Long-range AAdvantage booking questions

[twiningb]

I have a tidy stack of AAdvantage miles from a few years ago when I did a lot of business travel and someone on FlyerTalk (who I think was Australian and may well also post here) recommended I would do better crediting to AAdvantage. I hit Platinum using a status challenge, and when more travel happened I added an extra personal trip to get to Exec Plat for a year; the systemwides were very useful.

Anyway, I'm planning to liquidate some miles for my fortieth birthday next year and the missus wants to go back to Japan (where we honeymooned) because it's a decent distance but with minimal jetlag. AAdvantage is by far the cheapest for this route, at 40k in business one-way. I managed to lock in MEL-SYD-NRT on QF/JL for the outbound (the phone agent was very helpful), and the inbound has availability on CX KIX-HKG-MEL but it's still a couple of days from being visible on the calendar for AA.

So, some questions for anyone with extensive booking experience at AAdvantage:

• A search turns up KIX-HKG and HKG-MEL separately but not together. The layover would be overnight but less than 24 hours. This should be bookable as a single award, right?
• Can a phone agent at AA see the CX availability on CX's calendar and book it, even if AA's booking engine isn't up to that date yet? I suspect not, but if so I'll call today.
• Can I get someone at AA to hold the first leg when that day becomes bookable, then add the second leg and ticket the next day? Or will they not be able to construct that properly? I have sufficient miles in my account already.

 

[Danger]

Cathay applies married segment logic which is why you can't see KIX-xHKG-MEL on the one ticket. Just like the fact not all oneworld airlines necessarily see the same award availability, I'm not convinced that married segment rules apply equally across carriers. However, expect that it does and even though there is availability on the two standalone flights, don't expect AA to be able to book it as a single award. If married segment logic is applied, it becomes two awards, regardless of time between flights. If this is the case, consider other routings (noting that AA has its own rules pertaining to how a single award can be constructed).

No. AA's calendar on and offline is 11 months.

Yes. AA allows seven (or maybe six) day courtesy holds for no charge. Note, though, if married segment comes into it, you'll still going to be up for two awards.

See here for the definitive guide to AAdvantage: Wiki - A couple of questions from an AAdvantage newbie.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's not always the case that QF's booking tool is intuitive and in many cases the only way to get QF to show multiple segments to form an itinerary is if I use the multi city tool. While CX does have married segments, I'm not sure I've see it except for revenue bookings? And that's a result of CX offering much cheaper fares for origins outside of HKG (ex TPE, ICN, BKK etc can be a lot cheaper with 'I' class fares than originating in HKG).

I have never had an issue combing muti sectors on award bookings originating in Australia or anywhere in Asia. If it shows on QF then AA should also be able to book it provided it's not phantom (subject to the overriding AA terms and conditions regarding routing etc).

QF won't even show MEL-PER-SIN as an option unless you use multi-city, but that doesn't mean they are married segments for example.

 

[potm]

Have you considered JAL, they fly between MEL-NRT and available is usually very good.

 

[twiningb]

Thanks all.

@Danger, @MEL_Traveller: I've managed to place the KIX-HKG sector on hold and will see tomorrow if I can add HKG-MEL.

@potm: Thanks, yes, we're doing JAL on the outbound via SYD, and their availability is generally good although they have a shorter calendar so I won't know for another day or two whether the right dates for the return are available. I'd be very happy for an afternoon or overnight in HKG, though, if Cathay comes through.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks all.

@Danger, @MEL_Traveller: I've managed to place the KIX-HKG sector on hold and will see tomorrow if I can add HKG-MEL.

You booked this through the AA call centre... they weren't able to book the through flight?

 

[Danger]

It's not always the case that QF's booking tool is intuitive and in many cases the only way to get QF to show multiple segments to form an itinerary is if I use the multi city tool.

Using the multi city function overrides married segment logic, but only to the point of being able to select a seat. Once you proceed to the booking stage married segment is recognised and it errors out. For example, I've recently looked at an award ticket on Finnair from BKK to CDG via HEL. Searching O&D gave me donuts but when I used the MC tool for two separate flights, I could get seats. However, try to book them and it's game over.

While CX does have married segments, I'm not sure I've see it except for revenue bookings? And that's a result of CX offering much cheaper fares for origins outside of HKG (ex TPE, ICN, BKK etc can be a lot cheaper with 'I' class fares than originating in HKG).

I've struck married segments with CX award tickets several times. In fact, since writing my original post here I've recalled a situation coming on three years ago when I was able to place a CX award on hold with AA that QF wasn't able to book, alleging married segments.

I have never had an issue combing muti sectors on award bookings originating in Australia or anywhere in Asia. If it shows on QF then AA should also be able to book it provided it's not phantom (subject to the overriding AA terms and conditions regarding routing etc).

Not all airlines always see the same award availability, however. Also, I think phantom availability on AA has been limited to QF seats but I'm not certain.

You booked this through the AA call centre... they weren't able to book the through flight?

I think the member is waiting for availability to open up.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not all airlines always see the same award availability, however. Also, I think phantom availability on AA has been limited to QF seats but I'm not certain.

The QF and BA tools show phantom CX availability. Cross reference with JL to confirm the space. AA and AS will both return phantom QF, again confirmable via JL.

 

[madrooster]

The QF and BA tools show phantom CX availability. Cross reference with JL to confirm the space. AA and AS will both return phantom QF, again confirmable via JL.

In contrast, I've found a number of CX award options that are available via QF, but don't show on any website (QF, BA). Only findable in the GDS.

Ultimately bookable when given to the QF call centre.

 

[twiningb]

Sorry for the delay in updates, all. There was very little in the way of network access where I was for the last few days.

Headlines:

• Yes! AA were able to book the separate KIX-HKG and HKG-MEL sectors as a single one-way award at 40k per person in business.
• Yes! CX honoured the booking and it ticketed.
• Yes! AA were happy to put the first sector on hold on the day it opened up, then add the second sector the next day when it was visible in their calendar.
• While I was waiting for it to ticket ("on request" per AA), CX's website allowed me to select seats.
• When AA confirmed it was good to go (about ~48h after request) they debited the miles a second time. However, a quick call got them to remedy that and refund the second set of miles to my account, and a few minutes after that the tickets issued.