For example (since AA GC's seem like a part of many deals) Plat member a. buys a 750$ GC, computer puts a flag on acct. Magically 3 weeks later Plat member a. gets UGed with 2 evips from ExPlat member b. Sure seems like an easy way to get caught...
The circle would be completed when the Ex Plat b uses the same gc. However, the airlines can do this sort of thing without anyone lurking here ad monitoring CC, so I fail to see that connection.
Programs: ex-Eastern ex-lorenzo era CO ex-TWA ex-PanAM ex-NW-Plat now MMroach ex-UA1K AA EXP Hilton Diamond
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aktchi
The circle would be completed when the Ex Plat b uses the same gc. However, the airlines can do this sort of thing without anyone lurking here ad monitoring CC, so I fail to see that connection.
Its just more interesting for them since we are the savvy flyers. The craigslist-ebay folks are just dopes. no-one likes crossword puzzles that they can complete in 2 minutes If AA or any other airline wanted they could just make swu's only usable by owner or wife-husband-(SO) (another can'o'worms) then they could just pink slip the whole bunch at fraud control and save money, time and expensive office space..... just dreamin
Programs: AA Ex Plt, 1.6MM, BMI Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Plt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gemac
On other threads, this member has shown very limited knowledge of the AAdvantage system rules, so probably doesn't know of the costs and limitations of gifting miles. But, if you assume that the person ponying up the cost for the tickets was willing to have the person doing the flying book award flights out of the flyer's account in the payer's name, why not? The basic principle of mileage running is that you get miles that are more valuable than the cost of the ticket. A couple of years ago, I got a little over 75,000 redeemable miles doing 6 round trips to DAL at a cost of under $500. Note: I did not do what this person is suggesting - I paid for my own tickets and did not use the miles to book awards for someone else.
More recently, we are seeing round trips BOS-LAX which will earn 20,888 redeemable miles bookable for $179 all-in. Do 5 of these for under $900 and the flyer gets Platinum status, the payer gets a business class ticket to Europe for under $900. Do 10 for $1790 and the flyer gets EXP, 8 eVIPs, and unlimited domestic upgrades for the next 22 months. The payer gets two business class tickets to Europe or one First Class ticket from Athens to Buenos Aires. From an economics standpoint, this makes perfect sense. From the standpoint of what AA will do to your account if they catch you doing it, it makes zero sense.
The way I read it, the question wasn't one of "redeeming miles for someone else out of my account" but rather gifting miles from one account to another, and it isn't possible to "gift" someone enough miles to get 1 J ticket to Europe, much less 2
On other threads, this member has shown very limited knowledge of the AAdvantage system rules, so probably doesn't know of the costs and limitations of gifting miles. But, if you assume that the person ponying up the cost for the tickets was willing to have the person doing the flying book award flights out of the flyer's account in the payer's name, why not? The basic principle of mileage running is that you get miles that are more valuable than the cost of the ticket. A couple of years ago, I got a little over 75,000 redeemable miles doing 6 round trips to DAL at a cost of under $500. Note: I did not do what this person is suggesting - I paid for my own tickets and did not use the miles to book awards for someone else.
More recently, we are seeing round trips BOS-LAX which will earn 20,888 redeemable miles bookable for $179 all-in. Do 5 of these for under $900 and the flyer gets Platinum status, the payer gets a business class ticket to Europe for under $900. Do 10 for $1790 and the flyer gets EXP, 8 eVIPs, and unlimited domestic upgrades for the next 22 months. The payer gets two business class tickets to Europe or one First Class ticket from Athens to Buenos Aires. From an economics standpoint, this makes perfect sense. From the standpoint of what AA will do to your account if they catch you doing it, it makes zero sense.
This is sort of interesting. What I am curious about is if you can explain why or how this is prohibited. If you buy me tickets and I fly the flights, and then I use the miles earned to buy you travel, are you actually selling miles? It's not clear at all.
By way of example, just take your scenario but instead of two people, make it a company. If I buy a few dozen tickets for an employee, and then I ask that employee to use the miles or VIP's earned from that activity to give another fellow employee a free ticket or upgrade, am I in violation of the rules? Which rule?
