Programs: UA 1K // Hilton HHonors Diamond // Hyatt GP Diamond
Posts: 8
Buy all miles needed for First Class award ticket?
First time poster, very long time reader.
Please pardon my ignorance on what may be a stupid question! I've got status on UA and wading into the AA/OW world for the first time.
With the current mileage buying promo (free 15k on purcahses of over 40k miles), it looks like I can buy enough miles 62.5k for a one way F Class ticket from Japan to US. It would cost roughly 1100 USD, give or take some taxes/fees. ITA shows retail pricing of similar flights at approx 8,000 USD.
Am I missing something? Can I just create a new AAdvantage account, buy miles and be off? Or is there a catch?
Please pardon my ignorance on what may be a stupid question! I've got status on UA and wading into the AA/OW world for the first time.
With the current mileage buying promo (free 15k on purcahses of over 40k miles), it looks like I can buy enough miles 62.5k for a one way F Class ticket from Japan to US. It would cost roughly 1100 USD, give or take some taxes. ITA shows retail pricing of similar flights at approx 8,000 USD.
Am I missing something? Can I just create a new AAdvantage account, buy miles and be off? Or is there a catch?
You can do that. You'd have to pay taxes and fees on the award, but it's not that much. You're subject to availability though, so if there's no inventory, you can't fly. You also don't earn more miles, so that's another one.
Welcome to FT. The one catch is that there has to be availability at that mileage cost on the dates that you want to travel. I would confirm that first. If you see it, create the account, then put the award on hold (I believe that you can do that without having the miles) and buy them. Others will know better if the timing will work.
But availability could be the downfall of the whole plan.
Programs: UA 1K // Hilton HHonors Diamond // Hyatt GP Diamond
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyMeToTheLooneyBin
You can do that. You'd have to pay taxes and fees on the award, but it's not that much. You're subject to availability though, so if there's no inventory, you can't fly. You also don't earn more miles, so that's another one.
Thanks for the quick reply, availability looks OK and I don't mind a weird routing if it dries up a bit. The way this looks right now, a one way F reward, using purchased miles, is cheaper than the most discounted coach fare. Go figure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brp
Welcome to FT. The one catch is that there has to be availability at that mileage cost on the dates that you want to travel. I would confirm that first. If you see it, create the account, then put the award on hold (I believe that you can do that without having the miles) and buy them. Others will know better if the timing will work.
But availability could be the downfall of the whole plan.
Cheers.
Thanks for the welcome. I did just this and was able to hold the seat I need, even with new miles and on a brand new AA account. Look like this will work out well. Thanks again!
Last edited by JY1024; Jan 4, 13 at 5:35 pm..
Reason: merged consecutive posts
Thanks for the quick reply, availability looks OK and I don't mind a weird routing if it dries up a bit.
On AA metal? Just keep in mind that if availability really dries up, a "weird routing" through region Asia 2 (including HKG) would not be allowed. You would have to find an Asia 1 -> North America routing without touching another region.
Programs: UA 1K // Hilton HHonors Diamond // Hyatt GP Diamond
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Austinrunner
On AA metal? Just keep in mind that if availability really dries up, a "weird routing" through region Asia 2 (including HKG) would not be allowed. You would have to find an Asia 1 -> North America routing without touching another region.
Yes, AA metal, but searching now for Cathay or JAL avail on the JAL site.
On AA metal? Just keep in mind that if availability really dries up, a "weird routing" through region Asia 2 (including HKG) would not be allowed. You would have to find an Asia 1 -> North America routing without touching another region.
Yes, AA metal, but searching now for Cathay or JAL avail on the JAL site.
Forget about Cathay, as you're not allowed to transit HKG on an award from Japan to North America.
On a related matter, what is your U.S. destination? Don't overlook the possibility of a free "gateway" stopover, if your particular itinerary would allow it.
Forget about Cathay, as you're not allowed to transit HKG on an award from Japan to North America.
On a related matter, what is your U.S. destination? Don't overlook the possibility of a free "gateway" stopover, if your particular itinerary would allow it.
Forget about Cathay, as you're not allowed to transit HKG on an award from Japan to North America.
On a related matter, what is your U.S. destination? Don't overlook the possibility of a free "gateway" stopover, if your particular itinerary would allow it.
Final is JFK. Thanks!
If you can find award space on AA's HND-JFK nonstop, then you can stop over at NYC for days, weeks, or months, and then continue on to another North American destination (including Hawaii, Aruba, Cancun, Seattle, etc.) on AA for no additional mileage. All travel on the award must be completed within one year of award-ticket issuance.
In my experience, finding F (and many times J) award space to/from Japan on AA metal is one of the easiest premium long-haul awards to come by in the AAdvantage award network. I doubt the OP will have any issues there...
Programs: UA 1K // Hilton HHonors Diamond // Hyatt GP Diamond
Posts: 8
Thanks, y'all have been super helpful. Hopefully I'll be around these parts more in the future, as this will likely be my last year with UA.
One last question, any guidance on a choice between JAL Biz (angled seats on the 787) or AA in First on a 777? I know the AA seat definitely wins, but I could save a few bucks and tolerate that sloping seat. How is the AA 777 F IFE these days (looks old in the pics I've seen) and how is the cabin service/amenities?
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Gold , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG PLT,Marriott Silver,EP Subscriber
Posts: 6,072
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
In my experience, finding F (and many times J) award space to/from Japan on AA metal is one of the easiest premium long-haul awards to come by in the AAdvantage award network. I doubt the OP will have any issues there...
And the Best thing is that you can switch to JAL when First Clas Awards Open usually 2-3 weeks before departure
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AAdvantage OneWorld Explorer First Class AAwards the Best Deal in Frequent Flyer Redemption's.
Are you making an onward or return flight at some point? Keep in mind that purchasing a one-way ticket to continue/return could be very expensive vs. buying round trip or multi-segment.
Buy all miles needed for First Class award ticket?
