We are hoping to book this routing in a couple weeks (waiting for return dates to be in booking window). Looking for mid Sept-ish outbound and return 3 weeks later, preferably J class using AA miles.
BNE-AKL-SCL-GRU-VIX (AKL is preferred to SYD as a connection but would take SYD)
BEL-GRU-SCL-AKL-BNE
I was thinking that LA is the best longhaul carrier for either AKL-SCL or SYD-SCL. Then I heard that QF is upgrading their planes so maybe they would be better.
For the outbound, reliability is the priority as we will have ground packages booked so we want to avoid airlines that are prone to labour disputes, etc which spooked me about QF. I know they are sorted for THIS year but who knows what will happen next year? Is LA prone to labour disputes?
For the return, as long as the airline pays expenses as QF did for their stranded pax, we would be OK with it so comfort and perks in J class is the priority.
If LANTAM ends up in *A, would our AA award tickets still be valid?
What about the domestic Brazil, is Tam or Gol better? I think you can use either on an AA award.
Tiki
Nov 3, 11, 10:19 pm
One more question, Award Nexus is giving me award routings through LAX and JFK which I don't think is correct. I called the AA call centre, got a lady in Fiji and she tried a few things, then said she couldn't see anything and the system was down.
Paulchili
Nov 3, 11, 11:17 pm
I can't help you with QF vs LA, though I would like to hear the answer to that as well since I will be doing S.A. to SYD in 2013.
However, DON'T wait for your return date to be bookable - these are one way awards and in 3 weeks' time your outbound award (preferred routing) may be gone. Book it now and in 3 weeks book your return.
AA will hold your reservation for 5 days - maybe you'll get your answer here by then.
Also, consider asking a similar question on QF & LA boards - many there will have flown on both airlines.
Paulchili
Nov 3, 11, 11:24 pm
One more question, Award Nexus is giving me award routings through LAX and JFK which I don't think is correct. I called the AA call centre, got a lady in Fiji and she tried a few things, then said she couldn't see anything and the system was down.
That routing is not allowed by AA - it would take 2 awards to fly that way. You must go directly from S.Pacific/Australia/NZ to S. America. Try looking at it by segments (BNE-AKL, AKL-SCL, etc) rather than BNE -GRU. You should be able to do this on QF or BA sites - you need a QF & BA FF # (free) and you do not need miles in either program to search for awards. Once you find the awards, you must call AA to book it - cannot be booked on line.
If you get LANTAM awards, even if they join *A they will be valid if gotten under "old" rules. There is usually a window before changes take effect if Alliances change.
Hope this helps.
og
Nov 4, 11, 12:39 am
I'd prefer LA over QF but this goes via AKL. There are very cheap Business LA seats available AKL-SYD-AKL. So this could hook in with LA award seats - if you are lucky enough to get them. LA Business fills super quick.
3544quebec
Nov 4, 11, 3:54 am
What about the domestic Brazil, is Tam or Gol better? I think you can use either on an AA award.
Until TAM becomes LATAM and only if it stays within the Aadvantage program your AA miles will only get you on GOL not on TAM for an All Partner award.
LAN codeshares on TAM domestic Brazil flights for direct connections from another LAN flight but these codeshares would only be bookable in an Aadvantage award as an aberration -some have reported being able to book them as part of a paid Oneworld RTW ticket but until LATAM integrates into Oneworld they wouldn't normally be allowed.
In terms of reliability I think that things come down on the side of QF for the OZ to South America trip which if you have time sensitive land arrangements is really the only important leg of the trip.It matters little if there is a delay coming back. While LAN is generally quite reliable if something happens to delay their incoming SCL-AKL-SYD service then their nearest replacement aircraft is 16 hours away, so you will be waiting until the original aircraft is ready to depart.Qantas will at least have the option of finding another plane.
In addition the QF SYD-SCL service arrives several hours before the LA SYD-AKL-SCL service so you already have an inbuilt time cushion.
Also remember that on an Aadvantage award you could do BNE-SYD-NAN-PPT-IPC-SCL on QF/Air Pacific/Air Tahiti/LAN - now that would almost guarantee a delay somewhere along the way.
