XASA AAdvantage recognition

[kempvet]

If I were to book a JASA with Qantas, is there a way my AA number can be attached and what booking code would the flight use, P, U, X and Z booking classes are included only when booked as part of a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award. I can not see these classes mentioned in the AA Qantas earning page, does this mean that a JASA can not be recognised for mileage with AA.

 

[anat0l]

If I were to book a JASA with Qantas, is there a way my AA number can be attached and what booking code would the flight use, P, U, X and Z booking classes are included only when booked as part of a Qantas & Jetstar Any Seat Award. I can not see these classes mentioned in the AA Qantas earning page, does this mean that a JASA can not be recognised for mileage with AA.

Correct - if you try to credit a Qantas Any Seat Award to AA you will earn nothing.

 

[Kangol]

Correct - if you try to credit a Qantas Any Seat Award to AA you will earn nothing.

You mean the ASAs at "classic award prices" - ie those booked into a classic fare bucket (PUZX).
If you buy a more expensive ASA in a revenue fare bucket, then depending on which particular booking class it is you are much more likely to earn on AAdvantage.
However 1 million QFF points for an ASA longhaul J ticket that earns on AA may not be considered good "value".

Qantas

 

[anat0l]

You mean the ASAs at "classic award prices" - ie those booked into a classic fare bucket (PUZX).
If you buy a more expensive ASA in a revenue fare bucket, then depending on which particular booking class it is you are much more likely to earn on AAdvantage.
However 1 million QFF points for an ASA longhaul J ticket that earns on AA may not be considered good "value".

I didn't know that higher ASAs (e.g. Flexible Y, or non-Classic ASAs) mapped into revenue classes which could earn. If that was so, then I agree with you, but that all said and done you are also right about the question on the value.

 

[CaviAck]

I didn't know that higher ASAs (e.g. Flexible Y, or non-Classic ASAs) mapped into revenue classes which could earn. If that was so, then I agree with you, but that all said and done you are also right about the question on the value.

Just did a test booking for a status run SYD-MEL-SYD (sometimes the temptation of qualifying SG before flying LAX-SYD is just too much) and the YASA at classic points (red-e deal with cash payment) books into X, while the semi-flexi and flexi fares book into V and B respectively (may be different for different routes?)

 

[futaris]

When you make the booking, on the second page, pull up the source code and search for CLASSES. If CLASSES=X (or P, U or Z) then you won't earn any AAdvantage miles...

 

[anat0l]

Does this mean that it might be worth investing in an ASA which is not at Classic levels for getting some AA earn?

I'm thinking this is more applicable for Y or W redemptions; that said, it's a quite a chunk more of extra points in QFF, or extra co-pay.

In a sense, it's almost like exporting your QFF points for AA miles and status... at a questionable exchange rate perhaps.....

 

[NM]

Does this mean that it might be worth investing in an ASA which is not at Classic levels for getting some AA earn?

I'm thinking this is more applicable for Y or W redemptions; that said, it's a quite a chunk more of extra points in QFF, or extra co-pay.

In a sense, it's almost like exporting your QFF points for AA miles and status... at a questionable exchange rate perhaps.....

I doubt its good value in most cases. Its probably better value to purchase AA miles directly if its the miles you want. The only time I can see an xASA being credited to AAdvantage is if you are very close to crossing a status threshold you want to achieve. An ASA booked into B class or better is likely to cost 2x the QFF points (or more) than a classic award level ASA booked into X, Z, U, or P.

 

[Kangol]

Does this mean that it might be worth investing in an ASA which is not at Classic levels for getting some AA earn?

I'm thinking this is more applicable for Y or W redemptions; that said, it's a quite a chunk more of extra points in QFF, or extra co-pay.

In a sense, it's almost like exporting your QFF points for AA miles and status... at a questionable exchange rate perhaps.....

For those who are QFF points rich who don't want to/need to credit to QFF, because points have no "value", then yes.

If you work it out using some random dates some 10 months from now, eg MEL-LAX return, that can be had as an ASA in:
M class for ~360k QFF points all inclusive,
H class for ~500k points,
R class for ~580k points,
W class for ~890k points and
I class for ~945k points.

The return flight is 15,848 miles (total distance).
Depending if you are after EQM, EQP or RDM then your earn rates will vary.

In the above example M class will earn 0.5 RDM per mile flown but 1 EQP per mile flown.
So 360,000 QFF points converted to 7,924 AA miles for redeeming Aawards isn't so great.
Neither is 360,000 QFF points converted to 15,848 EQP to achieve elite status. That is not much over halfway to get AA Gold (OWR).

In contrast, on QFF that will get you 90SCs, just under one third to QFF silver (OWR) and 15,848 QFF points.

I haven't looked at domestic flights but I suspect the value would not be that great.

ETA: Forgot to mention that this is for AA members without status. If you are an elite member then you'd need to factor in minimum mileage guarantees where applicable and status bonus into your calculations.
This page has some examples on calculation:
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Miles_and_Points_(AA)

 

[kempvet]

For those who are QFF points rich who don't want to/need to credit to QFF, because points have no "value", then yes.

If you work it out using some random dates some 10 months from now, eg MEL-LAX return, that can be had as an ASA in:
M class for ~360k QFF points all inclusive,
H class for ~500k points,
R class for ~580k points,
W class for ~890k points and
I class for ~945k points.

