Two FF numbers on the same booking

[Kangol]

From two different programs, that is...

I have seen an old thread on the same topic and links to FT showing that one number can be stored for status and another for crediting earn:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../adding-secondary-ff-number-booking-7282.html

So have there been any updates to this?

Reason I ask is that I am planning an AA Plat challenge next year and have not only got QF93/94 planned but several dom AA flights in Y.
Obviously having my WP/OWE status on the manifest would be advantageous - the QF and AA bookings have my WP status and the only perk at this stage (seat selection) has been taken advantage of.

I'm thinking that a safe way of doing it would be:
1. Check in as usual with my WP card.
2. At the respective lounges, have them change my FF program from QF to AA and get a new BP with my AA number on it.

That way there is no risk in the points crediting to the wrong program however onboard, they may not recognise me as a OWE.

When doing (2), should I do that before or after boarding has started or will that not matter?

The sneaky alternative is to OLCI and print an extra BP with my WP/OWE status, get one copy "changed over" to a new BP with my AA number and then use the original OWE BP for priority boarding (this is a big advantage when flying AA).
If I do that - will the "old" BP still scan appropriately at the gate?

 

[serfty]

It can be done but is fraught with issues if you get someone not really up to speed with this.

What I would do is as you suggest, book with WP number, get seat selection etc. and check in with that number still registered.

Then after getting to the lounge, take and secure a copy/photo of the BP (OLCI and save the PDF if you can) then take the original up to the service desk and get them to remove your QF number completely then add your your AA number.

Do not leave the service desk until you have a new BP showing the AA number.

After QF93, contact QF and have the FF number swapped back for your return so you can repeat the process for QF94.

 

[dfcatch]

Exactly as Serfty says. I wouldn't trust it the other way.

When boarding - you can still use the original BP with Priority Boarding on it - as long as your seat hasn't changed between BPs. (Eg. If you moved to an improved seat when the AA# BP was issued - then the QF# BP won't work).

Sometimes in the lounge they will let you keep both BPs so you can still use the Priority AAccess one for boarding.


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[NM]

I recommend you be very careful with the wording when asking the FF number to be changed. Do not ask to "change to this number" as the agent may just "add" the new number and leave the old one still associated with the booking. Ask specifically for the old one to be removed, then hand them the other card and ask for this one to be added. The removal of the first one before adding the second one tends to greatly reduce the possibility of errors.

be up-front and tell them why you want it changed. I normally say something like "I have already earned top status on that program this year and now want to earn status with this program" or words to that effect. Then they realise you want the original number out of the booking.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, I have QF93/94 on one QF booking and all my AA flights on a separate one.

Thing is I will be going MEL-LAX-ORD (stop) and get them to link PNRs and check my luggage through to ORD on the outbound. Then a few separate AA-only legs in the US, with the final inbound being DRO-DFW-LAX-MEL, combining AA and QF bookings just like on the outbound.
If I get QF (or AA) to change to my AA number after check-in, will that affect all the flights on the itinerary? Would I be able to change the FF number online (on both QF and AA websites) once the first leg has been flown?

 

[serfty]

Linking PNR's does not combine them - changing the FF number in one PNR should not automatically affect any other PNR, linked or not.

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks, I have QF93/94 on one QF booking and all my AA flights on a separate one.

Thing is I will be going MEL-LAX-ORD (stop) and get them to link PNRs and check my luggage through to ORD on the outbound. Then a few separate AA-only legs in the US, with the final inbound being DRO-DFW-LAX-MEL, combining AA and QF bookings just like on the outbound.
If I get QF (or AA) to change to my AA number after check-in, will that affect all the flights on the itinerary? Would I be able to change the FF number online (on both QF and AA websites) once the first leg has been flown?

You may not be able to change the number online - in either AA of QF systems.

YMMV - but the lounge is probably the best place in each instance to confirm the correct number in your booking.

 

[Danger]

When I change from my QF number to my AA number, I try to do it as late as possible, sometimes even by phoning Qantas from my seat on the plane before boarding is completed. Leaving it as late as possible means there's a much better chance of preserving the Platinum shadow (where loadings permit). And even when I change the numbers in the lounge I often phone QF to verify because I've been burnt more than once, even when my AA number is printed on the boarding pass I've had flights credited to QF. I suspect that's because, as NM notes, the agent has added the AA number but hasn't completely removed the QF number.

 

[yohy?!]

definitely needs someone to do it properly on the ground, tried to replace my QFF with MPC # using manage my booking after boarding and it still credited to QFF

 

[Kangol]

Leaving it until you have boarded the plane is pushing it, I wouldn't be brave enough to do that! But I completely see your point though..

I guess one way of being sure is to have the number removed at the lounge without any replacement.... then 5 mins later go back and ask them to put your new one in..?

If the points credit to the wrong program, is it possible to have the credit reversed?

 

[yohy?!]

Leaving it until you have boarded the plane is pushing it, I wouldn't be brave enough to do that! But I completely see your point though..

I guess one way of being sure is to have the number removed at the lounge without any replacement.... then 5 mins later go back and ask them to put your new one in..?

If the points credit to the wrong program, is it possible to have the credit reversed?

removing my QFF number in the lounge would worry me though - what happens when you are boarding and the flight is oversold and now you have no elite status against your BP...

 

[madrooster]

Do QF support the FQTS field properly?

