Originally Posted by
tedster102
I am completely new to this world. I have sufficient points to fly business Malaysia, India and back to Montreal Canada. In trying to do this on my preferred dates, I seem to only be able to get a selection of flights that call for "full fare" or restricted" Business class. I also seem to not be able to choose airlines eg Qatar, Turkish etc. So what is the drill? Do I have to call and airline and tell them I want to use AA points? Do I call AA and do the same? Any help anyone can give me will really be appreciated. I am a senior senior citizen and this will likely be my last big trip.
On AA.com, you can search for award travel by ticking the box that says "redeem miles" after entering the dates of travel and destination. However, not all carriers that participate in the AAdvantage program are able to be searched online. In your case, it's best to just call AA and ask for their assistance in finding what's available as several airlines that fly to your desired destinations are not searchable online.
You are limited to airlines participating in the AAdvantage program (including other OneWorld airlines), but Turkish is not one of them. An AAgent can detail what's available over the phone quite easily and if it's satisfactory, you can either book over the phone, or have the Agent place the itinerary on hold for 5 days.
Seats available for Award travel are not as plentiful as they maybe once were - so be prepared to be flexible in routings, dates, etc.