Jan 28, 2014, 12:14 am
Last edit by: JDiver
oneworld / AA Explorer award with AA Miles (discuss, questions) [ENDED 8 APR 2014]
N.B. new oneworld/AA Explorer awards are no longer available as of the end of the day on April 7th, 2014.
Existing awards will be honored.
This thread is ONLY to inquire or add about existing oneworld Explorer awards; to comment on the loss of this booking option, please follow the discussion on:
Oneworld Explorer Awards Eliminated -- Effective Immediately [8 Apr 2014]
See the first post, below, for the rules that prevailed through 7 April 2014 and apply to those who booked Explorer awards prior to the end of these useful award tickets.
oneworld / AA Explorer award with AA Miles (discuss, questions) [ENDED 8 APR 2014]
Feb 21, 2012, 10:55 pm
#196
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,585
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
The itinerary seems to comply with oneworld award rules. Whether you will be able to obtain award seats on every flight remains to be seen.
Does LAN now fly RGL-EZE, or only RGL-AEP?
Originally Posted by FrankReynolds
I posted here a few weeks ago about a potential business class one-year RTW trip I was planning using AA miles. Thanks to the extremely helpful advice of some of the people here I was able to refine and improve my itinerary a lot. Here's my final draft:
JFK - MAD
MAD - JNB
JNB - HKG
HKG - PEK
PEK - NRT
NRT - DEL
DEL - BKK
BKK - SYD
SYD - LAX
LAX - SCL
SCL - RGL (surface segment)
RGL - EZE
EZE - GRU
GRU - LIM
LIM - JFK
The total trip mileage is 49,524 miles according to the Great Circle Mapper. (Not counting the land segment between Santiago and Rio Gallegos... but that doesn't count as part of the 50,000 mile maximum, unless I'm mistaken).
(Here's a map of the route I'm planning)
Currently, I have 213,000 AA miles in my account, from a combination of inheriting them and taking advantage of a credit card bonus offer. I'm waiting for the 7,000 miles I just bought (for $200! a ripoff... but a necessary one) to post to my account, but once they do I'm planning to go ahead and call AA to book my ticket, with a departure date of late March. Can anybody see any glaring problems that would invalidate this itinerary, or do you think I can go ahead and book it?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
- Alex
JFK - MAD
MAD - JNB
JNB - HKG
HKG - PEK
PEK - NRT
NRT - DEL
DEL - BKK
BKK - SYD
SYD - LAX
LAX - SCL
SCL - RGL (surface segment)
RGL - EZE
EZE - GRU
GRU - LIM
LIM - JFK
The total trip mileage is 49,524 miles according to the Great Circle Mapper. (Not counting the land segment between Santiago and Rio Gallegos... but that doesn't count as part of the 50,000 mile maximum, unless I'm mistaken).
(Here's a map of the route I'm planning)
Currently, I have 213,000 AA miles in my account, from a combination of inheriting them and taking advantage of a credit card bonus offer. I'm waiting for the 7,000 miles I just bought (for $200! a ripoff... but a necessary one) to post to my account, but once they do I'm planning to go ahead and call AA to book my ticket, with a departure date of late March. Can anybody see any glaring problems that would invalidate this itinerary, or do you think I can go ahead and book it?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
- Alex
Does LAN now fly RGL-EZE, or only RGL-AEP?
Feb 22, 2012, 1:06 am
#197
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 22
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
The itinerary seems to comply with oneworld award rules. Whether you will be able to obtain award seats on every flight remains to be seen.
Does LAN now fly RGL-EZE, or only RGL-AEP?
The itinerary seems to comply with oneworld award rules. Whether you will be able to obtain award seats on every flight remains to be seen.
Does LAN now fly RGL-EZE, or only RGL-AEP?
So far I have been successful in finding award seats for the first few legs of the trip on IB, CX, and JL using the QF and BA websites. However, I haven't found any J availability for QF11 from SYD to LAX in December 2012. I know this is a notoriously difficult flight to get... would I be better off booking in economy now and checking back to see if a business class seat opens up closer to my travel date? Or is there no hope of that happening at all?