 

[Kangol]

removing my QFF number in the lounge would worry me though - what happens when you are boarding and the flight is oversold and now you have no elite status against your BP...

Now I know about overbooking in the airline industry but has that actually happened to you (or someone you know) - getting to the gate, scanning your BP and telling you that you can't board?

 

[serfty]

Do QF support the FQTS field properly?

I have been led to believe Altea can support a least four such "Frequent Flyer/Traveller/etc" fields.

I know AirNZ use them as I had success last month in crediting to Velocity whist basking in my Gold Elite status. (R Class upgrade. Change to earn on UA? - FlyerTalk Forums)

 

[madrooster]

I have been led to believe Altea can support a least four such "Frequent Flyer/Traveller/etc" fields.

So why can't the FQTS field be used for WP benefits whilst crediting to AA in this case? Have I missed something?

 

[serfty]

So why can't the FQTS field be used for WP benefits whilst crediting to AA in this case? Have I missed something?

It's either one of two things :

• AgGents are are not trained to do this correctly (come across this so rarely they forget how to do it properly (if they ever knew), or
• There is a default 'easy' option in their systems and takes a lot more effort to enter numbers against the different codes.

As per the FT thread I linked to, even the seemingly more switched on AirNZ agent at the LAX Lounge had her FQTV's/FQTS's mixed up (well, she must have since doing it my way had the points/SC's post correctly to Velocity ).

Here's an FT thread on this: Frequent Flyer Status/Points and possible demise of FTQTS/FQTV?

 

[Danger]

When I change from my QF number to my AA number, I try to do it as late as possible, sometimes even by phoning Qantas from my seat on the plane before boarding is completed. Leaving it as late as possible means there's a much better chance of preserving the Platinum shadow (where loadings permit). And even when I change the numbers in the lounge I often phone QF to verify because I've been burnt more than once, even when my AA number is printed on the boarding pass I've had flights credited to QF. I suspect that's because, as NM notes, the agent has added the AA number but hasn't completely removed the QF number.

Earlier this week I had another not-so-competent agent. I asked him to remove my QF number and add my AA number to a booking. He printed out a new boarding pass showing my AA number and status but, as I've learnt to do, I logged into my QFF account and, strike me dead, the booking was still there. So I phoned QF who confirmed, yep, the QF number was in there still. So, as has happened to me previously, even if you have a boarding pass printed with a particular FF number, doesn't mean that's where it will credit. Double-check and check again if you have the time.

 

[Kangol]

An update to this thread:

I had MEL-LAX-DFW-ORD all booked under my QFF WP number with the bags tagged through to ORD.
At LAX I had them change my LAX-DFW-ORD to my AAdvantage number as I want all US domestic flights (6 in total) to credit to AA. They did that with no problem, I kept copies of my OWE BPs and used PB with no problem (seats were the same).

When I got to ORD, I got the A/C staff to change the entire AA booking back to my QF WP number.
This morning I check my booking online and some of my seat selections had been removed as my AA status is nothing.
Called up to change them back and some were restored, but other good seats had been taken.
The agent then said "your flights look like they will now credit to AAdvantage but it's showing as emerald".
Maybe she was confusing them with the LAX-DFW-ORD as they have already credited to AA but my QF 93 has not credited to QFF.
I rang QFF to make sure that QF93 would go to QFF and they said the only number on record is my WP one.

I will have to do the same thing - print BPs with my OWE status, change to my AAdvantage number at ORD, then after the next 2 flights (ORD-DFW-DRO) change back to my QFF WP to maintain my seats (at DRO), then do it again.

I'm thinking I might try keeping my no status AA BP and flashing my QFF WP OWE card at the gate so I can board early - will that work, or will they only look at what is printed on the BP?
FWIW the AA lady on the phone didn't know anything about FQTV/FQTS and putting more than one number on the booking.....

 

[Kangol]

Another belated update:

Arriving at ORD for my 2 sectors (ORD-DFW-DRO) I went to the A/C (F/L was not open then - was told it opens at 7 or 7.30am I think, my flight departed at 6.35am), and asked to change the number over to my AAdvantage one for points earning.
For ORD-DFW I was in 9B which was a "premium" seat. The AAngel wasn't able to change the number, because the seat I had was only for status pax and since I had no status with AA, I wasn't able to keep that seat nor could I select another one because it was full. FML.

Long story short, I kept it as is. I then rang the EXP line to double check and he advised me (after putting me on hold to speak to supervisors) that on their end, it looked like both flights ORD-DFW-DRO would credit to AAdvantage and that if there was a crediting issue, to ring back.

ORD-DFW credited to AA and DFW-DRO (American Eagle) credited to QFF - argh!
I rang AA who told me I need to contact QFF to get them to reverse the crediting and then once that is done, contact AA again for a manual points credit.
That was done and in the end, it all credited to AA.
I'm now AA GLD which kinda helps and the kicker is that my ORD-DFW was a pretty light load (!!!). F was full but Y was honestly about one third full (or less). I was the only person in rows 7-9.

Goes to show that: you can reverse crediting if needed, and always check with premium AAgents to make sure what you have been told is the truth.

On a side note, I rang AA today about the 25% bonus miles on the flight that gets you over the challenge threshold - mine were incorrectly credited. The AAgent had been in his job for 10 years and had never heard of such a bonus (100% for PLT)