Feb 13, 2013, 9:42 am
[2013 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your AA-Related Questions Here (flame free)
Jan 30, 2013, 1:30 pm
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,422
I'm getting ready to book my first award trip in business for two pax NYC to BKK/SIN/KUL (we're flexible) for next winter. I've done some searching but can't quite answer these two questions. Please point me to a thread I've missed if you know of one.
We will have to use miles accrued in two separate AAdvantage accounts. Does my partner have to call to make the reservation using his miles, or can I just tell the CSR his AAdvantage number? (In other words, does the CSR need his permission to use those miles?)
Ideally I'd like to take advantage of the international gateway city (NYC) stopover to tack on a flight out to SFO or LAX to the return trip. I understand I could book it for the very next day, and change the date later. But the AA.com calendar doesn't go out that far quite yet. Do I wait to book the whole trip when I can see award flights for after our return from Asia? (Is there a great risk that award seats will vanish in the interim?) Or should I just book the long haul flights now and stop being so darn greedy?!
We will have to use miles accrued in two separate AAdvantage accounts. Does my partner have to call to make the reservation using his miles, or can I just tell the CSR his AAdvantage number? (In other words, does the CSR need his permission to use those miles?)
Ideally I'd like to take advantage of the international gateway city (NYC) stopover to tack on a flight out to SFO or LAX to the return trip. I understand I could book it for the very next day, and change the date later. But the AA.com calendar doesn't go out that far quite yet. Do I wait to book the whole trip when I can see award flights for after our return from Asia? (Is there a great risk that award seats will vanish in the interim?) Or should I just book the long haul flights now and stop being so darn greedy?!
Keep in mind that all travel, includng the add-on segment, must be completed within 1 year of the original ticketing date. Focus on finding award space on your long haul flights to/from Asia first.
Jan 30, 2013, 2:09 pm
#302
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC/ALB/BOS
Programs: AA
Posts: 7
Your partner doesn't need to call. When you make your reservation, tell the CSR up front that one ticket will come from your account, the other from his. As long as you have a credit card in his name for the taxes then you're fine. I've also had them verify the address on his AA account as well as the CC billing address.
Thanks so much — great advice.
Jan 30, 2013, 10:31 pm
#303
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA Exp BA gold SPG Platinum
Posts: 68
Hi everyone
As a long time lurker i first want to thank everyone here for the great insight and amazing ideas i have picked up from here.
I have been matched to aa exp but to extend my benefits until next year i need to fly 25k miles and then i will get the swu and my exp will be extended.
I have flown with them 13k so far and but i have a trip in mind with ba but then again if i book in economy in ba i will try to use my avios to get an upgrade to business or first.
So how do i go about this type of booking? do i need to leave out my ba executive no from the booking although it's made on ba.com(10% off from chase)? and give up the upgrade?
As a long time lurker i first want to thank everyone here for the great insight and amazing ideas i have picked up from here.
I have been matched to aa exp but to extend my benefits until next year i need to fly 25k miles and then i will get the swu and my exp will be extended.
I have flown with them 13k so far and but i have a trip in mind with ba but then again if i book in economy in ba i will try to use my avios to get an upgrade to business or first.
So how do i go about this type of booking? do i need to leave out my ba executive no from the booking although it's made on ba.com(10% off from chase)? and give up the upgrade?
Feb 1, 2013, 7:17 am
#304
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 130
Odd
So here is my situation (I'm quite new to AA and have never "no-showed" for a flight).
*I have AA award tickets booked for my family of 4 from my home airport, connecting through MIA to NAS.
*A few days later I have BA award tickets (AA metal) booked for us NAS-MIA.
*Another few days later I have my return AA award tickets booked out of MIA.
For a couple of reasons I'd like to change our trip to go to CUR instead of NAS -- but over the same dates. So I'm wondering if there will be problems if we "no-show" for the MIA-NAS leg, and I instead use Avios for MIA-CUR (again on AA metal of course) that same afternoon. And then a few days later I'd use Avios for CUR-MIA, then my original AA booking out of MIA to get home.
