Two MIA-MAD-MIA busn awards avoiding UK
May 21, 2015, 10:51 am
#1
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Posts: 863
Two MIA-MAD-MIA busn awards avoiding UK
With cache below, leaving late June ~11 nights,
2 persons, seeking busn or 1st class award seat
(best rates = 50K busn? 62.5K first?)
my search aa.com shows only via
LHR = high taxes, right?
Any guidance avoiding LHR appreciated...
280,398 AAdvantage
427,473 AAdvantage -wife
162,110 BA Avios
52,000+ BA Avios wife
55,544 Lufthansa
40,517 Frontier
55,507 Southwest
35K+ Delta
18,239 United
50K+ USAirways --> AA wife
2 persons, seeking busn or 1st class award seat
(best rates = 50K busn? 62.5K first?)
my search aa.com shows only via
LHR = high taxes, right?
Any guidance avoiding LHR appreciated...
280,398 AAdvantage
427,473 AAdvantage -wife
162,110 BA Avios
52,000+ BA Avios wife
55,544 Lufthansa
40,517 Frontier
55,507 Southwest
35K+ Delta
18,239 United
50K+ USAirways --> AA wife
May 21, 2015, 11:12 am
#2
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Location: Not here; there!
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Taxes and surcharges via LON will be reasonable if you can get on AA metal for the TATL portion of the trip.
Also, call AA and ask about award availability on IB, which cannot be displayed at aa.com.
Taxes and surcharges via LON will be reasonable if you can get on AA metal for the TATL portion of the trip.
Also, call AA and ask about award availability on IB, which cannot be displayed at aa.com.
May 21, 2015, 11:17 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
Flights
It is awfully late to try and score these tickets. If you want to keep to a lower mileage award some options:
Call AA to check on availability on Iberia
Be creative with your routing, presuming you are OK with stops. Look for flights from the major east coast cities to LHR on AA, MUC/DUS/TXL on AB, and on Iberia to BCN as well as MAD. PHL, DCA, JFK, EWR, CLT are all options. If you can find the TATL flight you can probably add on the flight from MIA to the departing city.
Call AA to check on availability on Iberia
Be creative with your routing, presuming you are OK with stops. Look for flights from the major east coast cities to LHR on AA, MUC/DUS/TXL on AB, and on Iberia to BCN as well as MAD. PHL, DCA, JFK, EWR, CLT are all options. If you can find the TATL flight you can probably add on the flight from MIA to the departing city.
May 22, 2015, 12:54 am
#5
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A lot of AA partners don't show on the AA.com awards page.
Check this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html, being sure to read the expandable wiki at the top of the page.
It's not LHR you need to avoid, it's BA and it's high YQ. The United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty does not apply if one is connecting in less than 24 hours; I've overnighted near Heathrow, departing the UK the next day, without paying the APD..
Check this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html, being sure to read the expandable wiki at the top of the page.
It's not LHR you need to avoid, it's BA and it's high YQ. The United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty does not apply if one is connecting in less than 24 hours; I've overnighted near Heathrow, departing the UK the next day, without paying the APD..
Last edited by JDiver; May 22, 2015 at 1:00 am
May 22, 2015, 9:20 am
#6
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Thanks for responses!
Relieved to hear only need avoid BA = high taxes-fees.
AA phone rep checked all aa.com & non-aa.com, other gateways, found nothing...
Am giving booking service @$125 ea a shot since IMC hunting is novice skill!
Will try 2nd AA phone rep, too, possibly more skilled than first...?
More flexibility: if I allow mix of Saver busn + Saver 1st,
will I be able to visit wife in 1st & is there 2nd seat+seatbelt in cubicle?
(only flown busn + econ)
Am also going to expand on 2nd AA rep call:
1. Madrid strong 1st choice
2. London 2nd choice
3. Barcelona 3rd choice
4. Dublin 4th choice
5. Lisbon 5th choice
6. Amsterdam 6th choice
7. Brussels 7th choice
Jun 26 / Jul 6
Jun 27 / Jul 7
Jun 28 / Jul 8
Jun 29 / Jul 9
Jun 30 / Jul 10
Relieved to hear only need avoid BA = high taxes-fees.
AA phone rep checked all aa.com & non-aa.com, other gateways, found nothing...
Am giving booking service @$125 ea a shot since IMC hunting is novice skill!
Will try 2nd AA phone rep, too, possibly more skilled than first...?
More flexibility: if I allow mix of Saver busn + Saver 1st,
will I be able to visit wife in 1st & is there 2nd seat+seatbelt in cubicle?
(only flown busn + econ)
Am also going to expand on 2nd AA rep call:
1. Madrid strong 1st choice
2. London 2nd choice
3. Barcelona 3rd choice
4. Dublin 4th choice
5. Lisbon 5th choice
6. Amsterdam 6th choice
7. Brussels 7th choice
Jun 26 / Jul 6
Jun 27 / Jul 7
Jun 28 / Jul 8
Jun 29 / Jul 9
Jun 30 / Jul 10
Last edited by TravelPhotographer; May 22, 2015 at 9:36 am
May 22, 2015, 11:07 am
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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They will not often let you "visit" with another in a higher class of service cabin if it involves sitting (and participating in any service offerings); they might allow a standing visit for a limited time if you tell the cabin crew you'd like to speak with your spouse.
