartering is prohibited, and gifting of points I assume would be not unlike a family transfer with QF for instance. An AA account also allows tickets to be purchased for other parties, which when you compare all of those options, they all seem to be the same but different if you know what I mean. As an aside, I haven't raised any concerns with AA, but thought that I would raise what we went thru as I hadn't seen it reported previously. Regards.

All those things you mention are indeed true.

But there is a catch-all condition in the AAdvantage terms which prohibits the abuse of the program. Opening accounts and buying miles to get around the personal annual limit of 150,000 miles may potentially be viewed as an abuse of the program.

Fraud, misrepresentation, abuse or violation of applicable rules (including, but not limited to, American or American Eagle conditions of carriage, tariffs and AAdvantage program rules) is subject to administrative and/or legal action by appropriate governmental authorities and American Airlines. Such action may include, without limitation, the forfeiture of all award tickets and any accrued mileage in a member's account, as well as cancellation of the account and the member's future participation in the AAdvantage program. In addition, American Airlines reserves the right to take appropriate legal action to recover damages, including its attorneys’ fees incurred in prosecuting any lawsuit.

and

Buy Miles and Gift Miles Program

Members may purchase for themselves or receive as a gift, a maximum combined total of 150,000 AAdvantage® miles in a calendar year.

There are undoubtedly plenty of people who breach the terms and conditions. AA probably doesn't catch (or care?) the vast majority of those. But if they do decide to investigate or audit, there may be little the account holder can do if they have exceeded the program limits.