Oct 28, 2012, 8:27 pm
Last edit by: Microwave
Moderator Wikipost
For AA's announcement of their new One-Way Flex Awards, see: http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/newsr...FlexAwards.jsp
For AA's FAQ on the new One-Way Flex Awards, including the new stopover rule, see: http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...award_faqs.jsp
Note that free stopovers have been eliminated as of 8 April 2014, so that portion of this discussion is no longer current.
/AA Moderator Team
For AA's announcement of their new One-Way Flex Awards, see: http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/newsr...FlexAwards.jsp
For AA's FAQ on the new One-Way Flex Awards, including the new stopover rule, see: http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...award_faqs.jsp
Q: Do one-way awards include any stopovers?
A: Awards between North America and Europe, India, Asia, and Central / South America allow a stopover at the North American gateway. However, other one-way awards do not allow stopovers.
A: Awards between North America and Europe, India, Asia, and Central / South America allow a stopover at the North American gateway. However, other one-way awards do not allow stopovers.
/AA Moderator Team
New One-Way Flex Award / Awards, <NO> Stopover Rule, and Booking Engine (May 9, 2009)
May 10, 2009, 2:24 pm
#91
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
The regal hotel is directly connected to Terminal 1 and great for an overnight. Since would be able to check bags all the way to DPS even with the overnight plus get boarding passes, would not be bad especially since the flight to DPS isnt an early morning departure but goes at 10am. No need to "scramble" from the hotel
May 10, 2009, 2:25 pm
#92
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York Metropolitan Area 45 km from JFK
Programs: UA,AA,AS,BA
Posts: 4,607
. Yes ^No International Stop-over^ is a BIG deal with me 4+ million AA miles. What is the purpose of anagonizing their best customers. A free stop-over is really ^No skin off their back ^. However we should realize 1 Aadvantage ( punt intended) and that is double open jaws. Does not make up for loss of Stop-over but is a mitigating factor. Hopefully low-fare carriers can be used between the each of the open jaws. LAX - CDG Open Jaw J BRU - JFK with a cheap PAR - BRU ( bus) and JFK - LAX ( Always good O/W fares ( Virgin/JetBlue/AA)
May 10, 2009, 2:39 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
No international gateway stopover, no domestic stopover.
May 10, 2009, 2:41 pm
#94
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
May 10, 2009, 2:54 pm
#95
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
For my travel patterns, it's a tradeoff. A trip I just completed two weeks ago for 135k is now 170k because of the lack of int'l stopovers. But, I see a great benefit being added in being able to mix and match business and first, and/or Saver and AAnytime awards. I've used the split award feature on CO/NW several times and it can make all the difference when trying to book awards during popular periods when you can only get the saver award in one direction, and don't want to waste the double miles just to pick up the other segment.
May 10, 2009, 3:07 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA ExP, Hyatt Diamond, MR Platinum, PC Platinum, SPG Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 498
The hidden twist!
Yes, you can book one way and also can do mix and match. BUT, guess what boys and girls...try booking miles one way and cash the other way, prices are all over the board for cash trip. I was looking at a ORD-EYW flight outbound using cash. Price is $164 if I use cash both ways, but try a one way and price goes to $261. The $164 also changes if I try a RT with cash but come back say on a Saturday instead of Sunday. Return might be down to $224 but OB goes to $181! 
May 10, 2009, 3:26 pm
#97
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM
Posts: 4,576
.. now ask me which one I prefer?
May 10, 2009, 3:43 pm
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
...OOOOOF the two OW awards I redeemed for 460k AA miles would have cost 720k BA MILES ( which are on the whole harder to accumulate)
mike
May 10, 2009, 3:46 pm
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, F9 Elite, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,319
I'll probably get flamed for this, but I definitely see and agree with where AA is going with this. I don't think it is a good idea (from an airline's perspective) to allow BOTH one-ways and stopovers in the same award. Sure, some say it costs AA nothing, but that may or may not be the case, especially with partners. Fact is, if you start allowing one-way awards with free stopovers it could get out of hand quickly.
