oneworld - How Do Airlines Know Your OW Status?

If someone has OW status, how do the OW airlines know?

A relative of mine expects to gain OW Ruby status by virtue of having status on a OW airline (not AA).

Later, if she decides to fly on AA using a ticket purchased on AA.com, how will AA.com know to offer her the benefits that go with Ruby?

Thank you.

She'd have to either add that airlines' FF number to the ticket or ask for the benefits by showing the card (if she's gotten it by then)

In this case, she will want AA miles and not miles from the other airline's FF program. I wonder if there is any way to do some sort of permanent linkage (OW status -> AA status) online?

It is linked. Just add AA number into reservation on any OW carrier and status should be updated.

In this case, she will want AA miles and not miles from the other airline's FF program. I wonder if there is any way to do some sort of permanent linkage (OW status -> AA status) online?

So are you saying that your relative wants to use Ruby status from another airline while accuring miles to AAdvatage? If so, she would have to change the FF number during check-in. Any OW airline can see the status of FF card holders from another OW airline from their system.

It is linked. Just add AA number into reservation on any OW carrier and status should be updated.
The OP was asking about a permanent linkage (between two OW accounts, one with status and one without), as AFAIK there is none.

The post above details how to do it (change FF program at check-in) for a paid flight. (You buy the flight using the FF program you have status with, then at check-in change to the FF program you want to earn with.)

I still don't understand how/if I can use my OW status benefits if I book using miles from a OW partner where I don't have status. (In particular, I have EXP now and lifetime PLT status at AA, but no status while a lot of miles over at BA, and with Avios new scheme, for short intra-US flights, BA miles may sometimes make more sense than AA miles. But how do I get priority check-in, priority boarding, etc, if my BA account with which I book the award flight on AA and my AA account that has the status aren't linked? (And I'm not aware of a feature on ba.com where I can specify another OW account while booking a flight using BA miles.)

The OP was asking about a permanent linkage (between two OW accounts, one with status and one without), as AFAIK there is none.

The post above details how to do it (change FF program at check-in) for a paid flight. (You buy the flight using the FF program you have status with, then at check-in change to the FF program you want to earn with.)

I still don't understand how/if I can use my OW status benefits if I book using miles from a OW partner where I don't have status. (In particular, I have EXP now and lifetime PLT status at AA, but no status while a lot of miles over at BA, and with Avios new scheme, for short intra-US flights, BA miles may sometimes make more sense than AA miles. But how do I get priority check-in, priority boarding, etc, if my BA account with which I book the award flight on AA and my AA account that has the status aren't linked? (And I'm not aware of a feature on ba.com where I can specify another OW account while booking a flight using BA miles.)

You can simply change the frequent flyer number associated with the reservation using Manage My Booking while not logged into your BAEC account.

I booked an RJ flight a few months ago, when I was Gold with AA. Subsequently my status changed to Platinum, but when I flew today, RJ insisted I was "only" Ruby, so they would not admit me to the lounge (in TLV.) I showed them my Platinum card, to no avail.

Has this happened to others? I thought the system should be better than this.

In Malev lounges in BUD they need the card as they can't access the whatever systems they would need to access to see your status. They don't trust either the emerald printed on the boarding pass.

I'm trying to figure this out as well. Dans deals dot com had a link about joining kingfisher as a silver without any flights and then when kingfisher joins OW, you have ruby status automatically. So I'm trying to figure out if I can use that to get free baggage on aa routes and aa revenue , just saying "i am ow ruby can i check bags free?".

I'm wondering if it matters which OW partner one books with.

They have an eye scanner that scans your eye to identify if you are oneworld ruby. :P

I booked an RJ flight a few months ago, when I was Gold with AA. Subsequently my status changed to Platinum, but when I flew today, RJ insisted I was "only" Ruby, so they would not admit me to the lounge (in TLV.) I showed them my Platinum card, to no avail.

Has this happened to others? I thought the system should be better than this.

This (old status) is very common, after you get new status you need to call and ask AA (in your case and mine) to update all your reservations to the new status. For some reason the status at the time of ticketing seems to stick unless manual action is taken.

Not accepting the Platinum card is a new one, I have seen the opposite - reservation and ticket show status but no club access without a card. This is the first time I have heard of Card showing OW Emerald or Sapphire + OW boarding card <> club access :td:

In my experience AA doesn't tie up too neatly when you are a OW elite on another OW carrier. I do about 2/3 of my flying on AA but am a LAN Sapphire.

I find that although my FF number appears on my boarding pass, status does NOT. The only time I have really pulled them up on it was in HNL when my FF number didn't appear on my boarding pass.

I asked them to make sure it was added to my reservation, the woman checked and at that point manually stamped my boarding pass with "Gold Lane"

So it seems that in the system the status appears but it does not show on the boarding pass, not much use if you want to use AA preferential boarding because your boarding pass doesn't show OW elite status.

