Last edit by: Prospero
oneworld and other airline Awards Rules, Information 2015 on
NOTE: Check AA award charts for current awards costs.List of airlines you can use in redeeming awards:
oneworld airlines (and their oneworld affiliates) are:
- AA - American Airlines (and American Eagle)
- AS - Alaska Airlines
- AT - Royal Air Maroc
- BA - British Airways (and BA Cityflyer, BA Euroflyer, Sun Air of Scandinavia) (incurs high YQ surcharge)
- CX - Cathay Pacific
- AY - Finnair (and Norra)
- IB - Iberia (and Air Nostrum, Iberia Express) (incurs YQ surcharge)
- JL - Japan Airlines (and J-Air)
- MH - Malaysia Airlines
- RJ - Royal Jordanian
- QF - Qantas (and QantasLink, Jetconnect - not Jetstar)
- QR - Qatar Airways
- UL - SriLankan Airlines
Non-oneworld airlines one can redeem (MileSAAver) awards on are:
- TN - Air Tahiti Nui
- CZ - China Southern
- EY - Etihad Airways
- FJ - Fiji Airways (oneworld Connect partner)
- HA - Hawaiian Airlines - except mainland - islands
Airlines that can be booked for award travel on aa.com:
oneworld alliance partners and other partners
- TN - Air Tahiti Nui
- AA - American Airlines
- AS - Alaska Airlines
- AY - Finnair
- BA - British Airways (awards incur YQ airline imposed surcharge)
- FJ - Fiji Airways
- HA - Hawaiian Airlines (not interisland not North America - Hawaii)
- IB - Iberia (lesser YQ surcharge)
- MH - Malaysia Airlines
- QF - Qantas Airways
- QR - Qatar Airways
- RJ - Royal Jordanian Airlines
- UL - Sri Lankan Airlines
All other airlines have to be requested by telephone; calling to book awards that cannot be booked online no longer incurs telephone service fees.
Routing assistance, etc.
Check this oneworld interactive map and timetable by Innosked to see potential routes, and you can sign up for British Airways Executive Club or Qantas Frequent Flyer to use their sites to find awards (look for the lowest level awards) you can't see on aa.com. Also see this link to AA.com listing oneworld airlines with information about each.
Awards may be put on hold for five days. Awards may take time to be verified by the operating airlines. Once approved, they will proceed to a booking queue for ticket issuance; the sooner the trip, the faster the process - and vice versa. See link to thread, below.
Booking for, or changing an award to, travel sooner than 21 days out requires an early booking fee (waived for Executive Platinum members). One can not book farther out, change to closer in and evade this fee any longer (as of 16 Feb 2012)
Booking Business or First awards with JL / Japan Airlines one will only be able to fly in Economy domestically in Japan, but upgrades are quite inexpensive at ¥1,000 or so per flight.
See more below in "General Rules"
Latest changes:
- As of Aug 2017, Connections are limited to two connections / three flight segments for domestic awards, and three connections / four flight segments for international awards. Link
- Nov 2016: MH can now be used on AA or CX transpacific awards to India subcontinent via HKG in addition to CX
- May 6, 2016: Regions split (Indian Subcontinent, Middle East)
- As of 7 April 2014, the "free stopover" discussed can no longer be used as free award stopovers at international North American gateways have been eliminated.
- Airlines are normally precluded from writing tickets with more than 16 segments.
AA Region Definitions*
Region definitions changed again May 6, 2016. Link
Links and resources:
- See (AA) oneworld and other airline partner awards chart
- See (FT) AA's current One-Way Flex Awards(May 9, 2009, including new stopover rules)
- See (AA) AA Award Reservations
- dealing with BA and IB surcharges
- For the older, archived very long (but information-rich) thread, see here.
_________________________________________________
updated April 2021. Modified and updated from JonNYC's original post in the archived thread (please feel free to update):
Introduction
There are two types of awards discussed below, AA Awards and oneworld and Other Airlines Awards, which are targeted to passengers traveling to a single destination.