The point of an AA or all-partner award is to allow you to travel using miles from A to Z. If you want to stop at B, C, D, and F then you have those options available to you (OneWorld Award) or *gasp* pay for the ticket with $$$. Just my .02
The point of an AA or all-partner award is to allow you to travel using miles from A to Z. If you want to stop at B, C, D, and F then you have those options available to you (OneWorld Award) or *gasp* pay for the ticket with $$$. Just my .02
May 10, 2009, 3:56 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,744
Geographically convenient, perhaps, but reviews indicate that it is a pit, and an overpriced one, at that, what with its more or less monopoly. I recently had to overnight in HKG with a 0930 departure the next morning (CX 830). Stayed at the W Kowloon. Very convenient, upstairs from the Kowloon station of airport express. It was an incredibly cool hotel, a blast to stay at, and all for less than the Regal. Recommend you give it a shot.
May 10, 2009, 4:05 pm
#101
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM
Posts: 4,576
Geographically convenient, perhaps, but reviews indicate that it is a pit, and an overpriced one, at that, what with its more or less monopoly. I recently had to overnight in HKG with a 0930 departure the next morning (CX 830). Stayed at the W Kowloon. Very convenient, upstairs from the Kowloon station of airport express. It was an incredibly cool hotel, a blast to stay at, and all for less than the Regal. Recommend you give it a shot.
http://www.etravelblackboard.com/sho...nav=1&id=78815
As a SPG fanatic, the W Kowloon sounds like a better option.
May 10, 2009, 4:06 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
I'll probably get flamed for this, but I definitely see and agree with where AA is going with this. I don't think it is a good idea (from an airline's perspective) to allow BOTH one-ways and stopovers in the same award. Sure, some say it costs AA nothing, but that may or may not be the case, especially with partners. Fact is, if you start allowing one-way awards with free stopovers it could get out of hand quickly.
The point of an AA or all-partner award is to allow you to travel using miles from A to Z. If you want to stop at B, C, D, and F then you have those options available to you (OneWorld Award) or *gasp* pay for the ticket with $$$. Just my .02
The point of an AA or all-partner award is to allow you to travel using miles from A to Z. If you want to stop at B, C, D, and F then you have those options available to you (OneWorld Award) or *gasp* pay for the ticket with $$$. Just my .02
May 10, 2009, 4:25 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
Yes, you can book one way and also can do mix and match. BUT, guess what boys and girls...try booking miles one way and cash the other way, prices are all over the board for cash trip. I was looking at a ORD-EYW flight outbound using cash. Price is $164 if I use cash both ways, but try a one way and price goes to $261. The $164 also changes if I try a RT with cash but come back say on a Saturday instead of Sunday. Return might be down to $224 but OB goes to $181!
Isn't it in most cases, a r/t is cheaper than a one-way, on a PAY TICKET? Also the days of the week always have pricing differentials among them - hence the Tue/Wed always the cheapest of the days to travel, and the weekends always more expensive.
The current changes, AFAIK, are all related to Awards, not related to Pay Ticket.
Unless you have found new information that AA now is going the way QF does, that all flights are priced at one-way... Otherwise, what you have found is nothing unusual and you just mix oranges with apples.
May 10, 2009, 4:28 pm
#104
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: WAS & FPO
Programs: AS, Hyatt
Posts: 402
I am surprised that no one is talking about the WAY the rules were changed. Isn't this the first time AA changed the rules FIRST, and THEN told us about it? For example, last summer, they gave us a few months advance notice when they changed how OneWorld award routings were calculated.
May 10, 2009, 4:31 pm
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
While this may be true, there may be a position between these two extremes. AA did not allow unlimited stopovers at B, C, D, and F before on AA or partner awards. Would one stopover in a one-way be excessive? Also, it seems to me that it would be reasonable to limit the duration of the stopover, so that it isn't a three month stopover. I see no problem in allowing one stopover of up to 24 hours in a domestic one-way.
Now AA changed it to one-way ticket, it would be a major improvement to allow stopover on the one-way because now you would be getting more than before.
My feeling is, the changes are slightly negative to most people because most people do trips in a r/t fashion and a free stopover is much more useful than booking a r/t as 2 one-ways. Though the ability to mix awards is positive (improved availability).