ARCHIVE: oneworld / Explorer Awards Using AA Miles info
Jul 18, 2010, 8:20 pm
#1906
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beachfan, what I was suggesting was that you start your trip to Europe from another nearby airport (like LAS, SAN, or SBA) then "stop over" in LAX on your way back, before proceeding on to another destination (like Hawaii, Cancun, etc.). I suppose you could do the Hawaii trip first, but you must observe the oneworld rules: not more than one stopover in any city or its co-terminals, not more than two connections through the same city, and no stopovers or connections in the first or last city on the itinerary. You can use the Great Circle mapper or similar tool to estimate the total itinerary mileage, to make sure that your mileage does not exceed what is allowed for your particular award. If you fly LAS-NYC-LAX-LIH-LAX before starting your trip to Europe the total mileage for the trip will push you well into the 20,001-25,000 mile award band.
beachfan, what I was suggesting was that you start your trip to Europe from another nearby airport (like LAS, SAN, or SBA) then "stop over" in LAX on your way back, before proceeding on to another destination (like Hawaii, Cancun, etc.). I suppose you could do the Hawaii trip first, but you must observe the oneworld rules: not more than one stopover in any city or its co-terminals, not more than two connections through the same city, and no stopovers or connections in the first or last city on the itinerary. You can use the Great Circle mapper or similar tool to estimate the total itinerary mileage, to make sure that your mileage does not exceed what is allowed for your particular award. If you fly LAS-NYC-LAX-LIH-LAX before starting your trip to Europe the total mileage for the trip will push you well into the 20,001-25,000 mile award band.
Jul 18, 2010, 10:07 pm
#1907
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Ahh, but in that direction, it's problematic. Ticket is only good for 365 days, and I'm going to have it issued at probably 320 days or so, and the trip will be 24 days, so that leaves me only 21 days to complete the second trip. (am I missing something)
That's why the LAX layover at the beginning.
I have to check out SBA, that's only 25 miles further from me than LAX.
I'll have to write it out, I didn't see where
LAS-LAX(conn)-Hawaii-LAX(layover)-Europe-LAX(conn)-SBA has more trickiness than
LAS-LAX(conn)-Europe-LAX(layover)-Hawaii-LAX(conn)-SBA.
But you are right about the mileage, I think. And I'm not sure where else is worth the hassle.
(The miles are 15,739 according to great circle mapper. Did I do it wrong? (I have to connect through MAD between VCE and ORY).
That's why the LAX layover at the beginning.
I have to check out SBA, that's only 25 miles further from me than LAX.
I'll have to write it out, I didn't see where
LAS-LAX(conn)-Hawaii-LAX(layover)-Europe-LAX(conn)-SBA has more trickiness than
LAS-LAX(conn)-Europe-LAX(layover)-Hawaii-LAX(conn)-SBA.
But you are right about the mileage, I think. And I'm not sure where else is worth the hassle.
(The miles are 15,739 according to great circle mapper. Did I do it wrong? (I have to connect through MAD between VCE and ORY).
Jul 18, 2010, 11:10 pm
#1908
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There's no problem doing Hawaii and the LAX stopover at the beginning. The following itinerary comes in at 19,995 (!) miles on the Great Circle mapper, but requires you to do the VCE-LHR-CDG connection, and only gets you to OGG, not LIH:
Sba-lax (connection)-ogg-lax (stopover)-jfk-lhr (stopover)-lis-mad-vce-lhr (connection)-cdg-lhr (connection)-lax (connection)-las
Of course, if you don't want to bother with LAS at the end of your trip, you could substitute LAX-SBA for LAX-LAS. (And if you missed your flight to SBA after clearing customs and immigration at LAX, I doubt that AA would care.)
If you can book VCE-LHR-CDG for the date you want, I would not worry about a subsequent schedule change. If BA should stop flying the VCE-LHR route after your ticket were issued, I suspect that they would reaccommodate you on VCE-MAD-ORY, or VCE-BUD-CDG without any additional mileage charge. (Of course, you could also think about flying VCE-PAR on a budget airline, and have that as the one permissible open jaw on your itinerary. You'd pay a little, but you'd save yourself a few hours of traveling, and with the miles you saved, you could get to LIH rather than OGG.)
Lots of possibilities.
There's no problem doing Hawaii and the LAX stopover at the beginning. The following itinerary comes in at 19,995 (!) miles on the Great Circle mapper, but requires you to do the VCE-LHR-CDG connection, and only gets you to OGG, not LIH:
Sba-lax (connection)-ogg-lax (stopover)-jfk-lhr (stopover)-lis-mad-vce-lhr (connection)-cdg-lhr (connection)-lax (connection)-las
Of course, if you don't want to bother with LAS at the end of your trip, you could substitute LAX-SBA for LAX-LAS. (And if you missed your flight to SBA after clearing customs and immigration at LAX, I doubt that AA would care.)
