Is it wise to buy AA miles for US to India ?
Jun 20, 2017, 7:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 268
Is it wise to buy AA miles for US to India ?
Seniors, I think AA requires 140k miles to get award ticket to fly from US to India round trip business class with their partner airlines. Is it wise to purchase their miles or are there better deals?
Jun 20, 2017, 7:42 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Try Alaska. 125K for Business, 140K for First Class including Cathay Pacific.
Alaska currently has a mileage sale so you can buy miles for around 2 cpm.
Alaska currently has a mileage sale so you can buy miles for around 2 cpm.
Jun 20, 2017, 7:54 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
But from where is the passenger traveling? AS awards only permit the use of one partner carrier -- with or without AS flights on the itinerary.
Jun 20, 2017, 8:21 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
As noted AS can be a better option but you need to do the math and it *can* depend on your gateway. AS also gives you a stopover in each direction which you won't get with AA.
On the other hand, AA gives you the option of EY and QR which you won't have with AS plus the ability to connect in from a non-major AA/AS gateway (assuming you can find sAAver Y or J) instead of buying a separate ticket.
On the other hand, AA gives you the option of EY and QR which you won't have with AS plus the ability to connect in from a non-major AA/AS gateway (assuming you can find sAAver Y or J) instead of buying a separate ticket.
Jun 20, 2017, 11:59 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,026
As noted AS can be a better option but you need to do the math and it *can* depend on your gateway. AS also gives you a stopover in each direction which you won't get with AA.
On the other hand, AA gives you the option of EY and QR which you won't have with AS plus the ability to connect in from a non-major AA/AS gateway (assuming you can find sAAver Y or J) instead of buying a separate ticket.
On the other hand, AA gives you the option of EY and QR which you won't have with AS plus the ability to connect in from a non-major AA/AS gateway (assuming you can find sAAver Y or J) instead of buying a separate ticket.
Getting long haul business class awards is hard.
Getting 2 (us?) in the same flight can be 4 times as hard (2 to the power of 2)
AA & AS have some common partners and each has partners the other does not have.
Jun 21, 2017, 5:04 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
To and from where in the US, that helps, they are some oneworld airlines offering flights to India for less then $3000 rt business
and again as you have been informed, getting awards seats is not easy,
also what time of year etc, are you planning to travel
and again as you have been informed, getting awards seats is not easy,
also what time of year etc, are you planning to travel
Jun 21, 2017, 5:10 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Finding award availability can be tough, but with a little flexibility it should not be too hard to find 2 J award seats on QR or EY, especially if you can travel midweek. The hardest part will probably be finding sAAver F space on the AA domestic flight to the QR/EY gateway.
If you do decide to buy the miles, then by all means search for award availability first, put it on hold, then buy the miles. Not the other way around.
Jun 21, 2017, 7:32 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, UA Silver
Posts: 1,366
During QR sales this year I have seen J prices as low as $2200 from the US to India. If you have flexibility, I'd wait and buy the ticket outright, as you'll likely have more choices on flights (vs being limited by award availability) and would get the rdm's/eqd's/eqm's.
Jun 21, 2017, 8:15 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
During QR sales this year I have seen J prices as low as $2200 from the US to India. If you have flexibility, I'd wait and buy the ticket outright, as you'll likely have more choices on flights (vs being limited by award availability) and would get the rdm's/eqd's/eqm's.
Jun 21, 2017, 9:58 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,124
Jun 21, 2017, 12:38 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
If you fly to India frequently, India-US-India round trips in J are generally much cheaper than US-India-US roundtrips. However, this needs a bit more advance planning.
In any case, it rarely makes sense to buy miles for award travel. You may save some money, but rarely enough to make the hassle worthwhile. Paying for tickets gives you much more flexibility than award booking does; just shop around for the best prices. There are many choices, both transatlantic and transpacific. You are not restricted to OW airlines, as some posts above assume. If you want to use miles, get free miles from Citi.
In any case, it rarely makes sense to buy miles for award travel. You may save some money, but rarely enough to make the hassle worthwhile. Paying for tickets gives you much more flexibility than award booking does; just shop around for the best prices. There are many choices, both transatlantic and transpacific. You are not restricted to OW airlines, as some posts above assume. If you want to use miles, get free miles from Citi.
Jun 21, 2017, 1:02 pm
#13
formerly maskelo
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 255
it will depend on how much you are paying, noting that as advised above you are not guaranteed availability - if you are flexible it may be cheaper to buy directly especially if you are running a low balance if you consider taxes and fees
Jun 21, 2017, 1:50 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
If you fly to India frequently, India-US-India round trips in J are generally much cheaper than US-India-US roundtrips. However, this needs a bit more advance planning.
In any case, it rarely makes sense to buy miles for award travel. You may save some money, but rarely enough to make the hassle worthwhile. Paying for tickets gives you much more flexibility than award booking does; just shop around for the best prices. There are many choices, both transatlantic and transpacific. You are not restricted to OW airlines, as some posts above assume. If you want to use miles, get free miles from Citi.
In any case, it rarely makes sense to buy miles for award travel. You may save some money, but rarely enough to make the hassle worthwhile. Paying for tickets gives you much more flexibility than award booking does; just shop around for the best prices. There are many choices, both transatlantic and transpacific. You are not restricted to OW airlines, as some posts above assume. If you want to use miles, get free miles from Citi.