I hate AA already... (award availability complaint)
Sep 26, 2017, 10:19 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Yes, I said Basic Economy was strictly worse in this regard. But if AA wants to force most regular economy purchasers to pay for seat selection, they should just implement that and be honest in their marketing instead of the current ridiculous situation in which only middle seats are available without a fee. More generally, this isn't a situation that you can chalk up to "well everyone does that" because if you pay a regular economy fare on United or Delta there's actually a reasonable array of seats initially made available to regular economy customers.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:49 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
I usually fly Southwest and all flights show how much of my Rapid Rewards I can use - I can choose any flight I want.
I do not fly a lot, so I am not sure if this is the same thing. Our whole family just uses their Southwest cards, and depending on how much they spend (utility bills, groceries, gas - then pay off at the end of the month), they have earned companion passes.
Are other airline rewards different?
Luckily, Southwest travels to most of our destinations and flies out of our two closest airports. I know that can be an issue.
I do not fly a lot, so I am not sure if this is the same thing. Our whole family just uses their Southwest cards, and depending on how much they spend (utility bills, groceries, gas - then pay off at the end of the month), they have earned companion passes.
Are other airline rewards different?
Luckily, Southwest travels to most of our destinations and flies out of our two closest airports. I know that can be an issue.
Sep 26, 2017, 10:59 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
I ended up buying two one way tickets down there for 25,000 miles plus $11 or whatever, and then I purchased two, one way tickets back. Overall each of us is paying $240 or so.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:00 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dallas/Orlando
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 2,716
Yes, you can choose any flight on Southwest that you want, but the reward pricing is dynamic and reflects how much the cash fare for the flight is... somewhat, but not exactly similar to what AA does with MilesAAver vs. AAnytime awards.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:03 am
#21
formerly PHLGrump
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: PHL
Posts: 99
Have never flown with them, already hate them.
Applied and was approved for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum. I wanted to close it and the rep said she could give me (2) free one day Admirals club passes if I spent $350 on the card within the next two months, so I said, "okay I'll book my trip to Florida in March with my miles and pay cash for the other."
I'm planning a trip for March and I'm sitting on 31,000-ish bonus miles that I've earned from the card.
Here are the problems:
1) The miles system is ridiculous. I get one choice of a terrible 6:59 pm flight out of my airport if I want to redeem MilesSaver (or whatever) from where I live. Really? One flight, why can't I choose any flight like on any normal airline? If I don't want to choose that one flight, I have to pay 30,000 miles per way. How ridiculous. Why does it cost 30,000 miles PER WAY.
2) Why can't I book a flight for myself with miles and pay cash for the other ticket on my itinerary? I don't have enough miles for both tickets, yet alone my own unless I can nit pick through and find two dates where the miles cost is actually normal..
3) Why is it when it asks me to choose seats NONE are available except ones you have to pay for.
Need help here folks.
Applied and was approved for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum. I wanted to close it and the rep said she could give me (2) free one day Admirals club passes if I spent $350 on the card within the next two months, so I said, "okay I'll book my trip to Florida in March with my miles and pay cash for the other."
I'm planning a trip for March and I'm sitting on 31,000-ish bonus miles that I've earned from the card.
Here are the problems:
1) The miles system is ridiculous. I get one choice of a terrible 6:59 pm flight out of my airport if I want to redeem MilesSaver (or whatever) from where I live. Really? One flight, why can't I choose any flight like on any normal airline? If I don't want to choose that one flight, I have to pay 30,000 miles per way. How ridiculous. Why does it cost 30,000 miles PER WAY.
2) Why can't I book a flight for myself with miles and pay cash for the other ticket on my itinerary? I don't have enough miles for both tickets, yet alone my own unless I can nit pick through and find two dates where the miles cost is actually normal..
3) Why is it when it asks me to choose seats NONE are available except ones you have to pay for.
Need help here folks.
You're not crazy - AA's award availability is horrendous, but that's no secret.
Best bet is to set up ExpertFlyer.com alerts to let you know when award availability at the SAAver level opens.
Sep 26, 2017, 11:12 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
I guess i was just spoiled by Jet Blue last year.
It was 12.5k miles one way, 12.5k the other, and you could pick whatever seat and flight you wanted, except for the "more comfort" seats that cost a fixed rate more.
It was 12.5k miles one way, 12.5k the other, and you could pick whatever seat and flight you wanted, except for the "more comfort" seats that cost a fixed rate more.
Sep 26, 2017, 1:05 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
IF you frequently travel (once/year) with someone, you may consider the Delta Skymiles Platinum card from Amex with the $195 AF. *After* the first year, you get a Companion Certificate (coach) that's essentially a "bogo".
Depending upon where you fly to, the AF may be more than offset by the "free" companion ticket.
I used mine for a Key West (pre hurricane) ticket, so it "saved" me $570. If I factor in the $200 AF, then I guess it saved me $370.