As of 1 October 2010 awards may be redeemed for travel on all British Airways flights, including previously excluded flights between the U.S. and U.K. Note that additional British Airways high YQ surcharges, as well as Iberia's lower YQ surcharges, apply based on class-of-service and market flown: see Earning and redeeming AA miles / upgrading on BA/IB; BA fuel surcharge (Oct 1, 2010)
Award Rules
- American Airlines Awards are valid for travel on flights that are marketed and operated by AA (no codeshares). These awards can be booked online at AA.com.
- oneworld and Other Airline awards are valid for travel on AA and any of its partner airlines, and can include travel on multiple partners. Many of these awards must be booked over the phone, and will not incur a Ticketing Service Charge (waived for EXPs in any case) if they cannot be booked online.
- Up to four one-way awards can be booked on a single PNR.
General Rules, Routing and Connections
Passenger has 4h on domestic / 23h59m international travel to connect. If there are no scheduled flights within this timeframe, regardless of availability, the passenger must take the next scheduled flight but, may not exceed 24 hours. If the connection exceeds 24 hours, it will be considered a stopover may require two awards).
If there is a non-stop flight that departs after the 4h / 23h59m windows and arrives at the destination earlier than a connecting flight within the 4h / 23h59m window, the passenger may be booked on the non-stop flight.
Effective on 14 Jul 2014 on an all-AA-metal award itinerary, you now have up to 18 hours to connect when traveling to/from Hawaii [[URL="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25730421-post993.html"]Ref]
The particular carrier's Maximum Permitted Miles / MPM + 25% on a particular route. (The MPM by itself often exceeds the distance between the origin and destination airports because connections may be required.)
Or, the "most significant carrier" (e.g. DFW-SFO-HKG-BKK, CX SFO-HKG is the prevailing or most significant carrier) must publish a non-constructed fare between your origin and destination.
To price as a single award, AAdvantage requires the most significant carrier to publish a cash fare (non-constructed) between the origin and destination. Airline MSC would have to have a published fare from XXX to YYY that allows travel on all included airlines, and routing that you want. If the MSC only offers constructed fares between your desired origin and destination, AA will price this as two awards.
Stopovers
None allowed.
Partner award inventories
Award booking inventory classes for each carrier in the AAdvantage Award program are listed below and may be useful when on the phone with an AA rep or when checking availability. See also the Award Booking Codes page in the FlyerGuide wiki for updated information.
Code:
oneworld Partners First Business Economy -------------------------------------------------------- AA - American Airlines Z U T -------------------------------------------------------- AY – Finnair U X -------------------------------------------------------- BA – British Airways Z U X -------------------------------------------------------- CX – Cathay Pacific Z U T -------------------------------------------------------- IB – Iberia U X -------------------------------------------------------- JL – Japan Airlines (Intl) Z U T JL – Japan Airlines (Dom) Z D S -------------------------------------------------------- MH - Malaysia Airlines P U X -------------------------------------------------------- QF - QANTAS Airways P U X -------------------------------------------------------- QR - Qatar Airways Z U X -------------------------------------------------------- RJ – Royal Jordanian U X -------------------------------------------------------- S7 – S7 Airlines U E -------------------------------------------------------- UL - SriLankan Airlines -------------------------------------------------------- Other Partners First Business Economy -------------------------------------------------------- FJ – Fiji Airways U X -------------------------------------------------------- TN – Air Tahiti Nui F for Business U for Economy -------------------------------------------------------- LY – El Al Israel P X E -------------------------------------------------------- EY - Etihad O I N -------------------------------------------------------- HA – Hawaiian Airlines D T --------------------------------------------------------
General Routing Rules
Routing
General Rules
Passenger has 4h / 23h59m to connect (depending on domestic or international travel). If there are no scheduled flights within this timeframe, regardless of availability, the passenger must take the next scheduled flight but, may not exceed 24 hours. If the connection exceeds 24 hours, it will be considered a stopover.
If there is a non-stop flight that departs after the 4h / 23h59m window and arrives at the destination earlier than a connecting flight within the 4h / 23h59m window, the passenger may be booked on the non-stop flight. It is not necessary to check every flight/carrier to ensure passenger is booked on next scheduled flight.
Must meet Married Segment Logic - a prospective trip may be available when searching segment by segment, yet not be bookable through from origin to destination. When selling seats for through flights and the desired inventory is not available, you cannot opt to sell the flight point-to-point. If sold point-to-point, the error response MULTIPLE SEGMENTS FOR SAME FLIGHT - SELL AS ONE SEGMENT will be received, indicating this booking is not allowed. Overriding the error check by ending the PNR twice is not acceptable.
