American or Qantas to Australia?
Mar 6, 2001, 1:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
American or Qantas to Australia?
I have the option of redeeming exactly the same amount of miles on American or Qantas to get to Australia, in First. It seems to me that Qantas would be nicer, however, on American I would get 1/4 the way towards million mile qualification due to a way the program works. I'm also AA Platinum, not that I think that matters.
Now my question is, given those facts, is American first class to Australia still pretty nice, or is the Qantas experience so much better I should forfeit the closer-to-Lifetime Gold opportunity?
Now my question is, given those facts, is American first class to Australia still pretty nice, or is the Qantas experience so much better I should forfeit the closer-to-Lifetime Gold opportunity?
Mar 6, 2001, 1:10 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP/4MM, QF PLT, Marriott PLT
Posts: 1,425
AA doesn't fly to Australia any longer. AA flights to Oz are codeshares with QF.
Both AA (codeshares) & QF flights earn miles towards AA million mile status -- but if you're in discounted coach, you only earn 70% of the mileage in QF.
For me, I compare the prices offered by AA & QF and take the most reasonably priced one, knowing that the seat will be on the very same QF aircraft.
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Both AA (codeshares) & QF flights earn miles towards AA million mile status -- but if you're in discounted coach, you only earn 70% of the mileage in QF.
For me, I compare the prices offered by AA & QF and take the most reasonably priced one, knowing that the seat will be on the very same QF aircraft.
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Mar 6, 2001, 1:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: arlington, va
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Plat
Posts: 660
AA still flies to Australia? You sure this isn't a codeshare? If so, book it as AA and you'll get the best of both worlds- QF aircraft and service plus credit as if you flew AA.
Mar 6, 2001, 1:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland. AA PLT. 2 MM, HH Gold
Posts: 72
Originally posted by pitflyer:
I have the option of redeeming exactly the same amount of miles on American or Qantas to get to Australia, in First. It seems to me that Qantas would be nicer, however, on American I would get 1/4 the way towards million mile qualification due to a way the program works. I'm also AA Platinum, not that I think that matters.
Now my question is, given those facts, is American first class to Australia still pretty nice, or is the Qantas experience so much better I should forfeit the closer-to-Lifetime Gold opportunity?
I have the option of redeeming exactly the same amount of miles on American or Qantas to get to Australia, in First. It seems to me that Qantas would be nicer, however, on American I would get 1/4 the way towards million mile qualification due to a way the program works. I'm also AA Platinum, not that I think that matters.
Now my question is, given those facts, is American first class to Australia still pretty nice, or is the Qantas experience so much better I should forfeit the closer-to-Lifetime Gold opportunity?
Mar 6, 2001, 2:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: MIA/FLL
Programs: AA 1MM Platinum; SPG Gold; Priority Club/IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 497
I flew to Sydney for the Olympics, fully booked on AA, but it is codeshare with Qantas. I sure didnt mind... Qantas has some very nice planes... although I think that is the last time i will EVER fly that distance in coach (university trip book by the school: IAD-LAX-AUK-SYD, then SYD-LAX-IAD).
-Eli
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Washington/Miami
AAdvantage Gold
-Eli
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Washington/Miami
AAdvantage Gold
Mar 6, 2001, 3:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
Quantas F is excellent.
Mar 6, 2001, 6:50 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
Best of both worlds then, I did not know that. Thanks for not making me dig through that horrendous AA.com site to figure that out.
USAirways over 125k First Class award ticket to Australia on both American and Qantas. Looks like I should just go with American, get to fly on Qantas, and get the credit towards lifetime.
Thanks again!
USAirways over 125k First Class award ticket to Australia on both American and Qantas. Looks like I should just go with American, get to fly on Qantas, and get the credit towards lifetime.
Thanks again!
Mar 6, 2001, 8:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Don't know....
Programs: BA LTG, SQ TPPS, CX DMP, AA EXP, Bonvoy LTT, ALL PLT, Hilton DM
Posts: 4,010
Originally posted by pitflyer:
Best of both worlds then, I did not know that. Thanks for not making me dig through that horrendous AA.com site to figure that out.
USAirways over 125k First Class award ticket to Australia on both American and Qantas. Looks like I should just go with American, get to fly on Qantas, and get the credit towards lifetime.
Thanks again!
Best of both worlds then, I did not know that. Thanks for not making me dig through that horrendous AA.com site to figure that out.
USAirways over 125k First Class award ticket to Australia on both American and Qantas. Looks like I should just go with American, get to fly on Qantas, and get the credit towards lifetime.
Thanks again!
I don't think you will get credit towards lifetime status on AA for an award ticket??
Mar 7, 2001, 7:58 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 1,604
No miles given on a strictly award ticket. You can buy a cheap economy and get miles and use an award to upgrade but only to next class of service though.
Mar 7, 2001, 8:00 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
I too really like Qantas - desite their recent difficulties! 
Mar 7, 2001, 8:09 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP/4MM, QF PLT, Marriott PLT
Posts: 1,425
Originally posted by drtravels:
No miles given on a strictly award ticket. You can buy a cheap economy and get miles and use an award to upgrade but only to next class of service though.
No miles given on a strictly award ticket. You can buy a cheap economy and get miles and use an award to upgrade but only to next class of service though.
Mar 7, 2001, 8:37 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: Whoever Has the Best Bonus
Posts: 5,183
I'm not expecting miles from the trip. It's a trick that has to do with combining US and AA miles...
Mar 7, 2001, 8:41 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: T82
Programs: AA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,845
I'm with Eli. That many hours in coach is excruciating. We flew in business class using award miles a couple of years ago. While we were comfortable, F is the way to go if you have the miles.
Mar 7, 2001, 8:49 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
It's a very long flight...and is probley one of th THE best uses for FF awards to F. Same thing for HKG! And the flight's a treat if you like to deat, drink, and be pampered. 
Mar 7, 2001, 9:12 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 24
CX has a much better F class, however, the trip from the East Coast to Australia via HKG will add about 8 hours flying time and another 18 hours layover time (the JFK or LAX flight arrives into HKG at 6am and the Australia flight departs HKG at night).