Feb 22, 2012, 11:32 am
#198
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Just making sure that I have read the rules correctly and this itinerary would NOT be allowed?:
LGW-BGI
BGI-MIA
MIA-LIM
land segment
GRU-JFK
JFK-HKG
HKG-TPE
TPE-HKG
HKG-DPS
i.e. origin and destination are different and there is a land segment
??
LGW-BGI
BGI-MIA
MIA-LIM
land segment
GRU-JFK
JFK-HKG
HKG-TPE
TPE-HKG
HKG-DPS
i.e. origin and destination are different and there is a land segment
??
Feb 22, 2012, 12:23 pm
#199
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
You are right. It would not be allowed because it has 2 open jaws. Only 1 is permitted.
Feb 22, 2012, 1:34 pm
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
Posts: 18,240
What are my options with a schedule change? I have booked for 2 peopel, all in biz-
LAX-AKL, spend two nights
AKL-SYD, spend 5 nights
SYD-HKG, spend 4 nights
HKG-LAX
Qantas has canclled their direct LAX-AKL flight, making for a connection from LAX-SYD-AKL and pretty much killing our first day in AKL. Now debating whether the AKL stop is even worth it with our limited time. If I wanted to change and drop AKL altogether, should this be allowed? Or change to spend the 5 nights in SYD first:
LAX-SYD, spend 5 nights
SYD-AKL, spend 2 nights
AKL-SYD-HKG, spend 4 nights
HKG-LAX
LAX-AKL, spend two nights
AKL-SYD, spend 5 nights
SYD-HKG, spend 4 nights
HKG-LAX
Qantas has canclled their direct LAX-AKL flight, making for a connection from LAX-SYD-AKL and pretty much killing our first day in AKL. Now debating whether the AKL stop is even worth it with our limited time. If I wanted to change and drop AKL altogether, should this be allowed? Or change to spend the 5 nights in SYD first:
LAX-SYD, spend 5 nights
SYD-AKL, spend 2 nights
AKL-SYD-HKG, spend 4 nights
HKG-LAX
Feb 22, 2012, 5:29 pm
#201
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
Feb 23, 2012, 1:06 pm
#202
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Is it possible to make changes to the routing/airline (for a fee of course) after legs have been flown?
Feb 23, 2012, 1:44 pm
#204
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Hmm.
I have all the legs of the itinerary available except one HKG-LHR at the end of the trip. There is nothing for HKG-Europe (or BKK/SIN etc -Europe) 2 weeks either side of my desired date in August, but I was thinking that if I booked HKG-LHR for any date in the future and then waited for 2 seats to open up between now and then (even until the day before travel in the worst case scenario) then this might work. It would have been nice to be able to change to HKG-FRA/AMS/CDG etc. just incase.
Do you think it is risky to book an itinerary and wait all the way up until the day before for 2 F seats to open on HKG-LHR???? There are 2 dates we could potentially fly HKG-LHR...
I have all the legs of the itinerary available except one HKG-LHR at the end of the trip. There is nothing for HKG-Europe (or BKK/SIN etc -Europe) 2 weeks either side of my desired date in August, but I was thinking that if I booked HKG-LHR for any date in the future and then waited for 2 seats to open up between now and then (even until the day before travel in the worst case scenario) then this might work. It would have been nice to be able to change to HKG-FRA/AMS/CDG etc. just incase.
Do you think it is risky to book an itinerary and wait all the way up until the day before for 2 F seats to open on HKG-LHR???? There are 2 dates we could potentially fly HKG-LHR...
Feb 23, 2012, 1:50 pm
#205
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA, AA, SPG, HH
Posts: 672
Hmm.
I have all the legs of the itinerary available except one HKG-LHR at the end of the trip. There is nothing for HKG-Europe (or BKK/SIN etc -Europe) 2 weeks either side of my desired date in August, but I was thinking that if I booked HKG-LHR for any date in the future and then waited for 2 seats to open up between now and then (even until the day before travel in the worst case scenario) then this might work. It would have been nice to be able to change to HKG-FRA/AMS/CDG etc. just incase.
