Help me be way too nice to a friend - award ticket
Oct 28, 2005, 4:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 147
Help me be way too nice to a friend - award ticket
I'm going LAX-JFK-ZRH on 11/6 and returning 11/11 on a full-fare B ticket. I want to take a friend with me using miles. I've tried ExpertFlyer, aa.com, calling the EXP desk, etc. and can't find a MilesAAver award, and I don't think 100k miles for a round-trip to Europe in coach is a judicious use of miles. So, I turn to the experts at FT for help.
I checked for awards into LHR, FRA, and CDG as well, with no luck. I'm willing to put said friend on an odd routing if needed. Any ideas? Also, do you think a trip like this is worth 100k miles?
I checked for awards into LHR, FRA, and CDG as well, with no luck. I'm willing to put said friend on an odd routing if needed. Any ideas? Also, do you think a trip like this is worth 100k miles?
Oct 28, 2005, 4:58 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, HH Gold, dirt loads of places.
Posts: 1,657
I think you may find 11/11 is the problem. We're flying to the US that day and loads seem to be very heavy.
That said, last time I booked an award ticket the rate was 90K for coach or 120K for business. On a whim I looked at first and found availability for 125K.
125K for F seemed like a much better deal than 90K for Y.
That said, last time I booked an award ticket the rate was 90K for coach or 120K for business. On a whim I looked at first and found availability for 125K.
125K for F seemed like a much better deal than 90K for Y.
Oct 28, 2005, 5:58 am
#3
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
How much does the ticket cost?
Oct 28, 2005, 12:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York
Programs: AA Plat, CO Gold
Posts: 1,598
Originally Posted by chartreuse
I think you may find 11/11 is the problem. We're flying to the US that day and loads seem to be very heavy.
That said, last time I booked an award ticket the rate was 90K for coach or 120K for business. On a whim I looked at first and found availability for 125K.
125K for F seemed like a much better deal than 90K for Y.
That said, last time I booked an award ticket the rate was 90K for coach or 120K for business. On a whim I looked at first and found availability for 125K.
125K for F seemed like a much better deal than 90K for Y.
We're talking about the rate from US-Europe, right? That's 40k off-peak/60k peak in Y, 90k in J, 125k in F.I'm guessing tickets are pretty expensive due to the lack of a Saturday-night stay. Is your friend willing to stay an extra 2 days? That way I'm sure tickets are cheaper. Or what if you expand your search to the 12th?
Are you planning on upgrading? Only 10k each way, no co-pay on a B ticket. Maybe you can search for a J award for your friend and upgrade yourself. I see availability in J on 11/6 LAX-JFK-ZRH AA40/AA64 and on the return ZRH-JFK-LAX AA65/AA21. That's a much better value than using 100k for a Y ticket.
Oct 28, 2005, 2:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: West Hollywood, CA, USA
Programs: AA, SPG GLD, DL FO, VX, UA, US, ICH, Hyatt, Avis Pref.
Posts: 478
Check LAX-MIA-NAS-LHR-***
LAX-YYZ-LHR-***
LAX-SEA-YVR-LHR-***
through MEX-LHR-***
LAX-DUB-***
LAX-CDG-*** on TN
LAX-YYZ-LHR-***
LAX-SEA-YVR-LHR-***
through MEX-LHR-***
LAX-DUB-***
LAX-CDG-*** on TN
Oct 28, 2005, 2:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, HH Gold, dirt loads of places.
Posts: 1,657
Originally Posted by acf573
We're talking about the rate from US-Europe, right? That's 40k off-peak/60k peak in Y, 90k in J, 125k in F.
Actually I've gone back and checked, the situation I was thinking of was when there were only AAnytime* awards available in Y/J at 100 & 180K respectively, but there turned out to be a MileSAAver* award in F available at 125K. My point remains the same, somethimes it's worth looking at F, as there may be a cheaper award catagory available even though it's exhausted in Y/J.
(* = or whatever they were called then).