I hope this makes sense and if there's an easier way I'd be glad to hear of it!
Thanks in advance.
*I have AA award tickets booked for my family of 4 from my home airport, connecting through MIA to NAS.
*A few days later I have BA award tickets (AA metal) booked for us NAS-MIA.
*Another few days later I have my return AA award tickets booked out of MIA.
For a couple of reasons I'd like to change our trip to go to CUR instead of NAS -- but over the same dates. So I'm wondering if there will be problems if we "no-show" for the MIA-NAS leg, and I instead use Avios for MIA-CUR (again on AA metal of course) that same afternoon. And then a few days later I'd use Avios for CUR-MIA, then my original AA booking out of MIA to get home.
I hope this makes sense and if there's an easier way I'd be glad to hear of it!
Thanks in advance.
Maybe I didn't explain it well. It is a separate ticket, but I wouldn't be able to get any miles back since I'm just not using the last leg of the AA award ticket. Basically, I'm wondering if I'll get "flagged" or something by AA as no-showing for a flight that day, which will impact my ability to complete the actual flight I want (MIA-CUR) that same day...or the return trip from MIA later in the week.
Yes, no miles returned given award tickets aren't distance sensitive. Dropping the last segment of an award ticket should not raise any flags. It's not like you booked the last segment to get a lower price or the such. If this was a segment in the middle of a trip on the same PNR, then you risk loosing the rest of the trip if you don't call and give a viable reason.
Also, the boarding passes for my wife and I are only for the 1st of 3 segments (home airport to ORD). Should we also have been issued the other two boarding passes [ORD-MIA and MIA-NAS (which we will "no-show" for)]?
I wouldn't think this problem has anything to do with my above quoted background information...???...especially since my wife and I are checked in.
I have very limited experience with AA...any suggestions? Should I be concerned?
Feb 1, 2013, 8:56 am
#305
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,632
To be clear, this is not correct, in general. It is very possible that no inventory was made available om certain days, as opposed to having been made available and being taken. Perhaps a minor point if nothing is available, but the expectation that it was there in all cases is unrealistic.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Feb 1, 2013, 10:02 am
#306
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC/ALB/BOS
Programs: AA
Posts: 7
I'm very excited to report that I just placed a hold on my very first award reservation.
I got the long-haul JFK-HKG I'd hoped for, but the AA CSR was not showing award availability (J or Y) for the second leg of the trip (SIN). I'd read here that this can happen. I could see award availability on both the BA site and in the KVS tool. I fed her some flight numbers, no dice.
We've got an overnight in HKG now, which could be fun, but I'm wondering what I've done wrong. Misread something? Or should I just call back and try a new CSR?
I got the long-haul JFK-HKG I'd hoped for, but the AA CSR was not showing award availability (J or Y) for the second leg of the trip (SIN). I'd read here that this can happen. I could see award availability on both the BA site and in the KVS tool. I fed her some flight numbers, no dice.
We've got an overnight in HKG now, which could be fun, but I'm wondering what I've done wrong. Misread something? Or should I just call back and try a new CSR?
Feb 1, 2013, 12:03 pm
#307
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 8
Dear kind forum,
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
Feb 1, 2013, 12:17 pm
#308
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
Dear kind forum,
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
Feb 1, 2013, 12:19 pm
#309
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 8
From what I've gleaned from the thread on RGN visas elsewhere, although this is true, this is not reflected in whatever visa-checking system AA and others use, so they will demand a visa whether you need one or not. Assuming that's true, I was hoping they wouldnt ask at all.
Feb 1, 2013, 1:33 pm
#310
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,738
From what I've gleaned from the thread on RGN visas elsewhere, although this is true, this is not reflected in whatever visa-checking system AA and others use, so they will demand a visa whether you need one or not. Assuming that's true, I was hoping they wouldnt ask at all.
