Last edit by: thorofare
American Airlines "Special Fares" and EQD Earning
Link to aa.com Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Elite Qualifying Credits
"Special Fares" include some fares sold by other than AA, such as those sold in conjunction with a travel lodging package by AA Vacations, and those purchased with credit card points, such as Thank You Points and Membership Rewards points.
Like oneworld partner (and Alaska Airlines through 31 Dec 2017) fares, these earn Elite Qualifying Dollars based on a percentage of base miles / miles flown / flight distance and the fare class purchased.
Flights booked using Thank You Points, Membership Rewards, etc. where the cardholder is essentially buying your ticket most often are special fares as well.
NOTE: EQD credit varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changed on 1 Jan 2019. See here.
Link to aa.com Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Elite Qualifying Credits
"Special Fares" include some fares sold by other than AA, such as those sold in conjunction with a travel lodging package by AA Vacations, and those purchased with credit card points, such as Thank You Points and Membership Rewards points.
Like oneworld partner (and Alaska Airlines through 31 Dec 2017) fares, these earn Elite Qualifying Dollars based on a percentage of base miles / miles flown / flight distance and the fare class purchased.
Flights booked using Thank You Points, Membership Rewards, etc. where the cardholder is essentially buying your ticket most often are special fares as well.
NOTE: EQD credit varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changed on 1 Jan 2019. See here.
AA "Special Fare" (AA Vacations, TYP, MR, etc.) Questions, EQD, Issues (merged)
#61
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,816
I've been trying to find international special fares (marked with an asterisk after the booking code) on AAVacations, but haven't found anything. Most domestic fares I've found there show as special fares, but none of the international fares are.
Anyone have any experience with this? Looks like AA made some changes in June that may have affected this.
Anyone have any experience with this? Looks like AA made some changes in June that may have affected this.
#62
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
#63
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 9
I replicated this through aavacations (ORD-PEK) and showed Q* and K* special fare.
Would you happen to know if i booked same flight on Amex or Chase using cash+points or even all points, would that be considered special fare?
And if so, if i apply SWU, would that turn it into regular fare?
Looking to get EQDs out of cheap flights to Asia, but I'd like to use my SWU.
Insights are appreciated!
Would you happen to know if i booked same flight on Amex or Chase using cash+points or even all points, would that be considered special fare?
And if so, if i apply SWU, would that turn it into regular fare?
Looking to get EQDs out of cheap flights to Asia, but I'd like to use my SWU.
Insights are appreciated!
#64
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
There's no definitive answer on this, but there have been many cases when adding a SWU switches it to a regular fare. Unknown when/why this happens. If that happens, some have had success calling AA and asking them to switch it back to a special fare (while retaining the upgrade).
#65
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 9
I’ve looked at the fare rules on chase and Amex but haven’t been able to find wholesale or bulk.
However if it’s booked with points, would that automatically give special fare?
To call AA to switch it to special fare for SWU is that after or before taking flight?
However if it’s booked with points, would that automatically give special fare?
To call AA to switch it to special fare for SWU is that after or before taking flight?
#66
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I booked an AAVacations trip that I just finished. When I booked all the flights had the *, but a schedule change had me reroute myself for free and the confirmation when that ticketed did not include the * on the new routing (half of the RT). All segments posted as distance based, so YMMV vary on this (I made my change before the language on the site changed, but I can't imagine AA IT is that smart to know that the * language only applies after that date).
#67
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I've been trying to find international special fares (marked with an asterisk after the booking code) on AAVacations, but haven't found anything. Most domestic fares I've found there show as special fares, but none of the international fares are.
Anyone have any experience with this? Looks like AA made some changes in June that may have affected this.
Anyone have any experience with this? Looks like AA made some changes in June that may have affected this.
#68
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Posts: 213
I booked a trip 2 weeks ago that I'm on now, SEA-LHR-DFW-SEA all booked under AA flt numbers but with the outbound on BA, all with * by the fare code - the BA flight posted already as a special fare...for the princely sum of $900 EQD I did use a SWU to upgrade to F on the return next Tuesday so really hoping that I get lucky and it converts to standard because the 20% AA gives on discount business fares is really lame IMO given H and K economy fares get the same rate. I get those are the rules and you win some you lose some on these fares but treating a $600 economy fare the same as a multi-thousand dollar business class fare sucks [for me in this case] - thankfully I have all the EQDs I need but still!
Now if you want a real hoot, take a look at the mileage multiplier offers these fares offer when you manage the booking online - I had never paid attention to it before but on one of my last trips (MIA - LHR in business), the offer was somewhere a bit over $1,000 for a whopping 600 or so extra miles! Not sure if that was an error for that one ticket but it made me laugh when I saw it.
Last edited by pmanchuk; Sep 26, 2017 at 5:37 am
#69
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I agree the EQD/EQM rates aren’t exactly great when compared to standard tickets but I look at it this way, with the AAV fares I’m able to book reasonably priced business class tickets to Europe pretty much year round (as opposed to having to wait for limited time sale/promo windows) and likewise if needed have the predeparture waiver... so all in all, it offers much more flexibility and better pricing than the alternative so the low EQD/EQM is a bit of a trade off for that.
Now if you want a real hoot, take a look at the mileage multiplier offers these fares offer when you manage the booking online - I had never paid attention to it before but on one of my last trips (MIA - LHR in business), the offer was somewhere a bit over $1,000 for a whopping 600 or so extra miles! Not sure if that was an error for that one ticket but it made me laugh when I saw it.
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,666
I have a question, found a fare on AA vacations but thee outbound is without asterisk and the return is with asterisk, how would this work? The outbound will post as fare based and the return as distance based? How they would even calculate that fare for the outbound?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
#72
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Beware that officially only fares proceeded by an asterisk (e.g. O*, V*, etc) will credit under the special fare rules. A regular O fare (no *) will credit as a regular fare.
#73
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
The outbound will post as fare based and the return as distance based? How they would even calculate that fare for the outbound?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
AA will find a way (don't count on many EQDs).
Yes, I've heard this is possible.
#74
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Not exactly. You get 1.2x applied against 0.5x (1.2 * 0.5 * distance). In other words, you'd earn a total of 1.1x award miles on an O* fare.
Beware that officially only fares proceeded by an asterisk (e.g. O*, V*, etc) will credit under the special fare rules. A regular O fare (no *) will credit as a regular fare.
Beware that officially only fares proceeded by an asterisk (e.g. O*, V*, etc) will credit under the special fare rules. A regular O fare (no *) will credit as a regular fare.
#75
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
MR EQD earning on flight
I want to make sure I understand this calculation correctly. MR points on RT LAX TO JFK. Was one of there discounted MR fares if that possibly matters, insider fare I think, anbout 10% less MR points. Business D fare class.
Using an air miles calculator it's 4950 miles RT. According to special fares chart EQDs should be.25 per mile flown. So, that's 1237.50 EQDS by my calculation unless the insider fare lowers it further.
Do I have this correct?
Using an air miles calculator it's 4950 miles RT. According to special fares chart EQDs should be.25 per mile flown. So, that's 1237.50 EQDS by my calculation unless the insider fare lowers it further.
Do I have this correct?