Earning and redeeming AA miles / upgrading on BA/IB; BA fuel surcharge (Oct 1, 2010)
Oct 1, 2010, 8:58 am
#76
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Chicago
Programs: United 1K, American EXP & 3 Million Miler, Hyatt Globalist & Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,360
I'm struggling to see much in this that is good news for AAdvantage members wanting to utilise their miles on BA. Presumably the only way to upgrade to J is to buy full fare Premium Economy. 
I can already hear BAEC members breathing huge sighs of relief at this announcement.
I can already hear BAEC members breathing huge sighs of relief at this announcement.
Oct 1, 2010, 8:58 am
#77
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
this just got me thinking... does this mean getting award redemption on AA to madrid will now be in high demand? iberia won't charge a fuel surcharge therefore people wanting to go from u.s. to europe will choose madrid as their connection city to avoid fuel surcharges intra-europe. sounds like it'll be hard to find award seats on jfk/mia/dfw to mad now (at least that's the routing i think i'm likely to take to avoid fuel surcharge, plus i'm tired of switching terminals at heathrow.)
Oct 1, 2010, 8:59 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
I hope AA is charging an arm and a leg for BA miles redemptions on TATL AA flights.
Oct 1, 2010, 9:01 am
#79
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: DCA, EGE, IAD
Programs: MR LTT, BA Gold, AA LTP, UA Silver
Posts: 6,078
It looks like AA pretty much copied UA's scheme as there is not really much difference.
United upgradeable booking classes on partner airlines:
I kind of figure something similarly restrictive as *A's scheme would come about. Nice to have the 100% elite bonus back though. Now I don't have to avoid BA on those A/DONEx tickets and I can fly them over the small pond!
United upgradeable booking classes on partner airlines:
- Business class (C,D)
- Economy class (Y,B)
I kind of figure something similarly restrictive as *A's scheme would come about. Nice to have the 100% elite bonus back though. Now I don't have to avoid BA on those A/DONEx tickets and I can fly them over the small pond!
Oct 1, 2010, 9:03 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Oct 1, 2010, 9:04 am
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
Oct 1, 2010, 9:05 am
#82
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco, where else?
Programs: EXP,EX-CK 2.5mm, now lifetime Platinum, ex-UA1K, Marriott- Platinum, Hertz 5*
Posts: 991
Just converted our SFO FCO J class crappy AA seats via ORD to First Class BA seats via LHR in a 747. Definitely worth the $150 per ticket.
Way to go, AA!! ^^
Way to go, AA!! ^^
Oct 1, 2010, 9:13 am
#83
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Oct 1, 2010, 9:13 am
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Oct 1, 2010, 9:19 am
#85
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
BA has announced the following on its web site:
"There are also lounge benefits too. British Airways' Silver card holders, travelling in economy on American Airlines transatlantic flights, will be entitled to use the American Airlines' Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 3."
It seems rather odd and unfair that BA silvers can use the AA arrivals lounge, but AA PLTs and EXPs cannot, or have I missed something?
"There are also lounge benefits too. British Airways' Silver card holders, travelling in economy on American Airlines transatlantic flights, will be entitled to use the American Airlines' Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 3."
It seems rather odd and unfair that BA silvers can use the AA arrivals lounge, but AA PLTs and EXPs cannot, or have I missed something?
Oct 1, 2010, 9:25 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: East Coast
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, AA Lifetime Platinum, Delta PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,522
Exactly right.
It's funny how a few days people were speculating that the only thing this joint venture accomplished is that all of AA's flights to LHR would be empty. Now i'd venture to say the exact opposite. AA's flights to LHR will have all the AA elites plus the BA elites who now get to come to the US without paying $300 for a coach "award" ticket and even more for a premium class award ticket.
And even though I go SFO-LHR a few times per year, I'll stick with AA instead of the non-stop on BA cause I want to be able to use the SWU.
It's funny how a few days people were speculating that the only thing this joint venture accomplished is that all of AA's flights to LHR would be empty. Now i'd venture to say the exact opposite. AA's flights to LHR will have all the AA elites plus the BA elites who now get to come to the US without paying $300 for a coach "award" ticket and even more for a premium class award ticket.
And even though I go SFO-LHR a few times per year, I'll stick with AA instead of the non-stop on BA cause I want to be able to use the SWU.
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Oct 1, 2010, 9:25 am
#87
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
Other changes are filtering through as well as BAEC have announced that tier point earnings on discount economy have doubled to 50% and mile earning quadrupled to 100%.
So far this is looking like a very large win for BAEC members and very little benefit to AAdvantage members with a net loss on Award redemptions.
Oct 1, 2010, 9:30 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
Yes and the awards will be harder to come by as BAEC members will now have increased earnings. I also see that BAEC members earn a minimum of 500 miles on BA, whereas for AA members it is still 125.
Oct 1, 2010, 9:40 am
#89
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: East Coast
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, AA Lifetime Platinum, Delta PM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,522
Gotcha. I hadn't thought that EQM were ever allowed on the TATL.
Since I can't use SWUs on the BA or IB flights, this change makes no difference to me. It won't change my flying patterns since, while I'd like flying BA TATL, I'm not doing it in coach. Even if they do ever allow SWUs cross-metal, the likelihood that it will be allowed from Coach->Business on the cheapest fares (as is allowed on AA) is slim, IMO.
Cheers.
Since I can't use SWUs on the BA or IB flights, this change makes no difference to me. It won't change my flying patterns since, while I'd like flying BA TATL, I'm not doing it in coach. Even if they do ever allow SWUs cross-metal, the likelihood that it will be allowed from Coach->Business on the cheapest fares (as is allowed on AA) is slim, IMO.
Cheers.
Oct 1, 2010, 9:43 am
#90
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
And it has been (partially) while we have been debating it! All OW emeralds (arriving on AA) now get access to the AA arrivals lounge at LHR T3. Now that is some good news.