Check this SkyTeam's site because it uses the Timatic from IATA - that is the system Airlines use to verify Visa requirement.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/
The IATA pay site is this: http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/timatic.aspx
Make sure what you plan to do would "fly" else you would not get to fly, literally.
Feb 1, 2013, 1:39 pm
#311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Dear kind forum,
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
I have a question about visa requirements. I am checking in for a flight soon that will take me from the US to RGN, via bkk. I arrive in the evening in bkk, and am not schedule to head on to RGN until the next day. Does this mean that I will not be asked for a visa for RGN at check in? If so, and I don't have one, can I ask to just be checked through to bkk?
Feb 1, 2013, 1:43 pm
#312
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 8
You are risking deny boarding if you dont have the Visa requirement met as specified by Timatic.
Check this SkyTeam's site because it uses the Timatic from IATA - that is the system Airlines use to verify Visa requirement.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/
The IATA pay site is this: http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/timatic.aspx
Make sure what you plan to do would "fly" else you would not get to fly, literally.
Check this SkyTeam's site because it uses the Timatic from IATA - that is the system Airlines use to verify Visa requirement.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/
The IATA pay site is this: http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/timatic.aspx
Make sure what you plan to do would "fly" else you would not get to fly, literally.
I still hope that they will just be checking me through to BKK, given my 23 hour stay there.
(its a question given that getting a visa i won't necessarily use would mean ~120 in fees/mailing/fake departure booking.)
Feb 1, 2013, 2:31 pm
#313
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
I'm very excited to report that I just placed a hold on my very first award reservation.
I got the long-haul JFK-HKG I'd hoped for, but the AA CSR was not showing award availability (J or Y) for the second leg of the trip (SIN). I'd read here that this can happen. I could see award availability on both the BA site and in the KVS tool. I fed her some flight numbers, no dice.
We've got an overnight in HKG now, which could be fun, but I'm wondering what I've done wrong. Misread something? Or should I just call back and try a new CSR?
I got the long-haul JFK-HKG I'd hoped for, but the AA CSR was not showing award availability (J or Y) for the second leg of the trip (SIN). I'd read here that this can happen. I could see award availability on both the BA site and in the KVS tool. I fed her some flight numbers, no dice.
We've got an overnight in HKG now, which could be fun, but I'm wondering what I've done wrong. Misread something? Or should I just call back and try a new CSR?
What's the flight #/date in question?
Feb 1, 2013, 2:56 pm
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
From what I've gleaned from the thread on RGN visas elsewhere, although this is true, this is not reflected in whatever visa-checking system AA and others use, so they will demand a visa whether you need one or not. Assuming that's true, I was hoping they wouldnt ask at all.
You are risking deny boarding if you dont have the Visa requirement met as specified by Timatic.
Check this SkyTeam's site because it uses the Timatic from IATA - that is the system Airlines use to verify Visa requirement.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/
The IATA pay site is this: http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/timatic.aspx
Make sure what you plan to do would "fly" else you would not get to fly, literally.
Check this SkyTeam's site because it uses the Timatic from IATA - that is the system Airlines use to verify Visa requirement.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/your-trip/...sa-and-Health/
The IATA pay site is this: http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/timatic.aspx
Make sure what you plan to do would "fly" else you would not get to fly, literally.
Almost got stuck in ORD before a PEK trip because the gate agent couldn't/wouldn't read past the section about requiring a visa (find a way to say no and stop). We had printouts from the Chinese Consulate explaining the ability to travel without a visa for up to 48 hours, but they wouldn't take that as proof. They even called the Czar of International Travel in Dallas, and he too was unaware of the proper rules. We stayed in their face until Dallas called back and said they would allow us to travel IF we agreed to pay any fines levied for illegal travel. Got to PEK and not even a raised eyebrow from anyone.
The lesson learned is to know your requirements and allow PLENTY of time to educate the GAs if needed. The problem with using sites like Timatic is they address ALL the rules for the country and not just those that apply to AA destinations. You would think AA could whittle things down to reduce GA confusion.