If you can book VCE-LHR-CDG for the date you want, I would not worry about a subsequent schedule change. If BA should stop flying the VCE-LHR route after your ticket were issued, I suspect that they would reaccommodate you on VCE-MAD-ORY, or VCE-BUD-CDG without any additional mileage charge. (Of course, you could also think about flying VCE-PAR on a budget airline, and have that as the one permissible open jaw on your itinerary. You'd pay a little, but you'd save yourself a few hours of traveling, and with the miles you saved, you could get to LIH rather than OGG.)
Lots of possibilities.
Jul 19, 2010, 1:54 am
#1909
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Great suggestions, thanks a lot! You obviously took some time with this, much appreciated.
Unfortunately, LAX-LHR non-stop is close to unobtanium. I book 331 days out, stay up late, but only got the non-stop once in 6 years.
The concern with VCE-LHR-CDG is not that they would change schedules, but that I could not get it on the date I want. For a 21 day itinerary, on a one-world award, I book it with only the outbound correct. Subsequent flights are not on the days I want -- I need to get it within the 5 day ticket deadline.
Maybe there is a better way, but right now availability in June across the pond is close to zilch.
But let me contemplate your post more, maybe I'm missing something.
Unfortunately, LAX-LHR non-stop is close to unobtanium. I book 331 days out, stay up late, but only got the non-stop once in 6 years.
The concern with VCE-LHR-CDG is not that they would change schedules, but that I could not get it on the date I want. For a 21 day itinerary, on a one-world award, I book it with only the outbound correct. Subsequent flights are not on the days I want -- I need to get it within the 5 day ticket deadline.
Maybe there is a better way, but right now availability in June across the pond is close to zilch.
But let me contemplate your post more, maybe I'm missing something.
Jul 22, 2010, 1:30 pm
#1910
Join Date: Oct 2009
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AA Partners in South America
Im trying to do a RTW oneworld award starting and ending in South America. I was wondering if AA has any partners beside LAN that fly within South America. I don't think GOL counts for a oneworld award...any suggesstions?
Jul 22, 2010, 1:38 pm
#1911
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Jul 22, 2010, 2:11 pm
#1912
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I saw that but theres just way too many cities to check each one. Was just wondering if someone knew from past experience or had been in the same boat. I know that BA goes GRU-EZE but was trying to get a diffferent leg. I also saw IBeria from LIM to cusco but figured that was just a codeshare.
Jul 22, 2010, 2:16 pm
#1913
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Do you have a specific itinerary in mind that isn't serviced by AA? Or, were you just looking at all the options first before you decide?
Jul 22, 2010, 2:48 pm
#1914
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LA, AA (I beleive only EZE-MVD) and BA (I think they only fly one route) are your only options. However, you can get to South America from North America on MX also.
Jul 22, 2010, 11:16 pm
#1915
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Yes the trip as planned is MDE-UIO-GPS-GYE-SCL-IPC-SCL-EZE-GRU-LIM-MDE. I need a partner that is not AA because the RTW award is three partners including AA or two partners without AA. Again i know BA serves EZE GRU but was looking for something else. Thanks.
Jul 22, 2010, 11:30 pm
#1916
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There is nothing else.
Jul 23, 2010, 4:42 am
#1917
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I think any of the LAN subsidiaries would count as other carriers so long as they have their own flight numbers: 4M, XL, LP
Jul 23, 2010, 10:51 am
#1918
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 536
In order to qualify for a oneworld award, an itinerary must contain AA plus at least two other airline “groups” in the itinerary, or at least two oneworld carrier “groups” without AA. A “group” is made up of a “parent” carrier and all its affiliates.
Jul 23, 2010, 11:12 am
#1919
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Your quote doesn't show the source. Where does it say "groups?"
From AA.com:
Your itinerary must include two airlines if American Airlines (AA) is not included, otherwise three airlines (including American/American Eagle).
- Valid on all oneworld airlines and their oneworld affiliates.
oneworld affiliates listed here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/pa...Affiliates.jsp
From AA.com:
Your itinerary must include two airlines if American Airlines (AA) is not included, otherwise three airlines (including American/American Eagle).
- Valid on all oneworld airlines and their oneworld affiliates.
oneworld affiliates listed here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/pa...Affiliates.jsp
Jul 23, 2010, 11:21 am
#1920
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Your quote doesn't show the source. Where does it say "groups?"
From AA.com:
Your itinerary must include two airlines if American Airlines (AA) is not included, otherwise three airlines (including American/American Eagle).
- Valid on all oneworld airlines and their oneworld affiliates.
oneworld affiliates listed here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/pa...Affiliates.jsp
From AA.com:
Your itinerary must include two airlines if American Airlines (AA) is not included, otherwise three airlines (including American/American Eagle).
- Valid on all oneworld airlines and their oneworld affiliates.
oneworld affiliates listed here: http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/pa...Affiliates.jsp
.................................................. .................................................. ................
Valid: All eleven oneworld carriers may be used on one award as long as the mileage and segment maximum is not exceeded (see distance range). Travel must include at least two oneworld partners other than American Airlines, American Eagle® or AmericanConnection®, and may not exceed 16 segments.