Pinned

Great, thanks!

YoungBubbie

Thanks. I called yesterday and it is noted on my record that It was originally non stop. I told her to please indicate that if they add nonstop again to change my flights. She said she would and I should just keep on checking.

silkwood

Hello,

Newbie here. I have just over 250k AA miles in my account. My partner and I would like to go to Australia in 2015. What is the best strategy for booking award travel RDU-SYD and return AKL-RDU in FIRST or business with lie-flat seats? We are willing to book a year in advance to avoid having to do this trip in economy.

Thanks!

poggs

I have 2 first class seats from mco to JFK next October. The plane is a 757 and only seems to have 16 F seats. Does this mean it's an international bird or is there some internal config rule that means all 757's are 16 seats until the plane is confirmed a few days out?

JDiver

At this time, it is scheduled as a 75L / "International" configuration 757-223.

Sometimes the assignments change on non-dedicated routes - we recently flew on a 75L JFK-SXM that was originally shown as a 752.

JDiver

Hi!

Check this thread out: AA miles awards: using / redeeming AA miles on Qantas (QF) (consolidated)

It boils down to being persistent and flexible (you may not get two seats on the day you prefer, or nonstop).

1) QF FFs can book award flights 360 days out, AA only allows 330 (331) days out - so others have a shot at it before you;

2) Check different routings - I've flown ourselves and friends to / from Godzone in QF J, but we had to be flexible - e.g. ADL-MEL-LAX-BNE-ADL, etc.

The AA EXP agent didn't look for BNE connection - she merely told me there were no seats LAX-SYD or LAX-MEL, I had to remind her about BNE - so check your routes, and perhaps consider using a tool like ExpertFlyer or KVS.

Be aware QF is eliminating / has eliminated F on most flights, such as the 747-400s, and even on some of the A380s. Be happy if you can find two J seats...

TOMFORD

If I want to fly DTW-ICN, CX's website routes it DTW-ORD-HKG-ICN and shows seat availability for purchase. Does this mean I can just phone AA and ask them to book me an award ticket for that route? I.E. how do I check award availability on AA/CX?

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

AA does not permit an Asia 2 (HKG) transit on an award between North America and Asia 1 (ICN). If you want to route via HKG, you will have to pay for two separate awards.

allset2travel

I assume you mean your EXP status is valid until end of Feb, 2015?

Best places to get informed about award travel are the related wikis on this board. I come back and read them whenever I have the need.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ld-awards.html

SWUs can be used on paid tickets only (eiither for yourself, or others). They are best for international travel.

Among some of the best ways to redeem miles are for oneworld Explorer award, in J or F. Do RTW with it for best value.

TOMFORD

Is this something I just keep calling until I get an agent who did not pass his/her Geography 101 class to ticket me this trip? Or is there something hardcoded in the AA system that will not let me get this award ticket?

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

While anything is possible in this world, I would be very surprised if you could route from the U.S. to Korea via HKG on a single award. It doesn't matter what the agent says: the award ticket won't be issued until it's reviewed by another department at AA.

TOMFORD

Okay. I guess I will use 10,000 BA Avios to do HKG-ICN in economy. For DTW-ORD-HKG, especially the ORD-HKG leg on CX, if I see the award availability on BA's website, can I call AA and have them book that trip for me, or are AA and BA award availability different?

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Assuming that the ba.com website is accurately displaying CX award availability, then yes, AA should be able to book the CX flight for you.

Note, however, that AA charges a little more for DTW-HKG than for DTW-ICN.

TOMFORD

Wouldn't I be able to use 67,500 miles for a one way trip to Asia? Or do I have to book RT using 135,000 miles?

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Except for the multi-partner, distance-based "Explorer" awards, all AAdvantage awards are now one-ways. AAdvantage eliminated roundtrip awards a few years ago, when it introduced one-way "Flex" awards.