Upgrading on AA

[RWY 16 R]

Hi All,

Currently in the US about to head home on Thursday. Have recently made QF Gold (one world sapphire)

Was hoping to upgrade DFW to LAX and did a lot of research on the AA website as I also have a AA number.

From what I read, AA Platinum and it's equivalent OW Sapp can upgrade from discounted Economy to First using 500 miles upgrade.

Purchased 3 and then tried to upgrade only to find that my OW/QF status is not recognized in regards to this and I can only do it if I am AA Platinum.

Seems to be a pointless exercise then having status if it doesn't get you anywhere.

Have I been led up the garden path by AA or do the OW status benefits only relate to those things such as priority boarding etc?

Cheers

 

[SeatBackForward]

Your AA number and your QF status are not combined, they are independent on one another, is that what you're asking about?

 

[RWY 16 R]

Not really, I thought because I was QF Gold it would be see the same as AA Platinum (OW Sapp) and therefore I could upgrade the fare using the 500 mile certificates, which I am now thinking is not the case.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Not really, I thought because I was QF Gold it would be see the same as AA Platinum (OW Sapp) and therefore I could upgrade the fare using the 500 mile certificates, which I am now thinking is not the case.

"500 mile certificates" are not something thats a part of the QFF program. They are part of the AA program and if you've purchased them using your AA account number, then you'll only get whatever privileges that you have with AA. They're both part of Oneworld yes, but they can only assign status/points etc to or from one of those accounts, not both.

Having said that, if you had put your QFF details against the DFW>LAX flight, you would've earned Status credits and miles towards your QFF, but you wouldn't have been abel to use QFF points to upgrade that flight. The only way to use QF points for upgrades is on QF numbered flights.

 

[dfcatch]

The AA upgrade certs can only be used according to the T&Cs of the AA program and your related AA status.

Given that many privileges require a certain AA status - if you are AA nothing, your QF status does not match across.

However - if you have your QF number in the booking, then you can use OW elite benefits such as Priority boarding etc

 

[ozdunker]

not worth paying money to upgrade anyway.

 

[RWY 16 R]

The AA upgrade certs can only be used according to the T&Cs of the AA program and your related AA status.

Given that many privileges require a certain AA status - if you are AA nothing, your QF status does not match across.

However - if you have your QF number in the booking, then you can use OW elite benefits such as Priority boarding etc

Thanks for your help, new to this and still working out the ins and outs of my new found fame.

 

[simongr]

Having said that, if you had put your QFF details against the DFW>LAX flight, you would've earned Status credits and miles towards your QFF, but you wouldn't have been abel to use QFF points to upgrade that flight. The only way to use QF points for upgrades is on QF numbered flights.

QF numbered and operated. Very important distinction in the brave new world of codeshares for everyone.

not worth paying money to upgrade anyway.

Any way to get out of whY on AA is worth it...

Thanks for your help, new to this and still working out the ins and outs of my new found fame.

The way to look at it is that there are a specific list of of OW benefits (boarding, lounges, check in.). There are then a bunch of airline specific benefits that follow the same tier structure as OW but are unique to their own loyal fliers.

Probably the biggest gripe we hear on here is luggage - there is no OW luggage benefit - however some carriers do apply OW status not just their own fliers status to luggage benefits.

It is a minefield but if you plan ahead and don't assume you are right you should get lucky - there are a few people on here who can probably steer you right before you fall into more traps...

 

[RWY 16 R]

QF numbered and operated. Very important distinction in the brave new world of codeshares for everyone.



Any way to get out of whY on AA is worth it...



The way to look at it is that there are a specific list of of OW benefits (boarding, lounges, check in.). There are then a bunch of airline specific benefits that follow the same tier structure as OW but are unique to their own loyal fliers.

Probably the biggest gripe we hear on here is luggage - there is no OW luggage benefit - however some carriers do apply OW status not just their own fliers status to luggage benefits.

It is a minefield but if you plan ahead and don't assume you are right you should get lucky - there are a few people on here who can probably steer you right before you fall into more traps...[/QUOTE

Cheers Simongr appreciate the help. And I agree getting out of why would be worth it. The upgrades were $90 which would have put the airfare at $350 instead of about $900 so definitely would have been a good thing. Anyway just snagged 80A on the A380 on the way home which is going to be nice.]

 

[Hvr]

QF numbered and operated. Very important distinction in the brave new world of codeshares for everyone.

Not sure I understand this sentence. I flew several AA flights last month using my QF FF details and the (small amount of) points and SCs have posted. I even flew Alaskan Airlines as an AA code share with no problems.

 

[dfcatch]

Not sure I understand this sentence. I flew several AA flights last month using my QF FF details and the (small amount of) points and SCs have posted. I even flew Alaskan Airlines as an AA code share with no problems.

Simongr was referring to using QF points to upgrade. You need to be on a QF numbered and operated flight to do this.

 

[Hvr]

Simongr was referring to using QF points to upgrade. You need to be on a QF numbered and operated flight to do this.

Of course, it all makes sense now.

thanks

 

[serfty]

Not sure I understand this sentence. I flew several AA flights last month using my QF FF details and the (small amount of) points and SCs have posted. I even flew Alaskan Airlines as an AA code share with no problems.

Simon's post was in relation to using QFF points to upgrade.