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Note that free stopovers have been eliminated as of 8 April 2014, so that portion of this discussion is no longer current.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 9, 2009, 7:07 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,629
No, I wouldn't consider it "gaming the system". But there are downsides to booking the roundtrip as 2 separate 1-way awards, most notably, that fees will double (expedite fees if inside 21 days; redeposit fees if you cancel). So, it would be more consumer-friendly to let you mix award types to build a roundtrip.
May 9, 2009, 8:39 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
May 9, 2009, 11:16 pm
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 63,590
The domestic-gateway stopover on international itinieraries are definitely still allowed.
For destinations that has an "off-peak" award period (Asia1, Europe, and South America 2), this change is also a net positive because, in the past, any award which had any flights in the "peak" period was charged at the higher rate.
Now, you can mix in an off-peak with a regular segment.
For destinations that has an "off-peak" award period (Asia1, Europe, and South America 2), this change is also a net positive because, in the past, any award which had any flights in the "peak" period was charged at the higher rate.
Now, you can mix in an off-peak with a regular segment.
May 9, 2009, 11:20 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Another aadvantage is that it is now possible to avoid the one-year within ticketing rule because the return doesn't need to be ticketed at the same time as the outbound (and the off-peak/peak combo is a good thing).
If international gateways were allowed stopovers, I'd be thumbs up. The current uncertainty over routing rules leaves me with mixed feelings (though I see many upsides as well). I also hope this will pressure other airlines to allow one-way awards at a straight 50%. DL/NW allow mixed award combinations, but a one-way can't be booked separately at a reduced cost.
If international gateways were allowed stopovers, I'd be thumbs up. The current uncertainty over routing rules leaves me with mixed feelings (though I see many upsides as well). I also hope this will pressure other airlines to allow one-way awards at a straight 50%. DL/NW allow mixed award combinations, but a one-way can't be booked separately at a reduced cost.
May 9, 2009, 11:31 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,738
I would miss both the domestic stopover and especially the International gateway stopover, but that is life - you gain some you lose some.
This would push us to use OW award more, despite its very restrictive rules.
The one-way award is definitely a plus because now we can do our Transatlantic cruise without either throw away half of the award ticket, or take 2 Transatlantic cruises in same year.
This would push us to use OW award more, despite its very restrictive rules.
The one-way award is definitely a plus because now we can do our Transatlantic cruise without either throw away half of the award ticket, or take 2 Transatlantic cruises in same year.
May 9, 2009, 11:52 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
A stopover is defined as a stop for more than 24 hours for itineraries using Mexico, Carribean, or other international awards. So SJU does count as a NA gateway for EIS. Party on!
May 10, 2009, 12:17 am
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
If EIS is within this area (which it would seem to be) then I wouldn't see how there would be a stopover opportunity
A stopover occurs at 6 hours on an international award itinerary unless there are no flights within that time frame
Dave
May 10, 2009, 12:31 am
#54
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
North America awards cover U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
If EIS is within this area (which it would seem to be) then I wouldn't see how there would be a stopover opportunity
A stopover occurs at 6 hours on an international award itinerary unless there are no flights within that time frame
Dave
If EIS is within this area (which it would seem to be) then I wouldn't see how there would be a stopover opportunity
A stopover occurs at 6 hours on an international award itinerary unless there are no flights within that time frame
Dave
May 10, 2009, 12:33 am
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
This is great! The fact that a one-way trip is only half of the R/T mileage makes it even better. I can see the open jaw option going away because one would just book 2 one-ways. In fact, you could do a LAX-CDG outbound and a MAD-SFO return. As for the stopovers going away, I'd gladly give that up for this new option. And can't you basically just do that by getting a OneWorld zone award that's based on the actual number of miles flown? I know that it is a little bit more mileage than a normal award. But we can't have everything. I don't know which airline I love more now, Continental or American.
May 10, 2009, 2:50 am
#56
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: AA EXP, Starwood Plat
Posts: 305
Huge thumbs down
I appreciate that others appear to welcome the addition of one way awards and don't care about the subtraction of stopovers, but I am the opposite.
Has anyone confirmed that this change applies also to All-Partner awards?
If so, my plans to use my 600k miles were just blown out of the water.
If United does not match American's elimination of a stopover at the international gateway, I will probably try to earn United miles instead of American miles at the margins.
Has anyone confirmed that this change applies also to All-Partner awards?
If so, my plans to use my 600k miles were just blown out of the water.
If United does not match American's elimination of a stopover at the international gateway, I will probably try to earn United miles instead of American miles at the margins.
May 10, 2009, 5:46 am
#58
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 26
so let's see if i understand the new rules: planning to use award for travel from JFK to DPS over HKG (AA/Cathay pacific). had been planning to stop two days in HKG since connection is overnight there anyway. now will have to sleep on a bench overnight at HKG or scramble back from hotel to pick up flight to DPS??????
May 10, 2009, 6:31 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
May 10, 2009, 6:43 am
#60
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,455
so let's see if i understand the new rules: planning to use award for travel from JFK to DPS over HKG (AA/Cathay pacific). had been planning to stop two days in HKG since connection is overnight there anyway. now will have to sleep on a bench overnight at HKG or scramble back from hotel to pick up flight to DPS??????
