Award: Syd lax sjc
Dec 22, 2015, 11:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Award: Syd lax sjc
I have a party of four on this flight early next yr paying 37.5k each.
SYD to LAX via Qantas metal
LAX to SJC (via Arizona) via Alaska metal and takes nearly 12hrs!!!
Today I got told that if I were to change to AA metal award, then I have to pay $150 x 4 passenger = $600 - is this correct?
If I were to not pay anything extra, should I be flying via Arizona (unless the flight was changed by 2hrs or the route was changed)?
Any tips?
Otherwise, I am considering buying 4 south west tickets or even Delta if they have special prices? I have Chase's UR and MR (AMEX) points.
Update:
- Booked through AAdvantage on AA.com
- Not Arizona but Portland via Alaska
LAX PDX SJC
SYD to LAX via Qantas metal
LAX to SJC (via Arizona) via Alaska metal and takes nearly 12hrs!!!
Today I got told that if I were to change to AA metal award, then I have to pay $150 x 4 passenger = $600 - is this correct?
If I were to not pay anything extra, should I be flying via Arizona (unless the flight was changed by 2hrs or the route was changed)?
Any tips?
Otherwise, I am considering buying 4 south west tickets or even Delta if they have special prices? I have Chase's UR and MR (AMEX) points.
Update:
- Booked through AAdvantage on AA.com
- Not Arizona but Portland via Alaska
LAX PDX SJC
Last edited by sciconf; Dec 23, 2015 at 11:26 am
Dec 22, 2015, 11:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Alaska MVPG 75K, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 215
Is the $150 change fees or due to different taxes and surcharges for flying AA?
If you are an MVP Gold or above, the change fees should be waived.
If you have Amex MR points, you can transfer them to BA Avios and book the LAX-SJC(or SFO) on AA metal for 4500 points + $5.60 each. You need to hurry since the rate goes up to 7500 points on Feb 6th.
Delta also seems to have cheap fares for that segment (~$68 when I wrote this): https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...;s=0;q=lax-sfo
I think your best bet is to book AA using Avios or DL/WN with cash and skip the LAX-SJC AS leg.
If you are an MVP Gold or above, the change fees should be waived.
If you have Amex MR points, you can transfer them to BA Avios and book the LAX-SJC(or SFO) on AA metal for 4500 points + $5.60 each. You need to hurry since the rate goes up to 7500 points on Feb 6th.
Delta also seems to have cheap fares for that segment (~$68 when I wrote this): https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...;s=0;q=lax-sfo
I think your best bet is to book AA using Avios or DL/WN with cash and skip the LAX-SJC AS leg.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:21 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SEA/YYZ
Posts: 1,561
I have a party of four on this flight early next yr paying 37.5k each.
SYD to LAX via Qantas metal
LAX to SJC (via Arizona) via Alaska metal and takes nearly 12hrs!!!
Today I got told that if I were to change to AA metal award, then I have to pay $150 x 4 passenger = $600 - is this correct?
If I were to not pay anything extra, should I be flying via Arizona (unless the flight was changed by 2hrs or the route was changed)?
Any tips?
Otherwise, I am considering buying 4 south west tickets or even Delta if they have special prices? I have Chase's UR and MR (AMEX) points.
SYD to LAX via Qantas metal
LAX to SJC (via Arizona) via Alaska metal and takes nearly 12hrs!!!
Today I got told that if I were to change to AA metal award, then I have to pay $150 x 4 passenger = $600 - is this correct?
If I were to not pay anything extra, should I be flying via Arizona (unless the flight was changed by 2hrs or the route was changed)?
Any tips?
Otherwise, I am considering buying 4 south west tickets or even Delta if they have special prices? I have Chase's UR and MR (AMEX) points.
AS charges change fees of $125/ticket within 60 days of departure, and you can't mix carriers in one direction aside from Alaska + a partner. You wouldn't be flying Alaska if you did LAX-PHX-SJC - that would be on American metal.
American (AAdvantage) charges a $150 change fee per ticket if you change the award type. Going from a oneworld/partner award to an American Airlines only award type would incur a change fee, unfortunately.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:23 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Is the $150 change fees or due to different taxes and surcharges for flying AA?
If you are an MVP Gold or above, the change fees should be waived.
If you have Amex MR points, you can transfer them to BA Avios and book the LAX-SJC(or SFO) on AA metal for 4500 points + $5.60 each. You need to hurry since the rate goes up to 7500 points on Feb 6th.
Delta also seems to have cheap fares for that segment (~$68 when I wrote this): https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...;s=0;q=lax-sfo
I think your best bet is to book AA using Avios or DL/WN with cash and skip the LAX-SJC AS leg.
If you are an MVP Gold or above, the change fees should be waived.
If you have Amex MR points, you can transfer them to BA Avios and book the LAX-SJC(or SFO) on AA metal for 4500 points + $5.60 each. You need to hurry since the rate goes up to 7500 points on Feb 6th.
Delta also seems to have cheap fares for that segment (~$68 when I wrote this): https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...;s=0;q=lax-sfo
I think your best bet is to book AA using Avios or DL/WN with cash and skip the LAX-SJC AS leg.
BA is asking 18k avios! per person.
Last edited by sciconf; Dec 23, 2015 at 12:40 am
Dec 23, 2015, 1:25 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SEA/YYZ
Posts: 1,561
And just for clarification for the other readers, you did book these through AAdvantage, yes? Misinformation about Alaska's program rules causes confusion.
