inpd

Hi,

I'm a lapsed ExPlat!

AA contacted me with an offer:

"To extend your elite benefits through January 31, 2019, earn 7,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and $1,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) on American or other eligible airlines for travel between the date you register and September 22, 2017.**"

and

"**Eligible airlines include American Airlines, American Eagle®, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Japan Airlines, as well as eligible codeshare flights."


Now I have to go SFO to SYD which is exactly 16000 miles round trip.

Clearly if I book QF flights codeshared with AA I'll be fine. But those flights are not so good.

But if I book directly with Qantas I can get really good tickets, but it seems they don't count despite this entry https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...nes/qantas.jsp which seems to imply if I book the cheapest economy flights with QANTAS they will count as 8000 miles for EQM and 16000 * 0.05 = 800 EQD?

jay_dubya

Nothing unusual. Standard challenge rules limit which airlines are eligible

JDiver

Why are the AA codeshares operated by QF "not so good"? Same aircraft, same seats available, etc.

As to Qantas being eligible, I believe it is for a normal Challenge as a joint business partner of AA, so I'm surprised it's not for this status retention challenge; in this instance AA policy seems to be "no". You could call or tweet and verify - I'd request a tweet or email I could print out if I had troubles later.

As to Qantas fares - be aware there may be cheaper Economy fares that aren't listed on the aa.com chart that would earn nothing. See Earning AA Miles on QF / Qantas Airways (master thread).

JonNYC

Unlike the listed partners: "British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Japan Airlines" Qantas isn't at the moment, thus the limitation.

Those are the terms, you don't get to customize the offer.

Mwenenzi

Also AA fly LAX SYD (so AA aircraft & AA flight number)
QF fly LAX-SYD and SFO-SYD and other USA Australia routes

JDiver

It looks like Qantas is only useful for the usual Challenge.

If I were the OP, given the conditions, I'd go SFO-LAX-SYD return on AA. No Q, O fare hassles, etc.

triplefives

That is a fantastic offer!

inpd

Details changed to fly to Mel.

Booked AA77 to Syd then QF to Mel. How does the transiting work. Only have 90 minutes.

flyingmusicianlax

You'll go through immigration then go over to the domestic terminal. 90 minutes is most likely enough time, but, if not, you'll be rebooked on the next flight which will be within an hour of the original.

inpd

So I won't have to recheck bags or anything like that? I'll just have to clear immigration and reclear security in the domestic terminal?

I like your optimism about being rebooked on the next flight within an hour. The QF leg is ticked as an AA flight so I bet they aren't as generous to me as they would be a QF customer.

Thanks.

JDiver

You will have to process immigration, collect your baggage, exit customs, follow the signage down the corridor to domestic baggage check, process security into the lounge for airside busses to the domestic terminal across the runway. You'll arrive airside, proceed to your departure gate. It takes time, it's definitely inconvenient.

QF will treat your AA marketed flight ticket no differently than a QF ticket - if you miss your connection, you'll be put on the next flight with an available seat.

I've done just this many times.

jay_dubya

Slightly OT - but why do you want AA Gold?

JonNYC

Was wondering the same.

JDiver

It might pay to look this gift horse in the mouth and consider a Platinum challenge; worth so much more (but requires $2,000 EQD and a fee).

AAdvantage Platinum status:
Earn 12,500 Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM
OR fly 16 Elite Qualifying Segments in three consecutive months
AND earn $2,000 in Elite Qualifying Dollars
within a three month period
AND pay a non-refundable fee

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...challenge.html

mvoight

I am not aware of any experience I've ever had on a codeshare on a OW partner where I was treated any differently if the flight had an AA ticket number. In fact, I was once upgraded from premium economy to Business class on a BA flight that was purchased with an AA flight number.