Miles needed for intra Europe first class award seat?

[Croupier]

In the AA award redemption chart there is no miles input for first class only within Europe?
Does that mean if I try to book a first class award that it will only take the 20000 miles buisness/first total?

Thanks.

 

[knasty]

Should do, but which airline offers first class intra Europe?

 

[anat0l]

Should do, but which airline offers first class intra Europe?

Actually, one example of it is LHR-DME operated by BA. There is only one of three flights a day which is operated with F enabled aircraft.

Russia and UK are both part of the Europe zone on AAdvantage.


This is an interesting question.

I did a search on BA and there are F seats available for Avios redemption on the day I found, on the route LHR-DME.

If I use AA's website to search the same day (or even month):

• There is no F button available, i.e. as if F doesn't exist at all for this route, even though AA shows availability for Y and J on the same flights that have availability on BA
• Because there is no F button available, there is no cost shown. Normally, even if there are no seats available (even for the entire period you display) in a class of service, a button should be available, but greyed out.

UK to Russia is the only route I can think of which is intra-Europe for AA; I can't think of another example.


The conclusion from this is either:

• There is a cost for F, but it isn't published online, and it can't be redeemed online. You have to call to find out.
• There is no cost for F because intra-Europe F redemptions are not allowed. Calling the centre will result in being told that they can't see any F seats, or they are unavailable for redemption via AA.

 

[Croupier]

Yeah interesting, as part of my AA first award to Europe I included the LHR-DME on BA 233 777 in F.
The agent saw the availability after some coaching.

I might try a calling to see if they can book it as a single intra Europe award.

 

[RooFlyer]

I recall (but can't find the post now) that OMAAT reported a similar issue (no First award cost for a certain route; I think on another airline's metal) and I think the solution was - call the airline.

 

[anat0l]

I recall (but can't find the post now) that OMAAT reported a similar issue (no First award cost for a certain route; I think on another airline's metal) and I think the solution was - call the airline.

Ah, you must be referring to this:

Does American Allow First Class Awards Between The Middle East And Africa? - One Mile at a Time

AAdvantage have shrewdly filled in the missing value from the article above.

If we assume that combinations of Y-J-F costs are consistent in the AA cost table, one would estimate that intra-Europe F awards would be 30k points one-way. For reference, LHR/DME is about the same distance as SIN/HKG.

The funny thing about my research earlier is... if, say for example, you want to travel from DFW to DME. The only way to achieve this in F is to go via Europe, specifically LHR (in fact, there are no oneworld services between Moscow and North America direct). So fire up AA's search engine, type in DFW to DME, search in F, and hey presto - F results can be found with availability, with the LON/MOW sector on a BA flight equipped with First Class, showing the availability you couldn't see with the AA tool if you had searched for LON/MOW alone.

 

[RooFlyer]

That's the one . As an Etihad Guest traveller (thank you AA, thank you Virgin) and a Morocco regular, that story instantly got my attention!

 

[Croupier]

Well this is very interesting and a great value award.

Just got off the phone with AA.
It is only 20000 points to fly one way F pp on BA DME-LHR

Fees and charges were $125 AUD pp but she included the $80 phone booking charge in the quote which I think you can get waived if you are unable to book it via their website.
So essentially only $45 AUD in fees.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Possibly doesn't need to be said, but if it's BA F there is also Concorde Room access

 

[anat0l]

20k for F intra-Europe? Score!

If it only wasn't to a place where the majority of Australians must apply for a visa, that's almost too good even for just a joyride.

 

[Croupier]

20k for F intra-Europe? Score!

If it only wasn't to a place where the majority of Australians must apply for a visa

Yeah the visa regs suck, I think it's about $100 for the visa but I think we will have a lot of fun in a week.
And nowI know I have enough miles in the bank to leave in style.

 

[knasty]

Could use it as a stopover in an intra EU itinerary to avoid the visa issue? Would you be within mpm to an eastern euro destination?

 

[Nizar]

That's the one . As an Etihad Guest traveller (thank you AA, thank you Virgin) and a Morocco regular, that story instantly got my attention!

Speaking of Morocco, I just booked a QR J AA redemption from CMN to MEL via DOH for 50,000 miles + A$112.80 :mrgreen:

 

[anat0l]

Could use it as a stopover in an intra EU itinerary to avoid the visa issue? Would you be within mpm to an eastern euro destination?

Quite tough. My EF sub lapsed so I have no MPM calculations.

The oneworld airlines (or even AA non-oneworld partners) that operate to other Europe zone destinations from DME Terminal A are AB, IB and S7. Transits without a visa in Russia require one to remain completely within the terminal during transit.

If I'm not mistaken, most Australians will need a visa to visit any of the CIS countries. Note that some CIS countries are part of AA's Europe zone, and some are part of the Middle East / Indian Subcontinent zone.

The best guess I can try for is LHR-DME on BA, connecting to S7 DME-LCA. That routing exceeds the direct by about 1000 mi (or 50% more than the direct), so whilst I can't view the MPM between LHR and LCA, I doubt the indirect will pass mustard even at the 25% level. AAgents might get a bit snitchy about the routing, too (although it would depend on how good their geography is).

I'd check the other destinations - particularly those served by S7 - but haven't got the time right now.

 

[smit0847]

^^ S7 to Kiev??

 

[anat0l]

^^ S7 to Kiev??

Australians nominally need a visa to enter Ukraine.

 

[knasty]

Yeah we were looking at Odessa which would require a stopover in any event so this is an interesting one. If you are going to pay the higher rate of APD it may as well be for first....

 

[anat0l]

If you are going to pay the higher rate of APD it may as well be for first....

That's true, although the APD for going to Russia is only GBP 26 (GBP 13 in Y).

 

[knasty]

That's true, although the APD for going to Russia is only GBP 26 (GBP 13 in Y).

Still an abomination at 26, but I'd get over it in F.

 

[anat0l]

Still an abomination at 26, but I'd get over it in F.

The GBP 26 is just over half of the UK Passenger Service Charge; the latter you cannot escape at all, even with an international transit.