If the partner airline doesn’t sell an unconstructed ticket for the desired routing, it won’t offer an award using that routing.
Within North America
- Awards wholly within North America are valid on all partner airlines that market and operate their own service within North America.
- Travel between two cities in the United States via Canada/Mexico is not allowed.
- Travel between two cities in Canada/Mexico via the United States is not allowed.
- Passenger must travel the most direct routing.
- Connections of more than 4 hours are considered a stopover unless the passenger is taking the next scheduled flight and it is outside the 4 hours.
- Any connection of 24 hours is always considered a stopover.
- Award travel between Hawaii and North America does not include inter-island flights.
- Inter-island award travel will allow a maxium of 2 flight segments.
North America To/from Other Regions
- Award travel to/from North America is allowed on any combination of carriers that service the applicable region except as noted below.
- Passenger must use most direct routing.
- Hawaiian Airlines is not valid for these awards.
- As of Oct 1, 2010, British Airways is valid for all routes, including transatlantic flights between the U.S. and U.K.
- Travel to Europe, Africa and the Indian Sub-Continent/Middle East must be via the Atlantic only.
- Travel to Asia 1, Asia 2 and the South Pacific must be via the Pacific.
- Travel to/from Fiji/Papeete cannot be via Australia/New Zealand.
- Travel to Easter Island (IPC) must be via Papeete (PPT) or use two awards.
- North American travel to/from Guam or Saipan, the transpacific segment must be on AA.
- Passenger has 23h59m to connect, regardless of availability.
- A connection with more than 23h59m will be considered a stopover.
Travel Wholly Within or Between All Other Regions
These awards do not allow a connection via North America and therefore, do not include travel on American Airlines.
- Passenger must travel the most direct routing.
- Connecting travel is not allowed outside the region or regions.
- Passenger has 23h59m to connect, regardless of availability.
- A connection with more than 24 hours will be considered a stopover.
Travel Via a Third Region
Travel via a third region is not allowed (note the exception table below).
EXCEPTION TABLE:
To/From Via
- North America to/from Africa can connect in Europe or in DOH if connecting QR-QR
- North America to/from Indian Sub Continent/Middle East can connect in Europe
- North America to/from Asia 2 can connect in Asia 1
- Central/South America to/from Africa can connect in Europe
- Central/South America to/from Indian Sub Continent/Middle East can connect in Europe
- Central/South America to/from South Pacific can connect in South America 2
- South America 2 to/from Africa can connect in DOH if connecting QR-QR
- South America 2 to/from Indian Sub Continent/Middle East can connect in Europe
- Europe to/from Asia 1 can connect in Asia 2 or DOH if connecting QR-QR
- Europe to/from Asia 2 can connect in DOH if connecting QR-QR
- Europe to/from South Pacific can connect in Singapore or Bangkok only. Note: this may have been updated to include Bangkok, Doha, Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore or Tokyo.
- Africa to/from Asia 1 can connect in Asia 2 or in DOH if connecting QR-QR
- Africa to/from Asia 2 can connect in DOH if connecting QR-QR
- Indian Sub Continent/Middle East to/from Asia 1 can connect in Asia 2
- Indian Sub Continent/Middle East to/from South Pacific can connect in Asia 2
- Asia 1 to/from South Pacific can connect in Asia 2
Regions:
- Asia 1 = Japan, Korea, Mongolia
- Asia 2 = Bhutan, Brunei, China, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Saipan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
- South America 2 = Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile (excluding Easter Island), Paraguay, Uruguay
Travel on LAN direct flights between North America and South America Region 2 are allowed. Currently, only one market, Miami to/from Buenos Aries, has direct service. These can only be booked by the liaisons. Contact support for booking assistance.
For permitted changes and fees, see this post
- Check this oneworld interactive map and timetable by Innosked to see potential routes.
- British Airways Executive Club: You can sign up for British Airways Executive Club, Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank or Qantas Frequent Flyer to use their sites to find awards (look for the lowest level awards) you can't see on aa.com. Can show "phantom" availability.