That said AA doesn't really extend many benefits to other OW elites, for example no access to blocked out seating as an AA elite would have on LAN. As a Sapphire it would be handier for getting into their lounges if they could print status on the BP

In my experience AA doesn't tie up too neatly when you are a OW elite on another OW carrier. I do about 2/3 of my flying on AA but am a LAN Sapphire.

I find that although my FF number appears on my boarding pass, status does NOT. The only time I have really pulled them up on it was in HNL when my FF number didn't appear on my boarding pass.

I asked them to make sure it was added to my reservation, the woman checked and at that point manually stamped my boarding pass with "Gold Lane"

So it seems that in the system the status appears but it does not show on the boarding pass, not much use if you want to use AA preferential boarding because your boarding pass doesn't show OW elite status.

That said AA doesn't really extend many benefits to other OW elites, for example no access to blocked out seating as an AA elite would have on LAN. As a Sapphire it would be handier for getting into their lounges if they could print status on the BP

That's contrary to my experience though. I am a CX Sapphire and my status always shows on my AA BPs, whether I booked if through CX or on AA.com.

That's contrary to my experience though. I am a CX Sapphire and my status always shows on my AA BPs, whether I booked if through CX or on AA.com.

This is my experience as well. Yesterday I (AY Gold = OW Sapphire) flew LHR-ORD on AA. The BP doesn't have my FF number, but it clearly states SAPPHIRE. Actually twice ;)

They have an eye scanner that scans your eye to identify if you are oneworld ruby. :P

The retina scan is actually for OneWorld Emeralds. OneWorld Rubys are identified through butt-prints ;)

I booked an RJ flight a few months ago, when I was Gold with AA. Subsequently my status changed to Platinum, but when I flew today, RJ insisted I was "only" Ruby, so they would not admit me to the lounge (in TLV.) I showed them my Platinum card, to no avail.

Has this happened to others? I thought the system should be better than this.

Just have them take out and reenter your FFN. Then the system should refresh.

I've had this issue with CX. Despite being BA Gold/Emerald for over 10 years their systems think I am a basic member. :eek: No amount of complaining fixes the problem and I was denied lounge access in KUL last month.

Now boycotting CX and KA which is a shame.

I've had this issue with CX. Despite being BA Gold/Emerald for over 10 years their systems think I am a basic member. :eek: No amount of complaining fixes the problem and I was denied lounge access in KUL last month.

Now boycotting CX and KA which is a shame.

Might be worth another shot when they've moved across to Amadeus?

My status courtesy of QF seems to work fine though. They address me by name even in Y, and there was once when an FA came up to me to check if I have any special requests. It took a while to explain to my non-status (female) friend traveling with me why the FA knew my name and was so nice to me... :o

They have an eye scanner that scans your eye to identify if you are oneworld ruby. :P

The retina scan is actually for OneWorld Emeralds. OneWorld Rubys are identified through butt-prints ;)

Actually, the retina is kinda ruby colored even in Top Elite OW FFP members. In coach, Ruby members are identified by BIS seat scanners



:p

The OP was asking about a permanent linkage (between two OW accounts, one with status and one without), as AFAIK there is none.

The post above details how to do it (change FF program at check-in) for a paid flight. (You buy the flight using the FF program you have status with, then at check-in change to the FF program you want to earn with.)

I still don't understand how/if I can use my OW status benefits if I book using miles from a OW partner where I don't have status. (In particular, I have EXP now and lifetime PLT status at AA, but no status while a lot of miles over at BA, and with Avios new scheme, for short intra-US flights, BA miles may sometimes make more sense than AA miles. But how do I get priority check-in, priority boarding, etc, if my BA account with which I book the award flight on AA and my AA account that has the status aren't linked? (And I'm not aware of a feature on ba.com where I can specify another OW account while booking a flight using BA miles.)

I have a similiar problem.
In FEB. my wife and me are flying on an award using BA miles.
The flts. are on CX.
We both are AA PLT (OW Sapphire)
I called BA twice and was. promissed twice to enter our status in the reservation.
Nothing was done.
I called CX and asked them for the same but they said that because the res. was done
through BA , only BA can enter our status into the res.
I don't know what else to do.
Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance
Michael

Might be worth another shot when they've moved across to Amadeus?

Agree. CX is in the middle of a messy migration so it is not out of the realms of possibility that Swanhunter got caught up in this.

FWIW, as a QF Emerald, the only carrier I have had issues with status recognition on a number of occasions is with Iberia. For some reason, AA ticketed IB sectors on several tickets have not carried across my status correctly.

I've had this issue with CX. Despite being BA Gold/Emerald for over 10 years their systems think I am a basic member. :eek: No amount of complaining fixes the problem and I was denied lounge access in KUL last month.

Now boycotting CX and KA which is a shame.

I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.

