The great points transfer to AAdvantage

[NM]

Thanks for that NM. I did realise that the WP card could be used, but I was just interested in whether you could get a BP with the slightly ridiculous combination of no status / top tier.

I've got a trip to SCL in October, and I'm thinking of going the long way round (DONE4), so I'll be definitely looking at the AA Plat Challenge. It's a pity that the only AA codeshares out of Aus are to the US - it would be nice to if I could get the whole run on AA.

You only need the AA codeshares until you complete the challenge (10,000 points for Platinum). So if heading eastbound, its very simple to achieve that on a DONE4 fare. After the challenge is complete, any DONE4 flight will earn the same number of Q-Points, with the exception of BA flights between USA and UK. So for the Europe to Asia to SWP part of the journey, there is no need to seek AA codeshares.

 

[NM]

You in WHY on an AA flight? Why?

So it is really only useful if one travels to the USA quite a lot and purchases AA airfares that do not earn on QFF. Have I missed anything else?

Luckily the USA is not my preferred holiday destination and for now I will concentrate on reaching QF Lifetime Gold.

I have not been to the USA for over two years and have not set foot in an AA aircraft for the same amount of time. Yet I still perceive I have earned better value by crediting my QF, CX and JL flights to AAdvantage than I would have achieved if crediting to QF FF.

And all the fares used in that time were economy or premium economy (no purchased business or first class flights) and all were eligible for earning in both programs.

So its not a case of "only" as you have described.

 

[JohnK]

And all the fares used in that time were economy or premium economy (no purchased business or first class flights) and all were eligible for earning in both programs.

I am obviously not taking into consideration companies that purchase B class airfares for their staff.

It is much harder to achieve what you have achieved on sale airfares.

 

[NM]

I am obviously not taking into consideration companies that purchase B class airfares for their staff.

It is much harder to achieve what you have achieved on sale airfares.

Indeed, and I suggest such travel patterns are not at all rare. So just goes to show that the situation can vary greatly depending on your own travel patterns. I make not blanket statements about one being best for all or even for a majority since the different programs have different earn/burn rules/rates and each person should evaluate their own patterns against the programs available and come to their own conclusion about what is best for them. Also note that what is best today may be different from what is best tomorrow/next year or what was best last year. Its a moving target and our weapons and ammunition are continually changing.

 

[QF WP]

That's awfully close to Lifetime Gold on AAdvantage. I am still about 200K short of that milestone. However, I do LOVE the redemptions. Just redeemed 2 x F awards with stopovers in KUL and BKK flying a combination of QF (domestic only), CX and BA, for a TOTAL of 360K miles and US$242.50. If using QF FF program for the exact same itinerary, it would have been 362,500 points EACH, plus a heck of a lot more required in $$$ co-payment.

Exactly the reason for me churning all my Amex points across to AA over the years. Finally have started to use them:

[B]View My Miles[/B]
Date     Transaction Description*        Mileage   Bonus   Total
 
Starting Balance                                           512,025
 
07/15/10  UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT     -60,000      0    -60,000
07/15/10  UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT     -60,000      0    -60,000
07/15/10  UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT     -60,000      0    -60,000
Total Miles Claimed                     -180,000      0   -180,000

For the uninitiated, that is 3 x J Award seats BNE (QF) PER (QF) HKG (CX) LHR.

Now to get the return flights and burn 87.5K x 3 (as we'll be having a stopover).

Try that with QFF points :shock:

 

[wtolmie]

its reading threads like this that make AFF sooo helpful. My situation is with all my travels for rest of this year, I will make QFLTG right on my anniversary date and have WP again for 2011 (8th year) and PG for the wife..

From Dec 1, I will start diverting all flights points etc to my AA account. If they dont status match me, I will do Plat challenge with a PVG - ORD in J and that will take care of that for my Christmas vacation.

My question is: How can I credit my AU Issued Citibank points to AA to maximise benefits?

 

[JohnK]

My question is: How can I credit my AU Issued Citibank points to AA to maximise benefits?

Only via SPG if Citibank allows this option.

As far as I know there is no Australian issued credit card, excepting Diners, that trnasfers directly into AAdvantage.

