ARCHIVE: 2018 HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
going to Warsaw.
But it I have another question. Let’s saw I book the anytime award and 5 months from now I get an alert there is a saver award somewhere close. If I swap them out, assuming I can. Do I get the difference in points back and dinged for the change? I will likely be PP by then. Have a ton of work travel coming up early next year.
TIA
If you found sAAver space to MUC on your dates, I would for sure put that on hold. Then search aa.com separately for MUC-WAW. It's a little out of the way but you should be able to add MUC-HEL-WAW or MUC-LHR-WAW onto your award for no additional miles, and everything on the same ticket. Call AA with whatever you find and have them add it onto your existing award on hold to MUC.
#557
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
How are you looking at an AAnytime award to Warsaw? These are only valid on AA metal. In any case, it would be silly to book an AAnytime award to anywhere 5 months out unless the flight is close to selling out (at which point the probability of sAAver seats getting released would be close to zero). AAnytime awards will be available as long as there is a single seat for sale so it rarely if ever makes any sense to book one that far out.
If you found sAAver space to MUC on your dates, I would for sure put that on hold. Then search aa.com separately for MUC-WAW. It's a little out of the way but you should be able to add MUC-HEL-WAW or MUC-LHR-WAW onto your award for no additional miles, and everything on the same ticket. Call AA with whatever you find and have them add it onto your existing award on hold to MUC.
If you found sAAver space to MUC on your dates, I would for sure put that on hold. Then search aa.com separately for MUC-WAW. It's a little out of the way but you should be able to add MUC-HEL-WAW or MUC-LHR-WAW onto your award for no additional miles, and everything on the same ticket. Call AA with whatever you find and have them add it onto your existing award on hold to MUC.
Im not booking it to Warsaw. Everything that used BA metal had 3K worth of charges. So I’m looking at AA anytime to MUC then hop to WAW.
I appreciate the the advice about adding it on later. However I notice that even anytime awards vary from 110 - 180 K . Which was why I asked if I would get points back if I booked one of the 110K itinerary. And then found a saver award at a later date. .
#558
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
You have no idea how much I appreciate the help!
Im not booking it to Warsaw. Everything that used BA metal had 3K worth of charges. So I’m looking at AA anytime to MUC then hop to WAW.
I appreciate the the advice about adding it on later. However I notice that even anytime awards vary from 110 - 180 K . Which was why I asked if I would get points back if I booked one of the 110K itinerary. And then found a saver award at a later date. .
#559
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
Yikes, I thought the award to MUC was a sAAver. Scratch everything I said about adding on add'l segments on AY or BA then. AAnytime awards are such a bad deal that there's not a lot of action on them around here, however typically once the date is set at 110k it will not change. So again it makes no sense to book an AAnytime months in advance unless the flight is almost sold out.
Thanks for the time and effort to school me.
Last edited by SJWarrior; Dec 5, 2018 at 5:53 pm
#560
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
If you pick a destination where the logical routing is on BA, you're going to see BA award offerings on AAdvantage. AA doesn't fly to WAW. Iberia doesn't, either. AY does from HEL but there isn't much service USA-HEL (and it's not on AA metal). Sure, there are AA-operated flights on many routes USA-LHR but those get gobbled up quickly by people (just like you) looking to avoid the BA surcharges.
#561
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
AA flies to TXL. You can get direct trains to WAW from the main Berlin train station. Takes anywhere from 6:15 to 6:45 each way and the fare is at most 80 EUR (2nd class) to 120 EUR (1st class) round trip. I think there are something like 4 trains a day.
Last edited by cheltzel; Dec 6, 2018 at 5:36 am
#562
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
AA also flies from PHL to PRG, which is the same distance from WAW as the crow flies (although train travel looks like it takes 8+ hours). As with TXL, it's seasonal, but in 2019 TXL service doesn't open up until June; PRG starts no later than May.
SAAver awards in J can actually be had on this route. I've got one for next spring.
SAAver awards in J can actually be had on this route. I've got one for next spring.
#563
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
Thanks I’ll check both those options
#564
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
AA also flies from PHL to PRG, which is the same distance from WAW as the crow flies (although train travel looks like it takes 8+ hours). As with TXL, it's seasonal, but in 2019 TXL service doesn't open up until June; PRG starts no later than May.
