When do Citi ThankYou point bookings count as AA "special fare"?
#16
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: DL, Marriott
Posts: 728
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Honolulu, HI / San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP, Alaska MVP 75k, IHG Spire, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 277
That's really weird. I wonder if you call and complain if AA would give an explanation. I have no idea what would be reason those posted differently unless maybe they have specific flights flagged to not count as distance.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,961
This is really confusing, and the airlines are making it this way, so no one has a definitive answer on redeeming TYP for a Y ticket and applying a SWU. The only answer seems to be to wait 48 hours for SWU to be applied, but of course by then 24 hour cancelation window has passed. What a catch-22 game the airlines are playing with us. I am not as concerned with RDM mileage earning, but more so with EQM earning.
#20
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 181
No, that is not possible. You have to make the reservation through the ThankYou rewards portal to use TYP. If you have an itinerary that isn't pricing correctly on their portal, give them a call.
#21
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
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Posts: 11,961
This is frustrating that some bookings come through as fare while others credit on distance. Is there no way to tell when booking?
#22
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13
I just booked a flight using TY points + cash for LAX - ATH.
The fare showed up on my AA record as follows:
Passenger X 1: $193.00
Taxes: $372.86
Carrier-imposed fees: $0.00
Subtotal: $565.86
Looking at ITA Matrix, The fare in fact breaks down as follows:
Fare 1: $96.50
Fare 2: $96.50
AA YR surcharge (YR): $250.00
Taxes: $122.86
So the MILLION $$$ questions is: Will this earn based on distance or fare? And if fare, will the fare be $193 or $443 ($193+$250) for RDM and EQD earning??
The fare showed up on my AA record as follows:
Passenger X 1: $193.00
Taxes: $372.86
Carrier-imposed fees: $0.00
Subtotal: $565.86
Looking at ITA Matrix, The fare in fact breaks down as follows:
Fare 1: $96.50
Fare 2: $96.50
AA YR surcharge (YR): $250.00
Taxes: $122.86
So the MILLION $$$ questions is: Will this earn based on distance or fare? And if fare, will the fare be $193 or $443 ($193+$250) for RDM and EQD earning??
#23
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 181
In fact, I had a similar question regarding an itinerary of my own, and AA left me an apologetic voicemail that stated that even they didn't know what would happen until the miles posted.
#24
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 207
I just booked a flight using TY points + cash for LAX - ATH.
The fare showed up on my AA record as follows:
Passenger X 1: $193.00
Taxes: $372.86
Carrier-imposed fees: $0.00
Subtotal: $565.86
Looking at ITA Matrix, The fare in fact breaks down as follows:
Fare 1: $96.50
Fare 2: $96.50
AA YR surcharge (YR): $250.00
Taxes: $122.86
So the MILLION $$$ questions is: Will this earn based on distance or fare? And if fare, will the fare be $193 or $443 ($193+$250) for RDM and EQD earning??
The fare showed up on my AA record as follows:
Passenger X 1: $193.00
Taxes: $372.86
Carrier-imposed fees: $0.00
Subtotal: $565.86
Looking at ITA Matrix, The fare in fact breaks down as follows:
Fare 1: $96.50
Fare 2: $96.50
AA YR surcharge (YR): $250.00
Taxes: $122.86
So the MILLION $$$ questions is: Will this earn based on distance or fare? And if fare, will the fare be $193 or $443 ($193+$250) for RDM and EQD earning??
#25
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ABQ & RNO
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Piper Dakota, Admirals Club, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Gold, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 1,421
So if it says this in one's record:
Please contact your travel agent for airfare or trip changes.
Would one expect this to come out distance based?
Please contact your travel agent for airfare or trip changes.
Would one expect this to come out distance based?
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,961
My data points from the last five Citi ThankYou reservations booked is that they all earned miles based upon fare paid, not distance flown. Not sure this loophole really works for me...makes me nervous to even take the plunge on the AA Vacations option.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
#28
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
I booked (and completed) 3 trips with TYP, 2 of which were "special fare" while 1 was "distance". While the international special fare trip was working for me on both EQD and EQM, the domestic special fare trip was not so great...
#29
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 181