 

[Dave Noble]

From Dec 1, I will start diverting all flights points etc to my AA account. If they dont status match me, I will do Plat challenge with a PVG - ORD in J and that will take care of that for my Christmas vacation.

It is unlilkely that they will status match you, but since PVG-ORD will complete the challenge on its own (and gets the platinum bonus as well), wouldn't worry too much about a status match

Dave

 

[QF WP]

Return flights CDG/LHR/HKG/MEL/BNE now booked, managed to get Business for me and mini#2 all the way; whilst I have treated Mrs LW and mini#1 to First Class for LHR/HKG/MEL. This is the whole reason for collecting through AA, I hate to think how many QF points it would have been *shudder*


Now I'll probably create a daughter with a perchance for Business & First, but that'll be up to me to handle until she finds a husband (then it's his problem ). mini#2 will be too young to remember.

Date     Transaction Description*        Mileage   Bonus   Total
         Starting Balance                                  512,025
07/21/10 MILES SHARED                          0  15,000    15,000
08/05/10 HERTZ 1 DAY HERTZ CAR RENTAL          0       0        49
[I]Total Miles Posted                                          15,049[/I]
07/15/10 UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT      -60,000       0   -60,000
07/15/10 UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT      -60,000       0   -60,000
07/15/10 UP60A EUR-S PAC BUS OW TKT      -60,000       0   -60,000
08/26/10 ZP45C ASIA Z2-S PAC FIRST TKT   -45,000       0   -45,000
08/26/10 ZP70C EUR-ASIA Z2 FIRST OW TKT  -70,000       0   -70,000
08/26/10 ZP45C ASIA Z2-S PAC FIRST TKT   -45,000       0   -45,000
08/26/10 ZP70C EUR-ASIA Z2 FIRST OW TKT  -70,000       0   -70,000
08/26/01 UP35A ASIA Z2-S PAC BUS OW TKT  -35,000       0   -35,000
08/26/10 UP52X5B EUR-ASIA Z2 BUS OW TKT  -52,500       0   -52,500
[I]Total Miles Claimed                     -497,500       0  -497,500[/I]
 
ENDING BALANCE                                              29,574

 

[futaris]

Did you get seats for both mini#1 and mini#2? Or is mini#2 travelling as a lap infant?

 

[QF WP]

Actually, I thought I'd go and look (the curiosity killed me):

Points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic Award
Trips:                     Points      Zone      (Miles)      Class      Award
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] BNE/PER/HKG/LHR (stop)   128000       10       (11983)   Business     Qantas
[B]Total points [/B]128,000

(so I'd need x3, or 384K)

Points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic Award
Trips:                              Points     Zone      (Miles)     Class      Award
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_non_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] Paris - London                    18000       1          (216)     Business  Partner
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] London - Hong Kong (stop)         84000       7         (5991)     Business  Qantas
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] Hong Kong - Melbourne - Brisbane  72000       6         (5455)     Business  Qantas
[B]Total points [/B]174,000

(so I'd need x3, or 522K)

plus the differential between Business and First for Mrs LW and mini#1 on LHR/HKG/MEL:

Points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic Award
Trips:                         Points     Zone      (Miles)     Class     Award
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] London - Hong Kong (stop)    126000      7         (5991)     First     Qantas
[IMG]https://www.qantas.com.au/img/icons/icon_qantas_operated.gif[/IMG] Hong Kong - Melbourne         90000      5         (4596)     First     Qantas
[B]Total points [/B]216,000

so approx. an extra 42K for LHR/HKG and 30K for HKG/MEL (as HKG/MEL in Business is 60K), therefore 72K x 2.

Grand Total: 384K + 522K + 144K = 1.05M points.

Quite a difference.

 

[drron]

What is surprising me is the difference in earning.On our current DONE4 for the first 7 sectors mrsdrron as a QF WP has earned 19874 miles whilst I as an AA Plat have earned 27261 miles.

 

[Spark]

"Grand Total: 384K + 522K + 144K = 1.05M points.

Quite a difference." wow, a little diffence.

 

[QF WP]

Welcome to AFF, Spark.

