AA: IAH-JNB from $790 ai (23,466 EQM @ 3.43 cpm)
Sep 22, 2015, 9:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
AA: IAH-JNB from $790 ai (23,466 EQM @ 3.43 cpm)
Just booked & ticketed: IAH-LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR-MIA-IAH for $805.02 via BA telephone. Routing is 23,466 miles @ 3.43 cpm.
1) Search initial dates on Google Flights
2) Extend and find AA medal options via ITA Matrix ("o:aa lax o:aa lhr ba")
3) Call BA to book (can't find LA-routed options via BA website + one leg of itinerary is AA marketed but sold by BA)
AA Plat/ExPlat members would earn 46,932 RDM, valued at $797.84 at The Points Guy's 1.7-cent valuation for AA miles.
AA Platinum status, so flying as much AA medal as possible: AA-AA-BA-BA-AA-AA
Fare rules only allow 2 transfers, so use them wisely. However, each transfer can be a free stopover. Although, if you do a stopover in London, ~$100 extra taxes will be tacked on.
1) Search initial dates on Google Flights
2) Extend and find AA medal options via ITA Matrix ("o:aa lax o:aa lhr ba")
3) Call BA to book (can't find LA-routed options via BA website + one leg of itinerary is AA marketed but sold by BA)
AA Plat/ExPlat members would earn 46,932 RDM, valued at $797.84 at The Points Guy's 1.7-cent valuation for AA miles.
AA Platinum status, so flying as much AA medal as possible: AA-AA-BA-BA-AA-AA
Fare rules only allow 2 transfers, so use them wisely. However, each transfer can be a free stopover. Although, if you do a stopover in London, ~$100 extra taxes will be tacked on.
Sep 22, 2015, 10:07 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Dallas
Programs: AAdvantage EXP, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,523
Just booked & ticketed: IAH-LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR-MIA-IAH for $805.02 via BA telephone. Routing is 23,466 miles @ 3.43 cpm.
1) Search initial dates on Google Flights
2) Extend and find AA medal options via ITA Matrix ("o:aa lax o:aa lhr ba")
3) Call BA to book (can't find LA-routed options via BA website + one leg of itinerary is AA marketed but sold by BA)
AA Plat/ExPlat members would earn 46,932 RDM, valued at $797.84 at The Points Guy's 1.7-cent valuation for AA miles.
AA Platinum status, so flying as much AA medal as possible: AA-AA-BA-BA-AA-AA
Fare rules only allow 2 transfers, so use them wisely. However, each transfer can be a free stopover. Although, if you do a stopover in London, ~$100 extra taxes will be tacked on.
1) Search initial dates on Google Flights
2) Extend and find AA medal options via ITA Matrix ("o:aa lax o:aa lhr ba")
3) Call BA to book (can't find LA-routed options via BA website + one leg of itinerary is AA marketed but sold by BA)
AA Plat/ExPlat members would earn 46,932 RDM, valued at $797.84 at The Points Guy's 1.7-cent valuation for AA miles.
AA Platinum status, so flying as much AA medal as possible: AA-AA-BA-BA-AA-AA
Fare rules only allow 2 transfers, so use them wisely. However, each transfer can be a free stopover. Although, if you do a stopover in London, ~$100 extra taxes will be tacked on.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...93-3-8cpm.html
One thing to keep in mind since you booked through BA is you should have used a Chase credit card and AARP to save another ~$150. Also, keep in mind that if you use BA ticket stock, you CAN NOT upgrade on AA segments, so there is no reason to book on AA vs BA except for aircraft preference.
My experience (and others) is that IAH-LHR can be an extremely lightly booked flight. I had one flight with 150+ Y seats empty. You will never find that from an AA hub.
Have fun, I'm doing Joberg in November and probably 1-2 times in January/February once they renew the Chase/AARP discounts for 2016.
Sep 22, 2015, 10:30 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, LY Top-Platinum, HGP Diamond, HH Diamond, IHGR Platinum Amb
Posts: 280
Very nice fare.
Of course it's a discounted-economy fare, books into O, and so only earns 50% EQP on AAdvantage. A ticket in V will cost about 1400$, almost double, but it seems the V fare is pricing the same for many US airports and to CPT as destination. If visiting South Africa is one of the goals - this higher priced ticket would save on some positioning flight. Just a thought.
I'm not a fan of the BA A380 in Y. It makes sense to upgrade these overnight segment to PE using avios (possible?). Or take the 747 instead.
Thanks for posting.
Of course it's a discounted-economy fare, books into O, and so only earns 50% EQP on AAdvantage. A ticket in V will cost about 1400$, almost double, but it seems the V fare is pricing the same for many US airports and to CPT as destination. If visiting South Africa is one of the goals - this higher priced ticket would save on some positioning flight. Just a thought.
I'm not a fan of the BA A380 in Y. It makes sense to upgrade these overnight segment to PE using avios (possible?). Or take the 747 instead.
Thanks for posting.
Sep 22, 2015, 12:24 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
It's been talked about for a while this year (and last year)... its a perennial fare with BA.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...93-3-8cpm.html
One thing to keep in mind since you booked through BA is you should have used a Chase credit card and AARP to save another ~$150. Also, keep in mind that if you use BA ticket stock, you CAN NOT upgrade on AA segments, so there is no reason to book on AA vs BA except for aircraft preference.
My experience (and others) is that IAH-LHR can be an extremely lightly booked flight. I had one flight with 150+ Y seats empty. You will never find that from an AA hub.