"Also remember that on an Aadvantage award you could do BNE-SYD-NAN-PPT-IPC-SCL on QF/Air Pacific/Air Tahiti/LAN"
You're assuming that the over-water carrier's published through-fare from BNE to SCL permits such a routing.
You're right - you would have to substitute AKL for NAN:
BNE-QF-SYD-LA/QF-AKL-QF/TN-PPT-IPC-SCL
Tiki
Nov 4, 11, 4:14 pm
I can't help you with QF vs LA, though I would like to hear the answer to that as well since I will be doing S.A. to SYD in 2013.
However, DON'T wait for your return date to be bookable - these are one way awards and in 3 weeks' time your outbound award (preferred routing) may be gone. Book it now and in 3 weeks book your return.
AA will hold your reservation for 5 days - maybe you'll get your answer here by then.
Also, consider asking a similar question on QF & LA boards - many there will have flown on both airlines.
The main issue with booking the outbound without a guaranteed return is that QF members have access to award flights at 355 days while AA members must wait until 331 days out. The flights I need could be booked before I have a chance, it would be different if all FF members were the same.
There is another dilemma now. I can get J class BNE-SYD-SCL but only Y class SCL-GRU on a couple dates. LAN seems to be very heavily booked during Sept, not much to either GIG or GRU from SCL. I see there are some trade fairs but would they book out all the seats?
Also, if we arrive in SCL on J and depart on Y can we still get access to the lounge if the whole award was supposed to be J class? We are not elite so must rely on the J class to get us in.
2old4coach
Nov 4, 11, 5:04 pm
When I last flew LAN, the J seats were full flat (not inclined) on the 767 but not on the A340 . I do not know if that has changed in a year. QF has eliminated first class on the 747 it flies to Australia, however I do not know if the J class seats are still Inclined flat or full flat. I would fly with the carrier with full flat seats.
That said
I have never been able to find seats on Lan using AA miles.
Happy trails.
Let us know what you were able to get.
Tiki
Nov 5, 11, 10:49 pm
Is this acceptable as a "over the water carrier's published through fare"?
Using QF and G3 (could add LA but they don't have availability)
Fare 1: Carrier QF MLSSOW BNE to VIX (rules)
Passenger type ADT, ONE-WAY-ONLY fare, booking code M, B
Covers BNE-SYD (Coach), SYD-SCL (Coach), SCL-GRU (Coach), GRU-VIX (Coach)
Fare construction (can be useful to travel agents)
BNE QF X/SYD QF X/SCL G3 X/SAO G3 VIX 2096.77MLSSOW NUC 2096.77 END ROE 1.033012 XT 49.50AU 8.10QR 3.60WG 26.60WY 30.00ZQ 8.00BR 200.00YQ
When I last flew LAN, the J seats were full flat (not inclined) on the 767 but not on the A340 . I do not know if that has changed in a year. QF has eliminated first class on the 747 it flies to Australia, however I do not know if the J class seats are still Inclined flat or full flat. I would fly with the carrier with full flat seats.
LA J seats on the 340 are as good as flat horizontal. This has been the case for at least the last year. Plenty of room to stretch out if you are 6'. QF old skybed seats are flat but sloping. The reconfigured aircraft will have flat horizontal, but that isn't happening immediately. They will have better pitch.
If you want true flat horizontal, go UA, VA, AC, DL - none of which fly across the south Pacific.
Tiki
Nov 7, 11, 7:20 pm
Looks like I get to try out QF's J class next year! :) The outbound, all I could book was Y as an AA award (and even that was really scarce) but we got J SCL-SYD-BNE so hopefully we will get a refitted 747 like this!
Aother thing, flying east bound (to SCL), the later you arrive, the more sleep you might get on board - which is important as your body clock will be completely screwed with the 10 hr time change. A LA midday arrival in SCL beats a QF offering 3 hrs earlier - just when your body clock is ready to go to sleep. Been there, done that (2 days ago) - still recovering.
BTW, Chile reciprocity tax can be paid with credit cards inspite of all the literature saying payment in USD cash only.