Admittedly, the earn ratio was better until September last year, when SPG closed a loop that was allowing a much higher through credit of credit card points. But as can be demonstated, the burn ratio of AA points is significantly better than QF.

Now let's see with my opening balance of 30K, how long it takes to collect sufficient points for our trip to NYC in 2012. I'd hope to get enough for at least 2x Award seats in Business or PE. I'll have to trump up with the cash for at least 2 tickets (as mini #2 will be over age 2 then, so no infant fares any more).

 

[NM]

And don't forget the fact that QF would have charged you lots of fuel fines for using your hard earned points for a "free" flight. No fuel surcharges for AA awards can make a big real $$$ difference on such redemptions.

 

[MrJetset]

Sorry, I'm new to AA program and wanted to clarify.

I've discovered that I have 2 AAdvantage accounts. Does anyone forsee issues buying 40k points in each account, then requesting them to be combined? Would it be better to open an account in my partner's name and buy the second lot there?

Why does AA charge to "share" miles which I presume is how one transfers between accounts?

 

[copperman]

Thanks for the great advice in this thread. Thought I'd share my experience, and also ask a question.

I've been a WP for many years, got to LTG a few months ago and have just requaliified for WP thru to the end of 2011. Decided after reading this thread to move over to AA, mainly for award flights requiring fewer points.

Rang up and registered for AA Platinum Challenge. Asked for status match and they gave me AA Gold straight up (no harm in asking).

Completed a trip to LOTFAP recently and so easily got the AA Platinum status. Status came through straight away. No problems getting into AA domestic lounges with WP card even though all flights were using my AA number.

Had one flight turn back shortly after takeoff with a potential mechanical problem. Got a nice email from AA a few days later apologising for inconvenience and crediting my account with 10,000 miles.

Now the question - I will now be booking all my OW flights on my AA number (mainly QF and CX flights/metal), but I want to use QF points to upgrade my QF legs. How do I do this? I can get the booking to come up on the Manage My Bookings on the Qantas website, but there is no option for upgrading like there would be if I was using my QF number. Do I just call them up or is there a way to do it on-line? And where do I stand in the pecking order for the upgrade - is it based on the actual booking (ie AA Plat) or the points used for upgrading (ie QF WP)?

 

[openseat]

Now the question - I will now be booking all my OW flights on my AA number (mainly QF and CX flights/metal), but I want to use QF points to upgrade my QF legs. How do I do this? I can get the booking to come up on the Manage My Bookings on the Qantas website, but there is no option for upgrading like there would be if I was using my QF number. Do I just call them up or is there a way to do it on-line? And where do I stand in the pecking order for the upgrade - is it based on the actual booking (ie AA Plat) or the points used for upgrading (ie QF WP)?

You can usually do it by calling up the booking while logged into your QFF account and submitting the request there. The other alternative, if that doesn't work (which seems to happen from time to time), is to ring and request - just make sure they don't change the number in your booking to your QF one.
A small side benefit, at least in my experience, is that AA record the miles as to the class flown, not the class booked - others may have different experiences.

As always YMMV

 

[drron]

Well certanly last month AA were crediting an upgrade into F on QF1 as an F flight.
For all those who are crediting to Aadvantage and are close to 1 or 2 million miles there are credible rumours that there will be changes to the life time status program and some informed people are advising transferring points now if you are close.See here-
Question for Jon & Other Experts - Lifetime Status Program - Traveling Better Forums
I personally am trying to get as close as possible to the 2million mark hoping that if the program changes-eg to BIS miles only counting-that they will start the BIS miles from where you sre at the change date.

 

[QF WP]

Oh yes, the $ savings on the bookings were amazing. Inbound flights for example were 576.97 GBP for mini#2 (including 15 GBP for booking fee) and 88.77 GBP for Mrs LW and me (mini#1 no fuel fines as a child?) Converted to $1,067.50 + $180.30 x 2 = $1,428.10 AUD. Outbound were very similar costs.

I hate to think what it would have been through QF.

And don't forget the fact that QF would have charged you lots of fuel fines for using your hard earned points for a "free" flight. No fuel surcharges for AA awards can make a big real $$$ difference on such redemptions.