I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.
My experience is exactly the opposite of yours regarding AA/OW, *A and SkyTeam:
So far, I have never had to show a card to any lounge attendant when my BA or AA numbers are in my reservation when outside of the US or when my BA number is in the reservation inside the US. On *A, UA wants to see a card and will not let me into their RCC, even though the computer system correctly identifies me as *Gold member. And as for SkyTeam, up to the point when I left them, nothing ever worked as expected with them. I had to battle AF lounge dragons every time...

My experiences with AA this time around are completely different to what I posted earlier in this thread. Just booked a 5 flight itinerary with AA and put in my LANPASS FF#

All preferred seating opened up to me, that definitely didn't happen before, I actually called and was told I could not have preferred seating (there were no seats available to select on the flight before)

FWIW, the attached is a fairly helpful tool showing the OW benefits:
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/my-oneworld-tier-status/

It is very clear over lounge access for example. I keep it handy as a link in case of future dragons; but not needed it to date as I've simply asked my status be checked thru their systems when not in biz (eg. I ask they check I am showing OW Sapphire, not BA Silver)
Baggage is more complicated as it seems more about FF to FF reciprocal arrangements than a OW benefit (of course 2 bags to a OWE should be a OW benefit but it seems it isn't).

Seating? AA.com seems to allow me to choose before payment, so that's what I use! I suppose if it doesn't play ball I'd go in Plan B,C,D mode.

You can simply change the frequent flyer number associated with the reservation using Manage My Booking while not logged into your BAEC account.

that's not really true.

I had similar dilemma laterly. Gold with Marco Polo but only Blue with BA, when I booked flightly BA.com the default FF no. is BA blue which gets me nothing. I couldnt change it from BA.com regardless of the channel I logged in, and had to call them up to change it to MPC no.

At the moment my booking is removed from my BAEC account.

I m also in the situation where I want to have tier points and mileage added to BA, so I guess will have to try change it back to BA at checking counter after checking in. Then call them up to change the FF no. to CX again, then change it back to BA again.

so it is quite a hussle.

If anyone knows easier way please do let me know

This is my experience as well. Yesterday I (AY Gold = OW Sapphire) flew LHR-ORD on AA. The BP doesn't have my FF number, but it clearly states SAPPHIRE. Actually twice ;)

And you didnt even supply your AY FF number during booking?

They have an eye scanner that scans your eye to identify if you are oneworld ruby. :P

I thought it was all based on self-reporting by the status holder. Seems like not a flight goes by where I hear someone repeatedly tell everyone in earshot that they are EXP, or GLD....:p

I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.

When was this, 10 years ago??:confused: I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...

When was this, 10 years ago??:confused: I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...+1

Never an issue as a Sapphire then Emerald in 7 years of AA flying.

I receive a bit of a double whammy as a CX Diamond flying with AA-- (a) both the basic reservations line and the "executive platinum" line initally claimed that as a One World Emerald I would not receive two pieces of baggage allowance free because they could not verify that the benfit applied to One World Ruby, Sapphire and Emerold. I pointed out the website but after two separate phone calls, the call-in AA staff stated that according to their records I would have to pay for luggage as a One World Emerald and that I had to understand the alliance is new and that the luggage benefit is not across the board to all One World airlines and that they could find no information that showed Cathay Pacific One World Emerald would be allowed two free pieces of luggage. I pointed out the reason may be that CX passengers in economy recieve two pieces of luggage, the AA website states that One World Ruby , Emerald, Diamond receive two pieces of luggage and that therefore there may have been no special message. I finally hung up when the AA elite line said, well, I should take a copy of the web site with me, but they didn't think that as a One World Emerald I would be able to check luggage free of charge. They even implied I may not be able to use a Admirals Club, let alone the Flagship Lounge as an Emerald, because they did not think that the One World benefits were "across the board" but were fully dependent on only those airlines that offered to similar benfits -- What a joke! *Alliance and SkyTeam Plus have this all integrated. If One World cannot recognize it's own heavy frequent travelers then it is a joke.

When was this, 10 years ago??:confused: I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...

+1

Never an issue as a Gold then Emerald in 7 years of AA flying.


+ 1 more...
Beeing EXP/Emerald when the Alliance formed in 1999, I have never to this day encountered problems like that

When was this, 10 years ago??:confused: I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...

But AA did not start to charge bags for domestic FLTs until several years after the alliance formation (and less than 10 years ago), right?

When was this, 10 years ago??:confused: I've been EXP for 5 years now, and never had a single problem across the alliance with shared benefits...

But AA did not start to charge bags for domestic FLTs until several years after the alliance formation (and less than 10 years ago), right?


I belive what teemuflyer tries to share, (s)he's never experienced those problems, beeing elite OW, by beeing EXP on AA. That has really little connection to when AA started charging extra bags on domestic flights, IMHO

I belive what teemuflyer tries to share, (s)he's never experienced those problems, beeing elite OW, by beeing EXP on AA. That has really little connection to when AA started charging extra bags on domestic flights, IMHO

No, I got that, but just thought that it means the experience that LAXRuss had cannot be too dated.