Have fun, I'm doing Joberg in November and probably 1-2 times in January/February once they renew the Chase/AARP discounts for 2016.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...93-3-8cpm.html
One thing to keep in mind since you booked through BA is you should have used a Chase credit card and AARP to save another ~$150. Also, keep in mind that if you use BA ticket stock, you CAN NOT upgrade on AA segments, so there is no reason to book on AA vs BA except for aircraft preference.
My experience (and others) is that IAH-LHR can be an extremely lightly booked flight. I had one flight with 150+ Y seats empty. You will never find that from an AA hub.
Have fun, I'm doing Joberg in November and probably 1-2 times in January/February once they renew the Chase/AARP discounts for 2016.
For the AARP discount: Do you know if all segments have to BA-marketed? BA was able to sell me an AA-marketed leg from IAH-LAX - to avoid leaving IAH at 6 am and having an additional 6 hours in LA.
Do you know if the AARP discount + BA Visa 10% off discount can be applied over the phone?
FYI: I booked BA-stock on AA medal to get free MCE (Main Cabin Extra) on the long legs. No SWUs available anyways.
Sep 22, 2015, 12:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
Programs: AA EXP, AS 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,876
It's been talked about for a while this year (and last year)... its a perennial fare with BA.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...93-3-8cpm.html
One thing to keep in mind since you booked through BA is you should have used a Chase credit card and AARP to save another ~$150. Also, keep in mind that if you use BA ticket stock, you CAN NOT upgrade on AA segments, so there is no reason to book on AA vs BA except for aircraft preference.
My experience (and others) is that IAH-LHR can be an extremely lightly booked flight. I had one flight with 150+ Y seats empty. You will never find that from an AA hub.
Have fun, I'm doing Joberg in November and probably 1-2 times in January/February once they renew the Chase/AARP discounts for 2016.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...93-3-8cpm.html
One thing to keep in mind since you booked through BA is you should have used a Chase credit card and AARP to save another ~$150. Also, keep in mind that if you use BA ticket stock, you CAN NOT upgrade on AA segments, so there is no reason to book on AA vs BA except for aircraft preference.
My experience (and others) is that IAH-LHR can be an extremely lightly booked flight. I had one flight with 150+ Y seats empty. You will never find that from an AA hub.
Have fun, I'm doing Joberg in November and probably 1-2 times in January/February once they renew the Chase/AARP discounts for 2016.
Sep 22, 2015, 12:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 961
For Chase 10% discount work all the flights must be marketed and operated by BA.
Not sure if these can be applied over phone. Since you are within the 24 hour cancellation window as you booked today, you may want to call and ask for AARP and Chase discounts.
Sep 22, 2015, 1:34 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
For AARP to work, all the flights must be coded as BA numbers.
For Chase 10% discount work all the flights must be marketed and operated by BA.
Not sure if these can be applied over phone. Since you are within the 24 hour cancellation window as you booked today, you may want to call and ask for AARP and Chase discounts.
For Chase 10% discount work all the flights must be marketed and operated by BA.
Not sure if these can be applied over phone. Since you are within the 24 hour cancellation window as you booked today, you may want to call and ask for AARP and Chase discounts.
1) 10% discount: Outbound by December 31 (traveling in January)
2) AARP: Must be done online, cannot be applied over the phone.
Sep 22, 2015, 1:47 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 890
As a follow-up, I called BA as if I was making a new booking. I confirmed that I am unable to apply either of these discounts for this booking.
1) 10% discount: Outbound by December 31 (traveling in January)
2) AARP: Must be done online, cannot be applied over the phone.
1) 10% discount: Outbound by December 31 (traveling in January)
2) AARP: Must be done online, cannot be applied over the phone.
Sep 22, 2015, 1:56 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
However, if you are flying in 2015, you can get a killer deal with IAH-LHR-JNB-LHR-IAH direct on BA medal. I don't have AARP membership, but I read that the 10% and the $65-off are stackable (although I cannot figure out which order they are applied). Depending on the order, it would either be $645.91 (3.09 cpm) or $652.41 (3.12 cpm).
Sep 22, 2015, 1:57 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Location independent
Programs: AA PlatPro, Asiana Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 287
Sep 22, 2015, 3:29 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 961
However AARP discount will work. Once you sign up for AARP account and login, there is a special link for BA that you need to click on to get the $65 discount.
Sep 22, 2015, 3:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: AA-ex EXP, PLT, LTG, MVP-Gold, UA-Silver, SPG-LTG, PLT, HH-D, Hyatt-D,
Posts: 146
@flyerJT - I have AARP membership , $16 plus for the year. So you are saying AA operated flights are available but on BA metal, so how does his equate to in terms of EQM earned ? would this be 1 : 1 in terms of AA : BA ?
Playing around with the BA website, I'm finding the answer to be no. Not even BA-marketed, AA-operated flights are available.
However, if you are flying in 2015, you can get a killer deal with IAH-LHR-JNB-LHR-IAH direct on BA medal. I don't have AARP membership, but I read that the 10% and the $65-off are stackable (although I cannot figure out which order they are applied). Depending on the order, it would either be $645.91 (3.09 cpm) or $652.41 (3.12 cpm).
However, if you are flying in 2015, you can get a killer deal with IAH-LHR-JNB-LHR-IAH direct on BA medal. I don't have AARP membership, but I read that the 10% and the $65-off are stackable (although I cannot figure out which order they are applied). Depending on the order, it would either be $645.91 (3.09 cpm) or $652.41 (3.12 cpm).
Sep 22, 2015, 4:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 961
However this could change in 2016 if AA decides make changes to AAdvantage program.