Dec 23, 2015, 9:16 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 981
Yes, clarification would be appreciated as this does not to be an AS award, or the change fee would be $125.
If you were to skip the scheduled travel to LAX to SJC via Arizona and book something else separately from the award, won't this affect your return flight? As in cancel it? Or is this a one-way award?
If you were to skip the scheduled travel to LAX to SJC via Arizona and book something else separately from the award, won't this affect your return flight? As in cancel it? Or is this a one-way award?
Dec 23, 2015, 10:20 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
OP stated they paid 37.5k miles per award, which would be a 1-way award.
Dec 23, 2015, 10:23 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Huh? Alaska does not fly LAX-PHX/TUS or PHX/TUS-SJC. 
(Which airport in Arizona? It's a rather large state. Kind of like saying "I'm flying to Queensland". Brisbane? Gold Coast?)
The only airline you could get an award involving QF with that routing is American Airlines (AA): LAX-PHX-SJC. AA does fly those routes. It is not possible to book that routing using Alaska (AS) miles; AS only allows one partner on an AS award, so you cannot group a QF flight with an AA flight on a single award.
Are you quite certain you aren't flying LAX-SEA/PDX-SJC on AS (which could possibly have a very long stopover+backtracking of ~12 hours), or that perhaps you booked using AA miles?
Also, AA does fly LAX-SJC, but it's possible 4Y seats might not be available on the same flight...
(Which airport in Arizona? It's a rather large state. Kind of like saying "I'm flying to Queensland". Brisbane? Gold Coast?)
The only airline you could get an award involving QF with that routing is American Airlines (AA): LAX-PHX-SJC. AA does fly those routes. It is not possible to book that routing using Alaska (AS) miles; AS only allows one partner on an AS award, so you cannot group a QF flight with an AA flight on a single award.
Are you quite certain you aren't flying LAX-SEA/PDX-SJC on AS (which could possibly have a very long stopover+backtracking of ~12 hours), or that perhaps you booked using AA miles?
Also, AA does fly LAX-SJC, but it's possible 4Y seats might not be available on the same flight...
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Dec 23, 2015 at 10:29 am
Dec 23, 2015, 10:53 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,035
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-my-award.html
post 610 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l#post25345664
Post 15 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...l#post25550703 "This is AA award - taking Qantas from HNL to SYD and to LAX "
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Dec 23, 2015 at 11:03 am
Dec 23, 2015, 11:05 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
Dec 23, 2015, 11:13 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
My bad not Arizona but Portland via Alaska
LAX PDX SJC
What is intriguing me is that 37.5k is for SYD to SJC via LAX and PDX
So if I were to change from LAX to SJC, am I going to get any miles back?
So I arrive around 6am in LAX - then arrive at SJC at about 6pm!
I waited since Apr since AA told me that award seats will be released - that worked for the forward journey. But the return journey what are possible options to fly from LAX to SJC? Because $150 change fee means that I would get onto SouthWest. Delta apparently had a reduced award but it is no longer - BA does not have any economy seats either.
LAX PDX SJC
What is intriguing me is that 37.5k is for SYD to SJC via LAX and PDX
So if I were to change from LAX to SJC, am I going to get any miles back?
So I arrive around 6am in LAX - then arrive at SJC at about 6pm!
I waited since Apr since AA told me that award seats will be released - that worked for the forward journey. But the return journey what are possible options to fly from LAX to SJC? Because $150 change fee means that I would get onto SouthWest. Delta apparently had a reduced award but it is no longer - BA does not have any economy seats either.
Last edited by sciconf; Dec 23, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Dec 23, 2015, 12:04 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
My bad not Arizona but Portland via Alaska
LAX PDX SJC
What is intriguing me is that 37.5k is for SYD to SJC via LAX and PDX
So if I were to change from LAX to SJC, am I going to get any miles back?
So I arrive around 6am in LAX - then arrive at SJC at about 6pm!
I waited since Apr since AA told me that award seats will be released - that worked for the forward journey. But the return journey what are possible options to fly from LAX to SJC? Because $150 change fee means that I would get onto SouthWest. Delta apparently had a reduced award but it is no longer - BA does not have any economy seats either.
LAX PDX SJC
What is intriguing me is that 37.5k is for SYD to SJC via LAX and PDX
So if I were to change from LAX to SJC, am I going to get any miles back?
So I arrive around 6am in LAX - then arrive at SJC at about 6pm!
I waited since Apr since AA told me that award seats will be released - that worked for the forward journey. But the return journey what are possible options to fly from LAX to SJC? Because $150 change fee means that I would get onto SouthWest. Delta apparently had a reduced award but it is no longer - BA does not have any economy seats either.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:04 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,209
This should be asked in the American Airlines forum since it doesn't have anything to do with Alaska except for a few flights being flown on them.
I *think* American's rules allow free changes as long as the origin and destination stay the same if booked on all OneWorld carriers. The problem is that since there are Alaska flights, I don't think the free changes apply. So you would need to pay the change fee.
I *think* American's rules allow free changes as long as the origin and destination stay the same if booked on all OneWorld carriers. The problem is that since there are Alaska flights, I don't think the free changes apply. So you would need to pay the change fee.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:16 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,406
How long do I need to clear custom at LAX and then to catch the next flight? I am arriving at 6am at LAX - when can I book for the next flight out of LAX to SJC?