Sep 26, 2017, 1:15 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Another option (possibly):
IF you frequently travel (once/year) with someone, you may consider the Delta Skymiles Platinum card from Amex with the $195 AF. *After* the first year, you get a Companion Certificate (coach) that's essentially a "bogo".
Depending upon where you fly to, the AF may be more than offset by the "free" companion ticket.
I used mine for a Key West (pre hurricane) ticket, so it "saved" me $570. If I factor in the $200 AF, then I guess it saved me $370.
IF you frequently travel (once/year) with someone, you may consider the Delta Skymiles Platinum card from Amex with the $195 AF. *After* the first year, you get a Companion Certificate (coach) that's essentially a "bogo".
Depending upon where you fly to, the AF may be more than offset by the "free" companion ticket.
I used mine for a Key West (pre hurricane) ticket, so it "saved" me $570. If I factor in the $200 AF, then I guess it saved me $370.
Unfortunately I'm frozen under the 2/90 rule at the moment
Sep 26, 2017, 2:01 pm
#25
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
Southwest has the best rewards program of US airlines by far
/flame suit on
United is the second best
/flame suit off
hehe
Southwest is real straight forward - spend XX, get XX points, want a flight that costs XX - that costs XX points, straight conversion that you know ahead of time.
United hasn't devalued much and if you have the credit card you get last seat availability - or dang close. Saver awards are fairly plentiful - especially partner airlines (Star Alliance) to Asia. EU is hard for almost any airline saver awards right now it seems.
Delta and AA have devalued themselves into Oblivion
YMMV
Also - I have no knowledge of Alaska (Which a LOT of people like the program) and Jetblue mainly due to their small networks, I can't fly them for business regularly.
/flame suit on
United is the second best
/flame suit off
hehe
Southwest is real straight forward - spend XX, get XX points, want a flight that costs XX - that costs XX points, straight conversion that you know ahead of time.
United hasn't devalued much and if you have the credit card you get last seat availability - or dang close. Saver awards are fairly plentiful - especially partner airlines (Star Alliance) to Asia. EU is hard for almost any airline saver awards right now it seems.
Delta and AA have devalued themselves into Oblivion
YMMV
Also - I have no knowledge of Alaska (Which a LOT of people like the program) and Jetblue mainly due to their small networks, I can't fly them for business regularly.
Sep 26, 2017, 2:15 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
You're not doing anything wrong, AA is hands down the worst when it comes to sAAver level domestic award availability. And March is a very busy time to Florida with spring breaks and cruise season, etc., so it's not surprising your desired flight isn't available.
And all AA awards are technically one-way, so you can book 2 one-ways on the outbound for both of you on the same itinerary, and pay for the return one-ways on a separate itinerary.
And all AA awards are technically one-way, so you can book 2 one-ways on the outbound for both of you on the same itinerary, and pay for the return one-ways on a separate itinerary.
AA has gone from best to worst in award and especially upgrade availability over the course of the past several years.
Sep 26, 2017, 2:55 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,062
Can find late March trips on DL for DTW-FLL from 15K miles RT. Granted, that's for mid-week departures rather than prime weekend dates. But for people who have some flexibility, there are some reasonable deals to be found.
Sep 26, 2017, 3:36 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
Part of the reason why I collect airline pseudo-currency is that we're 1,000 miles away from aging parents, and I like having options other than the $900+ (expensive and tiny) home airport 'get up their tomorrow' airfare. When I price things out for those kinds of tickets (fortunately haven't had to go through booking often with them yet) I can usually find something on United for 25K miles plus close in booking fees, American is 25-37.5K plus close in fees, Delta will be in the 30-40K range plus $5, and then Southwest and its cash-based redemption can easily price out north of 70K points to get out of a local airport during tourist season.
Every program has its strengths and weaknesses based on home airport and normal travel patterns. Easy to slog on the SkyPeso, but I've had good luck with them for 'cheap' award redemptions for Economy flights to Europe. If you want J long haul with them though, then I get the Peso references because it quickly becomes a terrible program for that kind of thing.
Every program has its strengths and weaknesses based on home airport and normal travel patterns. Easy to slog on the SkyPeso, but I've had good luck with them for 'cheap' award redemptions for Economy flights to Europe. If you want J long haul with them though, then I get the Peso references because it quickly becomes a terrible program for that kind of thing.
Sep 26, 2017, 4:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club (Silver), Le Club Accor (Silver)
Posts: 680
Never had a problem redeeming AA miles for Europe - South Pacific in business class on CX, QF, QR etc. Nor for intra-Asia Y / J. But it's true it's like searching for a needle in a haystack trying to find a sAAver award for something useful in the US at the moment.
Sep 26, 2017, 4:45 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Limited Due Diligence on AA's miles limitations when signing up for CC..why even bother signing up a BA/QR account to book partners' flights?