Help needed booking AA rewards flight

[Pollywaffle]

Hi all.

The aim is to fly business SYD-NYC one way in mid-December 2013 - yes 2013. I understand I can book 331 days out at the earliest but given I am somewhat confused with the AA rewards system, I would like to know what the process involves before starting.

1. Using this chart https://www.americanairlines.com.au/i18n/disclaimers/aadvantageAllPartnerChart.jsp#1 I understand I need 62.5K points to travel SYD to the coast USA PLUS 25K points for the West Coast to NYC. Correct?

2. Given travel commences outside the US, I cannot do this booking online need to call AA Reservations on +61 7 3329-6060

3. How do I know what flights are eligible and what options I may be given? For example, I don't want to fly an airline that does not have a proper business product. I am worried that with all the info I will be bombarded with I will make the wrong choice if I have not prepped beforehand.

4. Or, have I got it all wrong? In which case, educate me, please.

As for points, I currently have 55K which I bought in 2012 (40k max buy per annum + 15K bonus). I will be buying extra points to top up as required and yes, I have seen the thread about being able to buy up to 60K max in 2012. This means I can buy another 20K+10k bonus in 2012.

Thanks, pollywaffle.

 

[Hvr]

Hi all.

The aim is to fly business SYD-NYC one way in mid-December 2013 - yes 2013. I understand I can book 331 days out at the earliest but given I am somewhat confused with the AA rewards system, I would like to know what the process involves before starting.

1. Using this chart https://www.americanairlines.com.au/i18n/disclaimers/aadvantageAllPartnerChart.jsp#1 I understand I need 62.5K points to travel SYD to the coast USA PLUS 25K points for the West Coast to NYC. Correct?

<snip>

Thanks, pollywaffle.

Actually AA is a region to region redemption model so as long as there isn't a stop >24 hours you can go all the way from SYD-JFK for 62.5k AA points. This would probably require you take the QFi flight from SYD-LAX and then transfer to an AA flight for the trip to JFK/LGA.

Alternatively you might choose the QFi flight SYD-DFW and then transfer to an AA flight for the trip to JFK/LGA.

Either way you will be on a real business seat for the majority of the journey.

As I've mentioned elsewhere have the flights and dates you desire all written out beforehand and some alternatives and contact AA as soon as you possibly can.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Actually AA is a region to region redemption model so as long as there isn't a stop >24 hours you can go all the way from SYD-JFK for 62.5k AA points.

Interesting. I did not know this.

I will make a short list of flights once I decide on the dates.

 

[grussellt]

Hi all.



2. Given travel commences outside the US, I cannot do this booking online need to call AA Reservations on +61 7 3329-6060

You should call the AAdvantage number on 1-800-882-8880. If you use G-mail (phone) it's a free call so you won't need to worry about holding-on if there is a wait.

 

[futaris]

Good luck getting availability transpacific in Business. They tend to be snapped up by QFF members before the AAdvantage members even have access.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Tagging along on this thread :
I would like to take advantage of the stopover at entry point on a J Mile Saver award.
Can I book eg. SYD-LAX-MIA at 331 days out and then later change the date of LAX-MIA making LAX a stopover rather than a transit ? Don't mind a change fee if its possible.
Obviously I can just wait until the booking engine loads LAX-MIA for my dates and then book the entire trip with the risk that there will then be no availability LAX-SYD
Any thoughts on the best way to do this appreciated.
I have also thought about using the 150K J One World Award as that vastly increases routes ex-SYD but can't see a way to hold seats on the outbound as soon as released. The entire trip will be 8-10 weeks late Nov until end Jan/early Feb next year

 

[DC3]

Tagging along on this thread :
I would like to take advantage of the stopover at entry point on a J Mile Saver award ....

This may help:

Making Award Reservations


Maybe the fee is payable if there's a routing change, and no fee for a date change. I've done a routing change and there was a fee. Never done a simple date change on it's own.

