Qantas classic reward flight on American Airlines - seat selection fees?

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Hello,

I am planning a somewhat 'last minute' return trip from Australia to America - in a few weeks time.
Since I have left my planning and booking quite late, there are limited options for classic reward flights.
The flights I am looking at have me travelling from MEL to SFO on QF metal, however there are no return flight options back to Aus from SFO around the dates I need to travel.
If I were to fly out of LAX, the only flight options are travelling on AA either direct to Sydney or via AKL.

With some more research I now see that there is the option of flying from the US west coast to HNL, then back to Australia on QF metal for the same amount of QFF points, only ~$100 more expensive in fees.

I am too novice to know which option would be better travelling in economy - flying back to Australia with AA on the B787 or with QF via HNL on the B747.
I am trying to keep costs down to a minimum, so initially the AA option is winning.
However looking at the AA seat map for both flights (AA73 to SYD or AA83 to AKL), all aisle seats in economy are currently 'occupied'.
There are many aisle seats available towards the front of the aircraft although they all have the "paid premium" ($P) icon showing. (as seen on expertflyer)

Can I ask if it is known how much extra this seat selection will cost to choose one of these "paid premium" seats in economy with American Airlines?
The best I can find on their website is that the prices start at $30+(AU or US?) and I assume that is just for US domestic flights?

Cheers

 

[Hvr]

Do you have any QF status? If so get your QFF number put 9n the booking and you may well get the preferred seat for free.

 

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Do you have any QF status? If so get your QFF number put 9n the booking and you may well get the preferred seat for free.

Thank you for the reply Hvr.
No, I have recently dropped back to 'Bronze' status. Can 'Advanced Seat Selection' be done online for partner airlines when booking through the Qantas website or is making (and most likely paying for) a seat request done over the phone or at check-in?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello,

I am planning a somewhat 'last minute' return trip from Australia to America - in a few weeks time.
Since I have left my planning and booking quite late, there are limited options for classic reward flights.
The flights I am looking at have me travelling from MEL to SFO on QF metal, however there are no return flight options back to Aus from SFO around the dates I need to travel.
If I were to fly out of LAX, the only flight options are travelling on AA either direct to Sydney or via AKL.

With some more research I now see that there is the option of flying from the US west coast to HNL, then back to Australia on QF metal for the same amount of QFF points, only ~$100 more expensive in fees.

I am too novice to know which option would be better travelling in economy - flying back to Australia with AA on the B787 or with QF via HNL on the B747.
I am trying to keep costs down to a minimum, so initially the AA option is winning.
However looking at the AA seat map for both flights (AA73 to SYD or AA83 to AKL), all aisle seats in economy are currently 'occupied'.
There are many aisle seats available towards the front of the aircraft although they all have the "paid premium" ($P) icon showing. (as seen on expertflyer)

Can I ask if it is known how much extra this seat selection will cost to choose one of these "paid premium" seats in economy with American Airlines?
The best I can find on their website is that the prices start at $30+(AU or US?) and I assume that is just for US domestic flights?

Cheers

One thing to bear in mind with connecting to QF out of HNL is the timing of the HNL departure. It departs at 10am, so it might be that you have to overnight in HNL if flying in from the mainland.

Hotels at the airport can be expensive at times. And an 8am check-in may make the city unappealing.

You can find out the cost of the 'premium' seats by doing a dummy booking on the AA site. If you use the US website (not the aussie one) that takes you to a seat map after you have entered in your name and contact details. For the same date in January I picked it shows the aisle seats as being between USD83 and USD96. (The Aussie site seems to take you to the credit card payment screen after you add your details rather than seat selection.)

 

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One thing to bear in mind with connecting to QF out of HNL is the timing of the HNL departure. It departs at 10am, so it might be that you have to overnight in HNL if flying in from the mainland.

Hotels at the airport can be expensive at times. And an 8am check-in may make the city unappealing.

You can find out the cost of the 'premium' seats by doing a dummy booking on the AA site. If you use the US website (not the aussie one) that takes you to a seat map after you have entered in your name and contact details. For the same date in January I picked it shows the aisle seats as being between USD83 and USD96. (The Aussie site seems to take you to the credit card payment screen after you add your details rather than seat selection.)

Thank you MEL_Traveller.
Ah, I didn't check the US version of AA.com, I only made a dummy booking on the Australian version.
Those prices you quoted seem standard, as I have the same for my dates.
$122AUD ($83US) for a 'premium'/aisle seat is a bit excessive in my opinion.
(Although I see there is still 1 'standard' aisle seat available on that flight which doesn't require a seat selection fee.
I'll need to be quick make my bookings very soon though while it is still available)

Then again, the economy rewards flight via HNL costs about $120 extra compared to flying direct with AA.
So in that sense they pretty much cancel each other out.

However yes you're right, there will be a need to book a room for the night in HNL if I choose to fly that route.
The cheapest property I can find for my date required is about $160AUD.

Although there is the appeal of being able to shower (at the hotel) only a few hours prior to making the long flight across the pacific; so the extra $160 for the hotel room may well justify the cost and choosing the HNL route instead of flying direct with AA.

Cheers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Although there is the appeal of being able to shower (at the hotel) only a few hours prior to making the long flight across the pacific; so the extra $160 for the hotel room may well justify the cost and choosing the HNL route instead of flying direct with AA.

Cheers.

You could also buy entry to the AAdmirals Club in LAX for USD59 (for a day pass) and have a shower there

 

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You could also buy entry to the AAdmirals Club in LAX for USD59 (for a day pass) and have a shower there

That's an option I have overlooked.
There's another alternative I'll have to consider.

Thank you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's an option I have overlooked.
There's another alternative I'll have to consider.

Thank you.

It's also hotel + transfers + meals + any potential delays. That's one expensive shower. But HNL is always pleasant.

 

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It's also hotel + transfers + meals + any potential delays. That's one expensive shower. But HNL is always pleasant.

Haha yes, when you put it that way you're quite right.
I have some thinking to do....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Haha yes, when you put it that way you're quite right.
I have some thinking to do....

I often spend a lot of time looking at various options like this. Sometimes something like an HNL stop seems like a good idea at the time. It doesn't always translate (one time my AA flight went mechanical in LAX and we didn't fly out until the next morning, meaning I missed my connection at HNL). Other times a 7 hour transit doesn't seem like such a bad idea at the time of booking. But after 4 hours in a lounge it isn't so appealing

 

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I often spend a lot of time looking at various options like this. Sometimes something like an HNL stop seems like a good idea at the time. It doesn't always translate (one time my AA flight went mechanical in LAX and we didn't fly out until the next morning, meaning I missed my connection at HNL). Other times a 7 hour transit doesn't seem like such a bad idea at the time of booking. But after 4 hours in a lounge it isn't so appealing

It is indeed a bit frustrating after spending so much time researching and planning for the various possibilities and potential outcomes.
Very difficult to plan against plane faults, medical diversions and bad weather.
All can be hit-or-miss in the end and luck certainly luck plays its part.