The way I read it, the question wasn't one of "redeeming miles for someone else out of my account" but rather gifting miles from one account to another, and it isn't possible to "gift" someone enough miles to get 1 J ticket to Europe, much less 2
To be fair, if you're going to go through this much hassle, actually gifting the miles is a totally unnecessary step.
If you do this, and person A buys person B's tickets, then B cashes in his miles for A to go to Europe, I'd think that would be suspicious. (If A's smart enough to figure this out, why not send his spouse, gardener, teenage child, etc. who would be legitimately using the miles to get A tickets?)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bdemaria
The way I read it, the question wasn't one of "redeeming miles for someone else out of my account" but rather gifting miles from one account to another, and it isn't possible to "gift" someone enough miles to get 1 J ticket to Europe, much less 2
The post was (IMO) ambiguous given the AA definition of "gifting" miles vs. the (broader) English language sense ... when I read it, I assumed it was meant the way gemac described it. If the two people have ongoing contact, and if what one is spending the miles on is <= the # of miles being moved, I don't see any value at all in the AA gifting vs. "gifting" in the sense of "I will give you a gift of an award ticket that I bought with X miles from my account", or whatever. The AA gifting costs money and has limitations, just giving someone the resulting ticket does not.
Obviously, you know all of that ... I suspect that the earlier poster is unaware of the AA giftAAMiles program or its implications.
Programs: AA Ex Plt, 1.6MM, BMI Diamond, HH Diamond, SPG Plt
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EasternTraveler
So if I fly flights that Person A pays for and then purchase tickets under person A's name using miles (award ticket) I am clear?
I'm not a lawyer (nor do I play one on TV, in fact, I don't even think I've ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express) but it seems to me that the scenario you explain would be acceptable.
So if I fly flights that Person A pays for and then purchase tickets under person A's name using miles (award ticket) I am clear?
I would never, ever do this. Don't know what the chances are that you would get caught, but the risk/reward ratio is too high for me. If you want to minimize your risk, get Person A to give you cash to pay for the tickets, then deposit the cash in your bank account, buy the tickets with your credit card. Be sure that you trust Person A. If someone from AA asks him how he knows you, and for some details about your personal life, be sure he knows enough to answer their questions (whatever they are). Person A must not panic if a couple of men in suits are blocking his way onto the aircraft.
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This is sort of interesting. What I am curious about is if you can explain why or how this is prohibited. If you buy me tickets and I fly the flights, and then I use the miles earned to buy you travel, are you actually selling miles? It's not clear at all.
By way of example, just take your scenario but instead of two people, make it a company. If I buy a few dozen tickets for an employee, and then I ask that employee to use the miles or VIP's earned from that activity to give another fellow employee a free ticket or upgrade, am I in violation of the rules? Which rule?
Let's start with what is clearly prohibited: A). I give you $900 cash, and B). you book an award flight for me using 100,000 miles.
To me, you still have the same situation if A). I give you $900 cash, B). you buy tickets that earn 100,000 miles, and then C). you book an award flight for me using 100,000 miles. You have just inserted step B) into the middle, but it doesn't change the nature of the transaction (A) for (C).
To me, it's still the same if A). I give you tickets worth $900, and B) you book an award flight for me using 100,000 miles. You can sell something (miles) for a consideration other than cash. But to make it even clearer, AA's rules also prohibit barter of miles. So to me, this one is clearly against the rules. This is the first situation you asked about.
The second situation (involving the company) is much less clear. The company is buying the ticket, and the company is getting the benefit of the miles or eVIPs. While this is not commonly done in the U.S., I suspect that AA wouldn't have a big problem with this one. But that's just a guess.
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Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then they beat you with experience.
Actually, if he flies and wants to transfer the miles to someone, that would be fall under the "Share" option.
"You may transfer up to 60,000 miles and receive up to 15,000 miles per calendar year. "
It would be difficult for the purchaser to save money on this deal, after paying for the plane ticket and transfer fees, they might be better off simply buying the miles.
However, the airlines can do this sort of thing without anyone lurking here ad monitoring CC, so I fail to see that connection.
