I am considering joining AA so that I can transfer points from Amex through Starwood to AA. I believe once I transfer 2,000,000 points to AA, then I get lifetime AA Platinum status (sapphire).
My questions:
1. AA Platinum status is equal to Sapphire oneworld status, but it appears that this is not good enough for lounge access. On the Platinum PDF file I donwloaded from AA, it lists a benefit as:
"A discounted rate on Admirals Club Membership"
I would have expected lounge access to be complimentry. Qantas Gold (sapphire) can access Qantas and oneworld lounges when flying oneworld. So is it the case that AA Platinum does not provide complimentry lounge access?
(It says the same for AA Executive Platinum which is the highest status - Emarald)
2. I would like to hear from people who have booked AA reward tickets. Especially those who have booked (a) Qantas domestic flights and (b) flights from Australia to Asia. Was the process easy or difficult?
- Is it possible to book other carrier rewards (Qantas, Cathay Pacific etc) online? Or does it need to be done by phone? If has to be done by phone, is it possible to see availability online? Do you call AU or US number?
- AA have a policy which really doesn't suit me well of charging a $50 fee if booking a reward ticket less than 21 days or $100 fee if you book even closer (7 days??). For a Qantas domestic ticket, this fee is more than the fuel surcharge fee. 21 days is a long time.
3. Is it possible to achieve lifetime AA Executive Platinum by accumulating a certain number of points (eg. 3,000,000) ??
- Furthermore, do AA provide information about lifetime status through points anywhere? I can't find it on their website. I have read on a forum that AA do not, and that they may change it at any time. Any opinion on this?
All in all, AA does not seem as attractive as it first seemed. Whilst they don't charge fuel surcharges on award tickets, they charge a hefty booking fee if you book within 21 days (I nearly always do this). Further, it seems their highest status and second highest status is not equivalent to Qantas highest status and second highest status as it does not provide complimentry lounge acccess. And whilst I am not sure, it seems that it may not be possible to book oneworld flights (eg. Australia - Hong Kong) online.
I look forward to having my questions answered and hearing from anyone who has experience with redeeming AA reward flights.
My questions:
1. AA Platinum status is equal to Sapphire oneworld status, but it appears that this is not good enough for lounge access. On the Platinum PDF file I donwloaded from AA, it lists a benefit as:
"A discounted rate on Admirals Club Membership"
I would have expected lounge access to be complimentry. Qantas Gold (sapphire) can access Qantas and oneworld lounges when flying oneworld. So is it the case that AA Platinum does not provide complimentry lounge access?
(It says the same for AA Executive Platinum which is the highest status - Emarald)
2. I would like to hear from people who have booked AA reward tickets. Especially those who have booked (a) Qantas domestic flights and (b) flights from Australia to Asia. Was the process easy or difficult?
- Is it possible to book other carrier rewards (Qantas, Cathay Pacific etc) online? Or does it need to be done by phone? If has to be done by phone, is it possible to see availability online? Do you call AU or US number?
- AA have a policy which really doesn't suit me well of charging a $50 fee if booking a reward ticket less than 21 days or $100 fee if you book even closer (7 days??). For a Qantas domestic ticket, this fee is more than the fuel surcharge fee. 21 days is a long time.
3. Is it possible to achieve lifetime AA Executive Platinum by accumulating a certain number of points (eg. 3,000,000) ??
- Furthermore, do AA provide information about lifetime status through points anywhere? I can't find it on their website. I have read on a forum that AA do not, and that they may change it at any time. Any opinion on this?
All in all, AA does not seem as attractive as it first seemed. Whilst they don't charge fuel surcharges on award tickets, they charge a hefty booking fee if you book within 21 days (I nearly always do this). Further, it seems their highest status and second highest status is not equivalent to Qantas highest status and second highest status as it does not provide complimentry lounge acccess. And whilst I am not sure, it seems that it may not be possible to book oneworld flights (eg. Australia - Hong Kong) online.
I look forward to having my questions answered and hearing from anyone who has experience with redeeming AA reward flights.