 

[DC3]

Found this on FT from last year:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Assistance & Discussion (consolidated)

"If you see award tickets for dates you want to fly, put them on hold immediately. AA still permits free date and time changes, so go ahead and book them ..... "

Might be of some help.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Found this on FT from last year:

FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Assistance & Discussion (consolidated)

"If you see award tickets for dates you want to fly, put them on hold immediately. AA still permits free date and time changes, so go ahead and book them ..... "

Might be of some help.

Thankyou that post is pretty reassuring !

 

[MrJetset]

Thankyou that post is pretty reassuring !

Beware of the hold and ensure you confirm it prior to its expiration. I had an AA redemption on EY that was on hold, and failed to ticket on time. I lost the reservation and the inventory never returned.

 

[scheps]

how about cancellation? you get you points but lose your tax?

 

[Kangol]

Tagging along on this thread :
I would like to take advantage of the stopover at entry point on a J Mile Saver award.
Can I book eg. SYD-LAX-MIA at 331 days out and then later change the date of LAX-MIA making LAX a stopover rather than a transit ? Don't mind a change fee if its possible.
Obviously I can just wait until the booking engine loads LAX-MIA for my dates and then book the entire trip with the risk that there will then be no availability LAX-SYD
Any thoughts on the best way to do this appreciated.
I have also thought about using the 150K J One World Award as that vastly increases routes ex-SYD but can't see a way to hold seats on the outbound as soon as released. The entire trip will be 8-10 weeks late Nov until end Jan/early Feb next year

How did you go with this, or is it still too early to find out?
I'm in a similar position and want to potentially do the same thing..
Surely you would need to have same award inventory availability before you request a date and time change - has anyone had any experience with the above?

 

[Princess Fiona]

How did you go with this, or is it still too early to find out?
I'm in a similar position and want to potentially do the same thing..
Surely you would need to have same award inventory availability before you request a date and time change - has anyone had any experience with the above?

Managed it very easily. Set up Expert Flyer Alerts for awards on the dates I wanted. I booked NRT-xLAX-ORD-MIA as an F MilesAAver. I didn't want the LAX-ORD-MIA on that route or date but I booked them as there was availability at the time. I have now phoned up and changed it to NRT-xLAX-MIA (AA1520 3 class ) No fees, done in 5 minutes

 

[drron]

Just for the OP.Awards on AA for J in december are now up to December 18.Any award on QF is snapped up very quickly.Just remember that 1700 in SYD is midnight in DFW so new awards appear early to late evenings.
You can book online.At present only J awards to the US are with Hawaian airlines in December.You need to be looking constantly.
There is an alternative and that is to fly via NRT.On 18/12 AA has a J award on QF to NRT and very good F or J availability to the US from there.This however would take 2 awards-45K to NRT and 50K in J or 62.5K in F from NRT to the US.If you go this way book the QF flight to NRT first if you have not got enough points as that is less likely to be available with time than the awards to the US.

 

[Kangol]

Managed it very easily. Set up Expert Flyer Alerts for awards on the dates I wanted. I booked NRT-xLAX-ORD-MIA as an F MilesAAver. I didn't want the LAX-ORD-MIA on that route or date but I booked them as there was availability at the time. I have now phoned up and changed it to NRT-xLAX-MIA (AA1520 3 class ) No fees, done in 5 minutes

Awesome, so just to be clear - your new booking has a transit at LAX (not a stopover)? I was under the impression that "x" before an airport means transit and "o" means stopover and if neither are mentioned, then it means stopover?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Awesome, so just to be clear - your new booking has a transit at LAX (not a stopover)? I was under the impression that "x" before an airport means transit and "o" means stopover and if neither are mentioned, then it means stopover?

My rookie mistake, LAX is a 10 day stopover
LAX is a free stopover as its the entry point to North America. The LAX-MIA is included as part of an F MilesAAver Asia 2 to North America HKG-NRT-LAX-MIA
Hoping to take advantage of a stopover in YVR on the return