SAAver awards in J can actually be had on this route. I've got one for next spring.
SAAver awards in J can actually be had on this route. I've got one for next spring.
#565
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Berlin. But if the questioner above wants to travel before June 2019, or there’s no award availability to TXL on desired dates, it’s good to consider alternatives.
#566
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
There appears to be a direct Czech Railways train 1x/day, plus assorted connecting options.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Berlin. But if the questioner above wants to travel before June 2019, or there’s no award availability to TXL on desired dates, it’s good to consider alternatives.
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with Berlin. But if the questioner above wants to travel before June 2019, or there’s no award availability to TXL on desired dates, it’s good to consider alternatives.
AA is seasonal to PRG too. Starts a little earlier (May as opposed to June). Maybe better to try to get IB awards to PRG via MAD. Or AY awards out of JFK to WAW (JFK-HEL-WAW). I don't know what the OP is interested in. AY awards seem to be only in Y where IB has C and Y awards available.
#567
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,634
I've recently traveled on both the DB and CD EuroCity trains. They don't compare. The German trains are newer and more comfortable. The Czech trains seem to date back to the Communist era.
#568
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: DL PM...SPG PM
Posts: 29
I am new to the AA board. I am trying to book a saver ticket from NYC to EZE in J. There is availability only out of EWR and at 1230 connecting in miami. The conection flight available is either at 730 or 1045p. They are both showing available. I want to take the 530p departure out of EWR to MIA and connect to the 1045p to EZE. I am really confused because the 2 flights that I want are available but on different itinerary's.
AA 1060 12:30 PM EWR 3:36 PM MIA
AA 931 10:45 PM MIA 9:49 AM EZE
OR
AA 1506 0536 PM EWR 850 PM MIA
23 HOUR CONNECTION
AA 907 0755 PM MIA 0653 AM EZE
Any suggestions how to get flight 1506 and 931... This is all on the 12DEC.
Thanks in advance for the help
AA 1060 12:30 PM EWR 3:36 PM MIA
AA 931 10:45 PM MIA 9:49 AM EZE
OR
AA 1506 0536 PM EWR 850 PM MIA
23 HOUR CONNECTION
AA 907 0755 PM MIA 0653 AM EZE
Any suggestions how to get flight 1506 and 931... This is all on the 12DEC.
Thanks in advance for the help
#569
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I am new to the AA board. I am trying to book a saver ticket from NYC to EZE in J. There is availability only out of EWR and at 1230 connecting in miami. The conection flight available is either at 730 or 1045p. They are both showing available. I want to take the 530p departure out of EWR to MIA and connect to the 1045p to EZE. I am really confused because the 2 flights that I want are available but on different itinerary's.
AA 1060 12:30 PM EWR 3:36 PM MIA
AA 931 10:45 PM MIA 9:49 AM EZE
OR
AA 1506 0536 PM EWR 850 PM MIA
23 HOUR CONNECTION
AA 907 0755 PM MIA 0653 AM EZE
Any suggestions how to get flight 1506 and 931... This is all on the 12DEC.
Thanks in advance for the help
AA 1060 12:30 PM EWR 3:36 PM MIA
AA 931 10:45 PM MIA 9:49 AM EZE
OR
AA 1506 0536 PM EWR 850 PM MIA
23 HOUR CONNECTION
AA 907 0755 PM MIA 0653 AM EZE
Any suggestions how to get flight 1506 and 931... This is all on the 12DEC.
Thanks in advance for the help
#570
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exp
Posts: 519
I see the train you are talking about on the Czech Railways site. Looks like a classic EuroCity train so probably very similar to the DB train I mentioned.
AA is seasonal to PRG too. Starts a little earlier (May as opposed to June). Maybe better to try to get IB awards to PRG via MAD. Or AY awards out of JFK to WAW (JFK-HEL-WAW). I don't know what the OP is interested in. AY awards seem to be only in Y where IB has C and Y awards available.
AA is seasonal to PRG too. Starts a little earlier (May as opposed to June). Maybe better to try to get IB awards to PRG via MAD. Or AY awards out of JFK to WAW (JFK-HEL-WAW). I don't know what the OP is interested in. AY awards seem to be only in Y where IB has C and Y awards available.