Barcelona is connected to Madrid by RENFE high speed rail; you might want to change your choices. See more in the FT European Rail Travel forum or on The Man in Seat Sixty-One for more rail info. Some services can be quite speedy at 120+ MPH. Or, allaying your first night's hotel cost by taking the overnight Tren Hotel Lisbon- Madrid.
Barcelona is connected to Madrid by RENFE high speed rail; you might want to change your choices. See more in the FT European Rail Travel forum or on The Man in Seat Sixty-One for more rail info. Some services can be quite speedy at 120+ MPH. Or, allaying your first night's hotel cost by taking the overnight Tren Hotel Lisbon- Madrid.
May 22, 2015, 11:25 am
#8
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Thanks for tip!
Update: got 24hr hold on MIA-JFK-MAD (2) busn Iberia!
but no return busn-first available;
& AA phone rep says no busn-first return all 7 cities choices above;
will retry few times until 11/23 11:59P! :-:
Further tips appreciated! ^ ^ ^
(put 5-day hold on MAD-PHL-FLL (2)econ US741 would not allow seat selection)
(US741 = "Airbus Industrie" = ???)
Hoping for busn-first opening...
Update: got 24hr hold on MIA-JFK-MAD (2) busn Iberia!
but no return busn-first available;
& AA phone rep says no busn-first return all 7 cities choices above;
will retry few times until 11/23 11:59P! :-:
Further tips appreciated! ^ ^ ^
(put 5-day hold on MAD-PHL-FLL (2)econ US741 would not allow seat selection)
(US741 = "Airbus Industrie" = ???)
Hoping for busn-first opening...
Last edited by TravelPhotographer; May 22, 2015 at 12:05 pm
May 22, 2015, 2:40 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks for tip!
Update: got 24hr hold on MIA-JFK-MAD (2) busn Iberia!
but no return busn-first available;
& AA phone rep says no busn-first return all 7 cities choices above;
will retry few times until 11/23 11:59P! :-:
Further tips appreciated! ^ ^ ^
(put 5-day hold on MAD-PHL-FLL (2)econ US741 would not allow seat selection)
(US741 = "Airbus Industrie" = ???)
Hoping for busn-first opening...
Update: got 24hr hold on MIA-JFK-MAD (2) busn Iberia!
but no return busn-first available;
& AA phone rep says no busn-first return all 7 cities choices above;
will retry few times until 11/23 11:59P! :-:
Further tips appreciated! ^ ^ ^
(put 5-day hold on MAD-PHL-FLL (2)econ US741 would not allow seat selection)
(US741 = "Airbus Industrie" = ???)
Hoping for busn-first opening...
May 23, 2015, 7:25 pm
#10
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Feeder Band Land (South FL)
Programs: seeking best cc sign-up & spend bonus offers
Posts: 863
> "Keep trying" is the best answer
It (mostly) worked! Now reserved until 11:59P 5/24:
6/26:
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
+
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
AND NOW RETURN
7/9:
MAD-BOS Iberia 12:45p?-2:45p? (2)busn $210/person taxes
(note: AA rep put latter-just-created-return on former-outbound record locator causing former to refresh "hold" an additional 24 hrs!)
BOS-MIA 7/9 PM award questions:
BA Avios offers nothing 7/9 BOS-MIA, is there trick
to make award seats available, even econ?
AA offers no PM econ saver seats, any tricks?
Never used Southwest-Frontier-USAir miles before,
do any of those make cents sense BOS-MIA?
(see my cache in OP)
Thanks in advance!
It (mostly) worked! Now reserved until 11:59P 5/24:
6/26:
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
+
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
AND NOW RETURN
7/9:
MAD-BOS Iberia 12:45p?-2:45p? (2)busn $210/person taxes
(note: AA rep put latter-just-created-return on former-outbound record locator causing former to refresh "hold" an additional 24 hrs!)
BOS-MIA 7/9 PM award questions:
BA Avios offers nothing 7/9 BOS-MIA, is there trick
to make award seats available, even econ?
AA offers no PM econ saver seats, any tricks?
Never used Southwest-Frontier-USAir miles before,
do any of those make cents sense BOS-MIA?
(see my cache in OP)
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by TravelPhotographer; May 23, 2015 at 8:24 pm
May 23, 2015, 8:06 pm
#11
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Goodonya. You'll enjoy Iberia's Business Plus service.
Your wife doesn't have any US Airways miles any more. These were moved into AA AAdvantage; it may be time to check that out, and even merge accounts.
Options: take the BOS flight, use other airline's miles home.
Buy a AAnytime award for the return.
For June, you did well, but it's June...
Your wife doesn't have any US Airways miles any more. These were moved into AA AAdvantage; it may be time to check that out, and even merge accounts.
