Jan 13, 2015, 1:39 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Awards: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles (>= 2015)
This thread is about our members' successful award bookings on Etihad / EY using AAdvantage miles. Please do not post to this thread if you want tips and assistance on booking Etihad awards with AA miles but see this thread: How to use AA miles on Etihad / EY (Consolidated / Master Thread). The wikipost of that thread also contains instructions on how to search for EY availability.
Note: posts prior to 2015 about this topic (with the exception of a few 2014 end of year posts brought forward for continuity) may be found at ARCHIVE: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles
Success stories booking awards on Etihad using AA miles (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
Sep 5, 2015, 10:41 am
#556
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP,AS MVPG,MR Platinum,HH Gold
Posts: 1,343
In early May I was able to snag the following:
FRA-AUH-MLE (343/F, 320/J)
MLE-AUH-LHR (320/Y, 388/F)
Priced at 160,000 miles round trip total for 2 people (plus about $150 if I recall correctly; saved a bunch by flying out of Frankfurt and back into London, took a 4500mi BA redemption to get to FRA, still got F lounge access as an EXP).
Made for a fun long weekend
FRA-AUH-MLE (343/F, 320/J)
MLE-AUH-LHR (320/Y, 388/F)
Priced at 160,000 miles round trip total for 2 people (plus about $150 if I recall correctly; saved a bunch by flying out of Frankfurt and back into London, took a 4500mi BA redemption to get to FRA, still got F lounge access as an EXP).
Made for a fun long weekend
Sep 5, 2015, 3:36 pm
#557
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NCE
Posts: 276
True, but even if you're connecting you owe Heathrow, and the Solidarity tax goes up the further (and nicer) you're flying.
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $48.40
France Civil Aviation Tax Domestic And International (FR) $4.90
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $15.30
French Airport Tax (FR) $14.30
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $50.40
That works out to $133 (119EUR) for the one-way. For a return ticket the taxes work out to:
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $67.10
France Civil Aviation Tax Domestic And International (FR) $4.90
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $12.70
French Airport Tax (FR) $10.90
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $50.40
Indian Passenger Service Fee (WO) $3.71
India Development Fee (YM) $10.30
Indian User Development Fee (IN) $11.58
That works out to $171.58 (153EUR). That was at current exchange rates which have been fluctuating. Looks to me, though, like you paid the correct amount assuming you're flying round trip
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $48.40
France Civil Aviation Tax Domestic And International (FR) $4.90
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $15.30
French Airport Tax (FR) $14.30
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $50.40
That works out to $133 (119EUR) for the one-way. For a return ticket the taxes work out to:
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $67.10
France Civil Aviation Tax Domestic And International (FR) $4.90
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $12.70
French Airport Tax (FR) $10.90
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $50.40
Indian Passenger Service Fee (WO) $3.71
India Development Fee (YM) $10.30
Indian User Development Fee (IN) $11.58
That works out to $171.58 (153EUR). That was at current exchange rates which have been fluctuating. Looks to me, though, like you paid the correct amount assuming you're flying round trip
Sep 6, 2015, 8:37 am
#558
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 674
Bagged the following in Feb 2016:
MAN - LHR - AUH (BA Y + EY A380 F)
AUH - MAN (EY 77W J)
For 2 people it worked out at around £420 GBP. Although more than most I still consider it a bargain
MAN - LHR - AUH (BA Y + EY A380 F)
AUH - MAN (EY 77W J)
For 2 people it worked out at around £420 GBP. Although more than most I still consider it a bargain
Sep 6, 2015, 9:23 am
#559
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
That seems to be a bug on the AA App. It usually takes 2-3 days before it is ticketed with the other airlines.
Sep 7, 2015, 4:48 pm
#560
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Sep 10, 2015, 4:17 pm
#561
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 531
I just got a 10 minute schedule change from EY that somehow automatically switched my connecting flight (leg #2) to an earlier flight. EY has told me that they can't switch me back to the flight I want, AA has to reissue the ticket.
