Advice using AA miles from Europe to Texas
Nov 18, 2013, 2:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
Advice using AA miles from Europe to Texas
Hi!
Planning a trip to Europe and I see plenty of award availability on the outbound but not much inbound for December travel (Dec. 12th out and 18th in).
My route is AUS-NYC (stopover 2days) - CDG - Revenue ticket to FCO - FCO - AUS.
I planning to do a stopover at New York as a gateway city for two days then continue on to CDG. (December 9 or 10 then to Paris on the 12th arriving 13th).
Then book an one-way revenue ticket to FCO on the 14th and leave the 17th or 18th but there's no award space on these dates. (the last is 16th but with BA which I'm trying to avoid).
In total it's 20,000 miles one way which I think is great value but not seeing much award space on the 17th or 18th.
Any recommendations? I'm guessing mid-December is a hard to get award season?
Can I use AA miles for the Paris-Rome leg?
Planning a trip to Europe and I see plenty of award availability on the outbound but not much inbound for December travel (Dec. 12th out and 18th in).
My route is AUS-NYC (stopover 2days) - CDG - Revenue ticket to FCO - FCO - AUS.
I planning to do a stopover at New York as a gateway city for two days then continue on to CDG. (December 9 or 10 then to Paris on the 12th arriving 13th).
Then book an one-way revenue ticket to FCO on the 14th and leave the 17th or 18th but there's no award space on these dates. (the last is 16th but with BA which I'm trying to avoid).
In total it's 20,000 miles one way which I think is great value but not seeing much award space on the 17th or 18th.
Any recommendations? I'm guessing mid-December is a hard to get award season?
Can I use AA miles for the Paris-Rome leg?
Nov 18, 2013, 2:25 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
Thinking outside the box, have you considered the train BETWEEN PARIS, FRANCE AND ROME, ITALY, and Rome to any city you can get out of?
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Nov 18, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Nov 18, 2013, 2:34 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Thinking outside the box, have you considered the train?
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
OP - in general, AA considers the start of the Christmas season to be December 16. They don't usually offer much in the way of award seats during Christmas season. Can you move your trip up a month?
Nov 18, 2013, 2:34 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
Thank you....never thought about this route...will look into it.
Thinking outside the box, have you considered the train?
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
European trains make getting around easy, non-stressful, and non-weather dependent.
Here is a link: http://www.raileurope-world.com/trai...cle/paris-rome
Have a good trip, no matter how you get there.
Nov 18, 2013, 2:36 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 237
Got it...I guess that's why I don't see much award after the 16th...Might consider using devalued United miles on my way back...
Nov 18, 2013, 2:40 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
I will clarify my post, and then go play in traffic, or fall on my sword!
Once again, thanks!
Nov 18, 2013, 2:55 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
PM me if you have issues.
Nov 18, 2013, 3:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP 1.0mm, not sure where I am with hotels these days
Posts: 2,795
Hi!
Planning a trip to Europe and I see plenty of award availability on the outbound but not much inbound for December travel (Dec. 12th out and 18th in).
My route is AUS-NYC (stopover 2days) - CDG - Revenue ticket to FCO - FCO - AUS.
I planning to do a stopover at New York as a gateway city for two days then continue on to CDG. (December 9 or 10 then to Paris on the 12th arriving 13th).
Then book an one-way revenue ticket to FCO on the 14th and leave the 17th or 18th but there's no award space on these dates. (the last is 16th but with BA which I'm trying to avoid).
In total it's 20,000 miles one way which I think is great value but not seeing much award space on the 17th or 18th.
Any recommendations? I'm guessing mid-December is a hard to get award season?
Can I use AA miles for the Paris-Rome leg?
Planning a trip to Europe and I see plenty of award availability on the outbound but not much inbound for December travel (Dec. 12th out and 18th in).
My route is AUS-NYC (stopover 2days) - CDG - Revenue ticket to FCO - FCO - AUS.
I planning to do a stopover at New York as a gateway city for two days then continue on to CDG. (December 9 or 10 then to Paris on the 12th arriving 13th).
Then book an one-way revenue ticket to FCO on the 14th and leave the 17th or 18th but there's no award space on these dates. (the last is 16th but with BA which I'm trying to avoid).
In total it's 20,000 miles one way which I think is great value but not seeing much award space on the 17th or 18th.
Any recommendations? I'm guessing mid-December is a hard to get award season?
Can I use AA miles for the Paris-Rome leg?
Nov 18, 2013, 7:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,520
also - call AA. Not all partners (IB comes to mind here) appear on aa.com when searching for award seats.
Nov 18, 2013, 10:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MIA/LAS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Starwood PLT
Posts: 572
Do all European destinations have steep taxes or only LHR? Because I found direct flights from MIA for me and my son for 40,000 RT but the taxes and charges were nearly $1,000.
Nov 18, 2013, 10:41 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Posts: 21,690
Nov 18, 2013, 10:47 pm
#13
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
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Taxes for France and Germany departures are higher than Spain or Ireland, but none of those are as high as the U.K.
Nov 19, 2013, 3:45 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MIA/LAS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Starwood PLT
Posts: 572
Do you have any BA flights on this itinerary? Likely you're paying the BA fuel surcharge if you do and taxes into and out of LHR would not average $500 a ticket (maybe $200 in coach and $300 in business as rough numbers).
Taxes for France and Germany departures are higher than Spain or Ireland, but none of those are as high as the U.K.
Taxes for France and Germany departures are higher than Spain or Ireland, but none of those are as high as the U.K.
----
Award Miles Needed
Award Miles Per Ticket 40,000 miles
Number of Passengers X 2
Total Award Miles Required 80,000 miles
Taxes and Fees
Taxes 459.20 USD
Carrier-Imposed Fees 458.00 USD
Total Taxes and Carrier-Imposed Fees 917.20 USD
----
Seems very, very high for one flight on BA metal?
Nov 19, 2013, 6:21 am
#15
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