Upgrading on a BA flight using miles transferred from AA
Jan 18, 2010, 9:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 50
Upgrading on a BA flight using miles transferred from AA
Hi -
Considering attempting the following:
I have a flight from LAX to LHR on AA. I have a connecting flight from LHR to CAI on BA. My EVP upgrade was confirmed on the AA segment but I know the EVP won't apply to the BA flight. However, I was considering transferring miles from my AA account to my BA Executive Club account for an upgrade. Has anyone ever attempted this successfully before?
Thank you in advance -
RO
Considering attempting the following:
I have a flight from LAX to LHR on AA. I have a connecting flight from LHR to CAI on BA. My EVP upgrade was confirmed on the AA segment but I know the EVP won't apply to the BA flight. However, I was considering transferring miles from my AA account to my BA Executive Club account for an upgrade. Has anyone ever attempted this successfully before?
Thank you in advance -
RO
Jan 18, 2010, 9:31 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly AUS or rural England
Programs: BAEC redundant Bronze, AAdvantage Lifetime PLT, CO, WN, B6
Posts: 6,526
I have a flight from LAX to LHR on AA. I have a connecting flight from LHR to CAI on BA. My EVP upgrade was confirmed on the AA segment but I know the EVP won't apply to the BA flight. However, I was considering transferring miles from my AA account to my BA Executive Club account for an upgrade. Has anyone ever attempted this successfully before?
Another point to be careful of is you can only upgrade BA tickets purchased directly from BA - at this point you can't even upgrade travel agent tickets using miles. If your LHR-CAI sector is part of an AA ticket I would check the eligibility before moving the miles.
Last edited by bernardd; Jan 18, 2010 at 9:37 am
Jan 18, 2010, 9:35 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,534
As bernardd said, how do you plan to transfer the miles? There is no direct transfer option and anything like Points.com or other programmes result in a significant loss of value. Either buy up your fare to fly in biz, or accept that you might be stuck in coach
Jan 18, 2010, 9:59 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 50
I had considered using Hilton to make the transfer, but I had not realized the exchange rate was so low. I'll have to look into the cost of paying for an upgrade. Thanks for the responses.
Jan 18, 2010, 10:46 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
You can convert AA miles to HHonors points, but - to my knowledge - you can't then convert HHonors points to BA miles.
If you have enough AA miles, why not just try to book a J award ticket from LHR to CAI?
Jan 18, 2010, 10:49 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 50
I would have booked an award ticket but a coach class ticket was already purchased for me by my employer.
Thanks for the response.
Jan 18, 2010, 11:11 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
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According to the Honors website, the exchange rate for Hilton points to BA miles is 10,000 Hilton points will yield 1,000 BA miles. Combined with the AA miles to Hilton points exchange rate (2 HH points / AA mile), you get a rate of one BA mile for 5 AA miles.
Jan 18, 2010, 11:24 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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?? I just looked at the Hhonors website and couldn't find this . . .
Jan 18, 2010, 11:28 am
#9
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
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I think it's on this page: http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/...ntsformiles.do
British Airways is listed as an eligible partner. The page gives exchange rates for specific programs, but then at the bottom, the last table is for "Conversion rates for all other partners."
British Airways is listed as an eligible partner. The page gives exchange rates for specific programs, but then at the bottom, the last table is for "Conversion rates for all other partners."
Jan 18, 2010, 11:28 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Home Airports: CAE/CLT
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, National Executive
Posts: 5,452
FWIW, you can pay for upgrades at the BA lounge at LHR. (Not sure if you can buy it online since your ticket is booked through AA)
Last summer I bought an upgrade from Y-Y+ on a LHR-JNB flight for around 200Euro.
Last summer I bought an upgrade from Y-Y+ on a LHR-JNB flight for around 200Euro.
Jan 18, 2010, 11:45 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Jan 18, 2010, 12:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
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Jan 18, 2010, 12:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mostly AUS or rural England
Programs: BAEC redundant Bronze, AAdvantage Lifetime PLT, CO, WN, B6
Posts: 6,526
Doh! Sorry, a point I should have made before is, just like AA, you can only upgrade one class, however because BA has Y+, if you're booked in Y by AA, even if an upgrade is posible, you'll only be able to upgrade to Y+, not to Business (Club World in BA-speak) - the only upside is BA doesn't charge co-pays.
Jan 18, 2010, 1:43 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 50
Doh! Sorry, a point I should have made before is, just like AA, you can only upgrade one class, however because BA has Y+, if you're booked in Y by AA, even if an upgrade is posible, you'll only be able to upgrade to Y+, not to Business (Club World in BA-speak) - the only upside is BA doesn't charge co-pays.
Jan 18, 2010, 2:01 pm
#15
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For information, there is a more efficient path to transfer AA miles to BA. However, it only works if you have a US issued Diners Club Mastercard, and it's best used during the upredictable annual Club Rewards to BAEC promotion, which is running now.
+50,000 AAdvantage miles (maximum annual redemption)
=25,000 Diners Club Rewards points (pay $30 fee)
=37,500 BAEC miles (reflects 50% bonus, $23.75 fee)
Note that Diners Club cards issued in the USA and Canada are Mastercards, and do not have the limited merchant acceptance of Diners issued elsewhere. Unfortunately, it is not possible today to apply for a personal Diners Club card in the USA or Canada. However, Citi recently sold the franchise to Bank of Montreal and it is assumed they will resume accepting applications after they digest the acquisition.
+50,000 AAdvantage miles (maximum annual redemption)
=25,000 Diners Club Rewards points (pay $30 fee)
=37,500 BAEC miles (reflects 50% bonus, $23.75 fee)
Note that Diners Club cards issued in the USA and Canada are Mastercards, and do not have the limited merchant acceptance of Diners issued elsewhere. Unfortunately, it is not possible today to apply for a personal Diners Club card in the USA or Canada. However, Citi recently sold the franchise to Bank of Montreal and it is assumed they will resume accepting applications after they digest the acquisition.