Am I at risk of losing my confirmed A380 F segment if I have to make a change to a different leg of the itinerary? This is my first time changing a partner award on AA.
Am I at risk of losing my confirmed A380 F segment if I have to make a change to a different leg of the itinerary? This is my first time changing a partner award on AA.
Sep 10, 2015, 5:20 pm
#562
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
I just got a 10 minute schedule change from EY that somehow automatically switched my connecting flight (leg #2) to an earlier flight. EY has told me that they can't switch me back to the flight I want, AA has to reissue the ticket.
Am I at risk of losing my confirmed A380 F segment if I have to make a change to a different leg of the itinerary? This is my first time changing a partner award on AA.
Am I at risk of losing my confirmed A380 F segment if I have to make a change to a different leg of the itinerary? This is my first time changing a partner award on AA.
It drives me crazy but AA has programmed their system to rebook you on the tightest connection. I don't like to play connection roulette.
Sep 10, 2015, 5:31 pm
#563
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 531
Thanks. The connection is not particularly tight, but the earlier flight arrives at the destination at 4:30 AM and I'd rather hang out in AUH for a bit and get to my destination at a reasonable hour.
Sep 11, 2015, 5:16 am
#564
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Etihad changed their FFP on 8th July, to add a "carrier charge" per segment on GuestSeat reward bookings, per segment ($50,$100,$150 for economy,biz,first).
Looking at some of the recent data on this thread, I don't see anything to suggest that AA is charging these carrier charges when booking awards on EY flights.
....which is nice
Looking at some of the recent data on this thread, I don't see anything to suggest that AA is charging these carrier charges when booking awards on EY flights.
....which is nice
Sep 11, 2015, 7:04 am
#565
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Duplicate post deleted
Last edited by tangey; Sep 11, 2015 at 10:16 am
Sep 21, 2015, 10:40 am
#566
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,384
I am considering redeeming SYD-AUH-LHR for my mother on Etihad or SYD-DUB-LHR on Qantas. Both would be in First. Etihad requires 100K miles (2 awards) vs 80K (1 award) for Qantas. My mother has flown QF First before and loves it. it seems like the best availability on Etihad would be SYD-AUH on 77W and AUH-LHR on A380.
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
Sep 21, 2015, 10:51 am
#567
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
I am considering redeeming SYD-AUH-LHR for my mother on Etihad or SYD-DUB-LHR on Qantas. Both would be in First. Etihad requires 100K miles (2 awards) vs 80K (1 award) for Qantas. My mother has flown QF First before and loves it. it seems like the best availability on Etihad would be SYD-AUH on 77W and AUH-LHR on A380.
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
Sep 21, 2015, 10:53 am
#568
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
I am considering redeeming SYD-AUH-LHR for my mother on Etihad or SYD-DUB-LHR on Qantas. Both would be in First. Etihad requires 100K miles (2 awards) vs 80K (1 award) for Qantas. My mother has flown QF First before and loves it. it seems like the best availability on Etihad would be SYD-AUH on 77W and AUH-LHR on A380.
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
My analysis is that the 77W EY F is comparable to A380 QF F. A380 EY F is superior. So I would in effect be ponying up 20K more for the difference of EY F on the AUH-LHR route.
Any thoughts on the value of the Etihad over Qantas in this regard? Is there anything of benefit for 2 awards, like a stopover in Abu Dhabi, that is recommended?
Sep 21, 2015, 9:55 pm
#569
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 86
Sorry if this has been addressed previously already. Any reason why F award space for A380 space on EY has been so difficult? I've looked at all available routes and all seem unavailable.
Sep 22, 2015, 12:29 am
#570
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,590
EY locked it down earlier this year. From what I can tell - and I have only looked randomly recently - the A380 seats are being released much closer to date of flight. Others who are looking more aggressively might see something different