The return flight is 15,848 miles (total distance).
Depending if you are after EQM, EQP or RDM then your earn rates will vary.

In the above example M class will earn 0.5 RDM per mile flown but 1 EQP per mile flown.
So 360,000 QFF points converted to 7,924 AA miles for redeeming Aawards isn't so great.
Neither is 360,000 QFF points converted to 15,848 EQP to achieve elite status. That is not much over halfway to get AA Gold (OWR).

In contrast, on QFF that will get you 90SCs, just under one third to QFF silver (OWR) and 15,848 QFF points.

I haven't looked at domestic flights but I suspect the value would not be that great.

ETA: Forgot to mention that this is for AA members without status. If you are an elite member then you'd need to factor in minimum mileage guarantees where applicable and status bonus into your calculations.
This page has some examples on calculation:
Miles and Points (AA) - FlyerGuide Wiki

Thanks, this is the sort of information that I needed, I was looking for a way to use my QF points to reach AA EXP, it appears that it is an exercise not worth undertaking, I am flying LAX-SIN-LAX on AA flight numbers and was wondering whether the XASA could be helpful for the SIN-SYD-SIN, guess not, what if I flew with BA SIN-SYD-SIN, I think any paid class with flown with BA will be at least equivalent to one mile AA, or is this only transatlantic, I know that this is the case with IB

 

[futaris]

The only time it will be worth it, is when the value of the Red-E-Deal fare is close to the cost of the normal XASA, (e.g. CGK-SYD for 19k + 214.37 USD ASA vs 25k + 116.78 USD Classic) and you are Plat / EXP in AAdvantage, and Bronze in QFF and there is no X availability on the dates that you need. In this case you're probably comparing earning 1 QFF point versus 1 AA mile.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks, this is the sort of information that I needed, I was looking for a way to use my QF points to reach AA EXP, it appears that it is an exercise not worth undertaking, I am flying LAX-SIN-LAX on AA flight numbers and was wondering whether the XASA could be helpful for the SIN-SYD-SIN, guess not, what if I flew with BA SIN-SYD-SIN, I think any paid class with flown with BA will be at least equivalent to one mile AA, or is this only transatlantic, I know that this is the case with IB

How many QFF points do you have? Unless your balance is in the millions with an annual accrual also in the millions (or close to that) then I doubt it'd be worthwhile using them towards accumulating AA status..

In the SYD-SIN-SYD example, a YASA in B class (1.5 EQPs per mile flown) return is ~228k points direct or via MEL (all legs in B class).
Going via MEL gives you slightly better earn due to distance (4191 miles vs 3915 direct).
Each way is (1.5*3915= 5873 EQPs) direct.
Via MEL is [(1.5*500 = 750 for AA Elites only, which I see you are AA Plat) + (1.5*3753 = 5630) = 6380 EQPs]
So the maximum EQPs, for an AA Elite, on a return YASA costing 228k QFF points is 12,760. Eight of those and you have AA EXP!
ie. 18 QFF points will get you 1 EQP.

The big downer is that a full fare economy ticket will not earn you AA status any quicker than that in a premium cabin.

In theory, AA EXP can be had for 8x228k QFF points using this example (1.83 million with no cash outlay!)
The same return YASA example (obviously a very expensive one) gives you 60 SCs on QFF. Twenty four of those and you have QFF WP! :shock:
Four FASA returns which cost a lot more will get you QFF WP..

Just looked at domestic fares, eg MEL-SYD and YASAs in earning classes are very limited. eg Flexi-Saver V class is ~35k, Fully Flexible B class is ~69k.
Red-e-deals in O class are ~16k points earn 50% base miles and 0.5 EQP... for a 439 mile flight!
The B class one way at ~69k points earns 659 EQPs. 105 QFF points gets you 1 EQP! :shock:

You could look at slightly cheaper YASAs in H or K class (that earn 100% EQMs per mile flown) and use EQMs to attain status to see if that is of better value I guess.. any cheaper or lower classes on QF earn at 50%

All BA flights in earning classes earn 100% base miles:
British Airways

If you're looking for helpful ways to get AA EXP, some ideas can be found at certain blogs like these:
Maximize frequent flyer miles, credit card points and hotel points - The Points Guy
One Mile at a Time - Tips, Tricks, and Travel with Lucky
However they tend to be aimed toward US based members.

 

[Kangol]

You could look at slightly cheaper YASAs in H or K class (that earn 100% EQMs per mile flown) and use EQMs to attain status to see if that is of better value I guess..

Using SYD-LHR as an example, return YASAs give you the following:
~308k points in K class = 21,174 EQMs (14.5 QFF points per EQM)
~391k points in B class = 31,761 EQPs (12.3 QFF points per EQP)

Better, but still not that great.

For SYD-LAX return:
~446k points in H class or ~311k points in M class both give 15,004 EQPs (29.7 and 20.7 QFF points per EQP respectively)
M gives you 7,502 EQMs (41.5 QFF points per EQM)

It really depends on the route you choose, but it's still not a very economic way to burn your points.

Changing the ASA to include a cash component is going to change the "value", as it does when crediting "classic award priced" ASAs to QFF.

Then again, the idea of using points to earn status (and more points) is a benefit that is not found on many other FF programs, especially those in OW...