Options: take the BOS flight, use other airline's miles home.
Buy a AAnytime award for the return.
For June, you did well, but it's June...
May 23, 2015, 9:00 pm
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
You have 24 hours to connect on an international award. Does aa.com show SAAver seats on the morning of the 10th for BOS-MIA? If so, you can use your AA miles for a BOS hotel room; or check Hotwire, or Priceline Express Deals, or put in a bid on Priceline's name-your-own-price service.
Originally Posted by TravelPhotographer
> "Keep trying" is the best answer
It (mostly) worked! Now reserved until 11:59P 5/24:
6/26:
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
+
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
AND NOW RETURN
7/9:
MAD-BOS Iberia 12:45p?-2:45p? (2)busn $210/person taxes
(note: AA rep put latter-just-created-return on former-outbound record locator causing former to refresh "hold" an additional 24 hrs!)
BOS-MIA 7/9 PM award questions:
BA Avios offers nothing 7/9 BOS-MIA, is there trick
to make award seats available, even econ?
AA offers no PM econ saver seats, any tricks?
Never used Southwest-Frontier-USAir miles before,
do any of those make cents sense BOS-MIA?
(see my cache in OP)
Thanks in advance!
It (mostly) worked! Now reserved until 11:59P 5/24:
6/26:
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
+
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
AND NOW RETURN
7/9:
MAD-BOS Iberia 12:45p?-2:45p? (2)busn $210/person taxes
(note: AA rep put latter-just-created-return on former-outbound record locator causing former to refresh "hold" an additional 24 hrs!)
BOS-MIA 7/9 PM award questions:
BA Avios offers nothing 7/9 BOS-MIA, is there trick
to make award seats available, even econ?
AA offers no PM econ saver seats, any tricks?
Never used Southwest-Frontier-USAir miles before,
do any of those make cents sense BOS-MIA?
(see my cache in OP)
Thanks in advance!
May 24, 2015, 8:47 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Feeder Band Land (South FL)
Programs: seeking best cc sign-up & spend bonus offers
Posts: 863
> Does aa.com show SAAver seats on the morning of the 10th for BOS-MIA?
Currently no...
7/9: 30Kmi x 2 econ offered.
Costly ←
in miles, but direct.
Currently no...
7/9: 30Kmi x 2 econ offered.
Costly ←
in miles, but direct.
May 24, 2015, 10:06 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Feeder Band Land (South FL)
Programs: seeking best cc sign-up & spend bonus offers
Posts: 863
Thanks again -- "bought" it! 200K AA mi + $210/person taxes:
Flight Depart Arrive
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
June 2X, 2015 08:53 AM
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
June 2X, 2015 11:59 AM
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
June 2X, 2015 05:05 PM
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
June 2X, 2015 06:20 AM
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
=============
Flight Depart Arrive
Iberia
IB 6165
Madrid (MAD)
July X, 2015 12:45 PM
Travel Time : 7 h 45 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Boston (BOS)
July X, 2015 02:30 PM
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 333
BOS-MIA separate ticket can be
purchased >21 days out without $75 fee;
no Saver econ now but looks like that route
releases Saver econ ~1 mo. out -- I HOPE!!!
Flight Depart Arrive
American Airlines
1510
WiFi Available Miami (MIA)
June 2X, 2015 08:53 AM
Travel Time : 3 h 6 m
Cabin Class : First
Seat : unassigned
New York (JFK)
June 2X, 2015 11:59 AM
Booking Code : Z
Plane Type : 757
Iberia
IB 6250
New York (JFK)
June 2X, 2015 05:05 PM
Travel Time : 7 h 15 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Madrid (MAD)
June 2X, 2015 06:20 AM
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 345
=============
Flight Depart Arrive
Iberia
IB 6165
Madrid (MAD)
July X, 2015 12:45 PM
Travel Time : 7 h 45 m
Cabin Class : Business
Seat : unassigned
Boston (BOS)
July X, 2015 02:30 PM
Booking Code : U
Plane Type : 333
BOS-MIA separate ticket can be
purchased >21 days out without $75 fee;
no Saver econ now but looks like that route
releases Saver econ ~1 mo. out -- I HOPE!!!
May 24, 2015, 10:14 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,532
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"BOS-MIA separate ticket can be
purchased >21 days out without $75 fee;
no Saver econ now but looks like that route
releases Saver econ ~1 mo. out -- I HOPE!!!"
If SAAver Coach seats open up for a BOS-MIA nonstop, don't redeem AA miles for it; instead, redeem just 10,000 BA Avios per person, with [b[no[/b] close-in booking fee, even if you can't book 21 days in advance.
"BOS-MIA separate ticket can be
purchased >21 days out without $75 fee;
no Saver econ now but looks like that route
releases Saver econ ~1 mo. out -- I HOPE!!!"
If SAAver Coach seats open up for a BOS-MIA nonstop, don't redeem AA miles for it; instead, redeem just 10,000 BA Avios per person, with [b[no[/b] close-in booking fee, even if you can't book 21 days in advance.