Do you think it is risky to book an itinerary and wait all the way up until the day before for 2 F seats to open on HKG-LHR???? There are 2 dates we could potentially fly HKG-LHR...
I have all the legs of the itinerary available except one HKG-LHR at the end of the trip. There is nothing for HKG-Europe (or BKK/SIN etc -Europe) 2 weeks either side of my desired date in August, but I was thinking that if I booked HKG-LHR for any date in the future and then waited for 2 seats to open up between now and then (even until the day before travel in the worst case scenario) then this might work. It would have been nice to be able to change to HKG-FRA/AMS/CDG etc. just incase.
Do you think it is risky to book an itinerary and wait all the way up until the day before for 2 F seats to open on HKG-LHR???? There are 2 dates we could potentially fly HKG-LHR...
I had the exact same question for HKG-YVR on CX in early April and there are no seats avail anywhere close to the dates I need. BUT, I searched avail for the next week and they had J seats 6 out of 7 days so I am comfortable taking the risk that they will open up seats shortly before departure and I can switch my dates to the ones I need.
Feb 23, 2012, 1:58 pm
#206
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
I don't have any idea about availability on that specific route. My recommendation would be to search availability on that route (using KVS or a similar tool) for the next week. If you see tons of availability for the next week then you may feel comfortable that they will open up seats at the last minute. I would also cross reference your dates with peak season schedule and/or any holidays that may fall around your dates. If you are hoping for seats to open up in the middle of peak season or around a big holiday you may be out of luck.
I had the exact same question for HKG-YVR on CX in early April and there are no seats avail anywhere close to the dates I need. BUT, I searched avail for the next week and they had J seats 6 out of 7 days so I am comfortable taking the risk that they will open up seats shortly before departure and I can switch my dates to the ones I need.
I had the exact same question for HKG-YVR on CX in early April and there are no seats avail anywhere close to the dates I need. BUT, I searched avail for the next week and they had J seats 6 out of 7 days so I am comfortable taking the risk that they will open up seats shortly before departure and I can switch my dates to the ones I need.
My dates are around 29th August - 30th August (most UK schools and HKG schools (not universities) go back on around 4th/5th September). Apparently peak season in HKG is Fall and Spring.
It's a hard choice to make
Feb 23, 2012, 4:30 pm
#207
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
But the number of seats assigned already or the number of revenue seats still available has little correlation with award availability. If you're going to use the questionable tactic of inferring what will happen next year from what is happening now, at least compare apples to apples.
Feb 23, 2012, 4:32 pm
#208
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: UA, AA, SPG, HH
Posts: 672
But the number of seats assigned already or the number of revenue seats still available has little correlation with award availability. If you're going to use the questionable tactic of inferring what will happen next year from what is happening now, at least compare apples to apples.
The # of revenue seats is not a useful proxy for award availability
Feb 23, 2012, 5:00 pm
#209
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
But the number of seats assigned already or the number of revenue seats still available has little correlation with award availability. If you're going to use the questionable tactic of inferring what will happen next year from what is happening now, at least compare apples to apples.
e.g. 27th = 9 CX F awards, 28th =11 CX F awards, 24th 3 CX F awards.
Feb 23, 2012, 11:08 pm
#210
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 22
So far I have been successful in finding award seats for the first few legs of the trip on IB, CX, and JL using the QF and BA websites. However, I haven't found any J availability for QF11 from SYD to LAX in December 2012. I know this is a notoriously difficult flight to get... would I be better off booking in economy now and checking back to see if a business class seat opens up closer to my travel date? Or is there no hope of that happening at all?
Also, do you think it makes any sense to break the trip up into two separate oneworld awards? I could do the first section (Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia) in under 35,000 miles and therefore for only 190,000 points in J. I could then do the South American section for 90,000 points... which would give me more time in each place.