Tips for AA redemptions -for US member (soon to be AA)
Aug 17, 13, 7:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 251
Tips for AA redemptions -for US member (soon to be AA)
Hi All
I am a long standing *A member - have had miles with SQ for many years and more recently with US due to their generous "buy miles" program.
Since US will soon be part of the AA program, I wanted to see if there were some tips users may provide members like me who have never used OW carriers for redemption bookings. So if you don't mind, I have a few questions.
1. I see AA sells miles too. Can you buy miles without having a certain % of the miles already to put towards an award? e.g. some carriers let you top up but only if you have "X" amount of the miles already.
2. I use ANA mileage account to check *A availability and find it to be very accurate. Does AA have such a system or is there a partner program I should be using to check availability?
3. Any tips/tricks?
e.g. I am based in SYD. And it is very easy to get award availability on TG flights to Europe, even at very late notice. Particularly in F and J class.
and it is very difficult to get UA/NZ/AC flights to the USA from SYD.
Any hints/tips or airlines that may have bigger inventory for award travel than others within the OW scheme?
Thanks so much in advance.
I am a long standing *A member - have had miles with SQ for many years and more recently with US due to their generous "buy miles" program.
Since US will soon be part of the AA program, I wanted to see if there were some tips users may provide members like me who have never used OW carriers for redemption bookings. So if you don't mind, I have a few questions.
1. I see AA sells miles too. Can you buy miles without having a certain % of the miles already to put towards an award? e.g. some carriers let you top up but only if you have "X" amount of the miles already.
2. I use ANA mileage account to check *A availability and find it to be very accurate. Does AA have such a system or is there a partner program I should be using to check availability?
3. Any tips/tricks?
e.g. I am based in SYD. And it is very easy to get award availability on TG flights to Europe, even at very late notice. Particularly in F and J class.
and it is very difficult to get UA/NZ/AC flights to the USA from SYD.
Any hints/tips or airlines that may have bigger inventory for award travel than others within the OW scheme?
Thanks so much in advance.
Aug 17, 13, 7:34 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BOS, LAX
Programs: AA EXP MM, UA Plat, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,895
US will not be part of the AA program anytime soon (if ever).
Aug 17, 13, 7:49 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
I'll do my best to answer your questions, but given the events this week I seriously question the idea that "US will soon be part of the AA program"
There is an annual limit on how many miles you purchase for one account, but you don't need a minimum amount in your account.
No, AA doesn't currently have the availability to show OW availability but the Qantas FF program does.
You'll be primarily dealing w/ Qantas & other OW carriers, not AA, and will have limited options. Most of us try to avoid BA b/c their award tickets have significant fuel surcharges, fees, etc..
Originally Posted by Ansett767
1. I see AA sells miles too. Can you buy miles without having a certain % of the miles already to put towards an award? e.g. some carriers let you top up but only if you have "X" amount of the miles already.
Originally Posted by Ansett767
2. I use ANA mileage account to check *A availability and find it to be very accurate. Does AA have such a system or is there a partner program I should be using to check availability?
Originally Posted by Ansett767
3. Any tips/tricks?
e.g. I am based in SYD. And it is very easy to get award availability on TG flights to Europe, even at very late notice. Particularly in F and J class.
and it is very difficult to get UA/NZ/AC flights to the USA from SYD.
Any hints/tips or airlines that may have bigger inventory for award travel than others within the OW scheme?
e.g. I am based in SYD. And it is very easy to get award availability on TG flights to Europe, even at very late notice. Particularly in F and J class.
and it is very difficult to get UA/NZ/AC flights to the USA from SYD.
Any hints/tips or airlines that may have bigger inventory for award travel than others within the OW scheme?
Aug 17, 13, 8:02 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 251
Originally Posted by bdemaria
I'll do my best to answer your questions, but given the events this week I seriously question the idea that "US will soon be part of the AA program"
Aug 17, 13, 8:04 am
#5
Moderator: American AAdvantage, TAP, Mexico, Technical Support and Feedback, and The Suggestion Box
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,803
For more exhaustive treatment, I recommend checking our FAQ "sticky" thread. It has a lot of answers, as well as links to threads, Wiki entries and appropriate AA and other page links.
I think you have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with AAdvantage policies - but if the reverse takeover / merger occurs given the apparent seriousness of the DoJ effort, the ultimate program will be somewhat of a hybrid (though it does seem AA managers were to be in charge overall).
I think you have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with AAdvantage policies - but if the reverse takeover / merger occurs given the apparent seriousness of the DoJ effort, the ultimate program will be somewhat of a hybrid (though it does seem AA managers were to be in charge overall).
Aug 17, 13, 8:05 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 22,064
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit to block the AA/US merger on antitrust grounds.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit to block the AA/US merger on antitrust grounds.
Aug 17, 13, 4:54 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA LT GLD 1MM
Posts: 801
1 has been answered.
2. there is no one search engine that is good for finding everything (that is bookable with AA miles anyway).
Generally if you're looking for QF/BA seats you can look at aa.com. If you're looking for CX seats you'll want to use the JAL availability search (KVS helps alot). You can also use the BA.com site to search. Generally what you see on JAL/ BA.com can be booked with aa miles, but sometimes you will run into a situation where JAL/BA show 2 seats and AA sees only 1, or none.
3. AA is really picky with routings. It is also very difficult to get flights from AU to USA in premium cabins. But it's not impossible. If you look at 330 days out you should be able to snag 2 seats in J if your days are flexible. If you're only looking for 1 seat it should be a bit easier (AA has a very easy calendar search). You can also find lots of seats via HNL on HA but that is a long trip in recliner seats.
CX is pretty good about releasing seats - and rivals SQ for the best J/F experience out there, but AA will charge you for two awards... AU-Asia2 and Asia 2 -US if you want to book that way.
Unless maybe you can find a heavily discounted ticket to somewhere in SE Asia and then just use one award from there.
2. there is no one search engine that is good for finding everything (that is bookable with AA miles anyway).
Generally if you're looking for QF/BA seats you can look at aa.com. If you're looking for CX seats you'll want to use the JAL availability search (KVS helps alot). You can also use the BA.com site to search. Generally what you see on JAL/ BA.com can be booked with aa miles, but sometimes you will run into a situation where JAL/BA show 2 seats and AA sees only 1, or none.
3. AA is really picky with routings. It is also very difficult to get flights from AU to USA in premium cabins. But it's not impossible. If you look at 330 days out you should be able to snag 2 seats in J if your days are flexible. If you're only looking for 1 seat it should be a bit easier (AA has a very easy calendar search). You can also find lots of seats via HNL on HA but that is a long trip in recliner seats.
CX is pretty good about releasing seats - and rivals SQ for the best J/F experience out there, but AA will charge you for two awards... AU-Asia2 and Asia 2 -US if you want to book that way.
Unless maybe you can find a heavily discounted ticket to somewhere in SE Asia and then just use one award from there.
Aug 17, 13, 6:27 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Expl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,557
Originally Posted by AZbba
2. there is no one search engine that is good for finding everything (that is bookable with AA miles anyway...
CX is pretty good about releasing seats - and rivals SQ for the best J/F experience out there, but AA will charge you for two awards... AU-Asia2 and Asia 2 -US if you want to book that way.
Unless maybe you can find a heavily discounted ticket to somewhere in SE Asia and then just use one award from there.
Fully agree re CX comments.
