Feb 13, 2013, 9:42 am
[2013 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your AA-Related Questions Here (flame free)
Mar 24, 2013, 6:50 am
#766
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
In order to get from Vienna to Cleveland on an AA award, you will need to change planes twice: once in Europe and once at a city in the USA from which AA flies to Cleveland. Flying through London (BA) will be very expensive, so it's best to use a different partner. Award flights departing Vienna on AB can be booked online, with the transatlantic flight on AB or AA itself. But award travel on IB via Madrid is also possible, and award flights on IB cannot be booked online. You may wish to check the schedule at the AA website, and then phone AA to find out if award travel is available.
Mar 24, 2013, 8:28 am
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
There are 2 seats right now in Y on Oct. 1, VIE-DUS-MIA-CLE. No overnight layovers.
Two seats in business will be hard to come by unless you take BA across the pond and pay their ripoff fuel surcharges. I'm also looking for 2 J awards back from Europe around that time...1 seat is easier, but 2 is tough.
Two seats in business will be hard to come by unless you take BA across the pond and pay their ripoff fuel surcharges. I'm also looking for 2 J awards back from Europe around that time...1 seat is easier, but 2 is tough.
Mar 24, 2013, 9:34 am
#768
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
On September 30, IB has a flight that leaves VIE at 6:50 AM and gets you to CLE at 6:25 PM. The route is VIE-MAD-ORD-CLE. I did not check about October 1. You would need to phone AA to find out about award availability.
Mar 24, 2013, 10:41 am
#769
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Mar 24, 2013, 10:45 am
#770
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks to members who have done some grunt work and found flights; I would book them ASAP.
Mar 24, 2013, 4:04 pm
#771
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 30
thank you all so much..looking tonight..i know you would all help out...i have learned so much on this site
Mar 24, 2013, 4:44 pm
#772
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
Thanks! That really simplified things. I called and put the IAD-AUH-DEL//BOM-AUH-IAD on EY itinerary on hold. Other than a British Airways flight (which has crazy taxes), or airlines that don't accept Advantage miles, this was the best itinerary I could find as far as total travel time. Some of them (including Cathay) would be just way too long. The times in India are not ideal (inbound lands in Delhi at 3:30 AM, outbound leaves Mumbai at 4:50 AM), but there's not much I can do about that.
One other thing... I reserved business class for now, but I'm wondering if that was smart. It's 90k miles roundtrip for economy, or 130k miles roundtrip for business class. So, question: How is business class on Etihad? Is it worth spending 1.5 times the number of miles just to fly business instead of economy?
I guess an equally important question is... how is economy on Etihad? If it's quite good, whereas their business class is nothing special, then I should just do economy. But if their economy is awful and their business is stellar, then I should do business.
One other thing... I reserved business class for now, but I'm wondering if that was smart. It's 90k miles roundtrip for economy, or 130k miles roundtrip for business class. So, question: How is business class on Etihad? Is it worth spending 1.5 times the number of miles just to fly business instead of economy?
I guess an equally important question is... how is economy on Etihad? If it's quite good, whereas their business class is nothing special, then I should just do economy. But if their economy is awful and their business is stellar, then I should do business.
Also the little miles difference fully justify the use of J if available.
Except in an emergency situation, I'll never burn miles for an Y award. (Just pay for a Y ticket)
Mar 25, 2013, 11:21 am
#773
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
If you buy AA ticket on the Kayak.com website do you still get elite miles
My questions is regarding buy AA flights on other websites like kayak, expedia etc. They seem to have better prices. So I wonder if I book them through this means will I be able to get the same amount of elite miles?
Thanks
Thanks
Mar 25, 2013, 11:38 am
#774
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
Yes. Usually, Expedia books you into a fare that earns miles. Kayak.com just sends you to AA.com to book.
Mar 25, 2013, 12:38 pm
#775
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
I have an award flight for two coming up from JFK-LHR.
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
Mar 25, 2013, 12:46 pm
#776
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
I have an award flight for two coming up from JFK-LHR.
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
Otherwise, you must rely on a load factor based upgrade (search LFBU, we have a consolidated thread on that) at the airport. Unreliable, but you may get an offer. From the US to Europe should be about $500 from coach to business. Not sure about business to first, but it would likely be more. You don't say which class of service you're currently ticketed in, but double upgrades are generally not possible.
Mar 25, 2013, 12:50 pm
#777
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA, UAL
Posts: 545
I have an award flight for two coming up from JFK-LHR.
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
I noticed that most of business and first are currently unoccupied (in fact the plane is only about 1/3-1/2 full)
Are there any options to get this award ticket upgraded (with cash?) to a first ticket? I did searches and obviously SWU, stickers, etc are not applicable.
Thanks
Only method that could work and that I can think of is if you can woo the Gate Agent to give you an F borading pass or may be cabin crew can let you fly in F
Mar 25, 2013, 12:52 pm
#778
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA 2MM, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 110
Do you need to be flying the same airline as your elite status in order to use the "premium" security line?
I have status on AA, but have to fly on WN occasionally. Today at SNA, for the first time, I was told that ticket needs to be same airline to use the premium security line.
There is a sign that clearly states AA elites are allowed to use that line, and the sign does not say anything about needing to be flying on that airline.
I suppose this makes sense, but I'm still curious why they would only start enforcing it now. I guess I could have entered security on the AA terminal and then walked over to my gate inside security, or perhaps I could start carrying around a "dummy" AA boarding pass to appease the overzealous line troll?
I have status on AA, but have to fly on WN occasionally. Today at SNA, for the first time, I was told that ticket needs to be same airline to use the premium security line.
There is a sign that clearly states AA elites are allowed to use that line, and the sign does not say anything about needing to be flying on that airline.
I suppose this makes sense, but I'm still curious why they would only start enforcing it now. I guess I could have entered security on the AA terminal and then walked over to my gate inside security, or perhaps I could start carrying around a "dummy" AA boarding pass to appease the overzealous line troll?
Mar 25, 2013, 1:08 pm
#779
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Stockholm, Sweden + Austin, Tx
Programs: "But, I'm a GLOBALIST guest...."
Posts: 2,848
If there is award inventory available in first, then you may upfare your award and pay the difference in miles, generally without fee.
Otherwise, you must rely on a load factor based upgrade (search LFBU, we have a consolidated thread on that) at the airport. Unreliable, but you may get an offer. From the US to Europe should be about $500 from coach to business. Not sure about business to first, but it would likely be more. You don't say which class of service you're currently ticketed in, but double upgrades are generally not possible.
Otherwise, you must rely on a load factor based upgrade (search LFBU, we have a consolidated thread on that) at the airport. Unreliable, but you may get an offer. From the US to Europe should be about $500 from coach to business. Not sure about business to first, but it would likely be more. You don't say which class of service you're currently ticketed in, but double upgrades are generally not possible.
I'm in Plebian coach exit row on a 777. :P
Thanks, this helped a lot.
Mar 25, 2013, 1:10 pm
#780
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