- Award Nexus: It's easy to do your experiments for some free browsing (click "more signup options" under the green Purchase button to sign up with your FlyerTalk login info). You might want to run each segment rather than origin to destination. [/quote]
Links to other threads of interest:
MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion (consolidated)
Help with British Airways / BA surcharge / YQ (AA award on BA, consolidated)
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures
Award with available segments not bookable? (Married Segment issues)
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity >= Aug 2011 onward (consolidated)
Ticket or Award status: On Request, Pending, Purchased and Ticketed (consolidated)
Link to archived older posts from this thread.
Thanks and a tip of the hat to aktchi, eponymous-coward, guv1976, hillrider, iztok, JonNYC and others who have contributed to this wiki.
- AwardAce: Compare Award Redemptions Across Airlines In Second
- AwardHacker: "a tool we build to tell you how to travel with the least miles"
- Award Nexus: which can search availability but can't determine cost, with FT member free limited use
- Economical Excursionist's Tools: compare Frequent Flyer Mile Redemptions
- ExpertFlyer is a common tool used on FT. There is a $99.99 annual fee, monthly fee and five day trial
- Great Circle Mapper is useful for calculating distance and MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage)
- You can try PEX+ (currently in beta), which will even tell you how many miles you'll need, though it draws data from aa.com and S7 so it can't reveal awards that can not be seen on those sites.
- Travel Codex Award Maximiser commercial blog
AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd)
#211
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,377
I had to do it on AY when I was connecting to FCO. When I searched PHX - FCO it only showed AA options for 300k+ miles. I searched PHX-HEL and it showed me PHX-ORD-HEL for 57.5k miles. I put that on hold, called in, and the agent added HEL-FCO (there was business class space on every flight)
A couple of days ago I had a similar problem with JL. There was DFW - HND and back on JL for 60k each way. The was also first class saver space on PHX-DFW and back, but the search of PHX-HND only showed me AA options for 170k+ miles. So I put the JL long hauls on hold, called in, and the agent added the PHX-DFW and back segments.
I'm not completely sure what's going on here but I think that if your itinerary is connecting and AA can get you there on their metal, they will not show the partner options. I'm not sure if there's more to it than that.
A couple of days ago I had a similar problem with JL. There was DFW - HND and back on JL for 60k each way. The was also first class saver space on PHX-DFW and back, but the search of PHX-HND only showed me AA options for 170k+ miles. So I put the JL long hauls on hold, called in, and the agent added the PHX-DFW and back segments.
I'm not completely sure what's going on here but I think that if your itinerary is connecting and AA can get you there on their metal, they will not show the partner options. I'm not sure if there's more to it than that.
But, to re-address my original question, for the EU, which partners did they offer you, BA?
#212
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Wow - this is certainly new news for me! I never had any luck with such an approach, but will explore it for future travels...especially since I'm equally based in PHX and there are so few direct international flights.
But, to re-address my original question, for the EU, which partners did they offer you, BA?
But, to re-address my original question, for the EU, which partners did they offer you, BA?
Someone else reported the same issue with LAX-FCO. He did the same thing I did, but he was not EXP, and it took 3 calls before he got an agent who could add the last segment. So if you are not EXP it may take some patience to get through to a competent agent. IME the EXP desk agents are great though -- I've never had to call in more than once for anything.
Also note that some partners have married segment availability, so just because both partner segments are available does not mean that it's bookable. I would suggest using another partner site to search from the partner gateway to the last partner flight. (eg for PHX-ORD-HEL-FCO, search ORD-FCO on a partner site). I like to use the AS site because of their calendar search, and you don't need to be logged in to use it. However, they don't allow multi-partner awards (though I don't think married segment availability comes into play when you connect across partners). They also don't show CX availability.
#213
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
Programs: Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP, DL PM, AS 100k (fake), B6 M3 (fake), BA Gold (fake), UA FO.
Posts: 740
PSA: I am planning to cancel 2 SEA-HEL J award tix in the next few days. AY 34 on July 15. No clue if they'll go back into award inventory, but if anyone wants to coordinate with me to try to scoop them up in case they do, just send me a DM in the next couple of days and I'll be happy to cancel whenever is most convenient.
#214
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
Programs: Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP, DL PM, AS 100k (fake), B6 M3 (fake), BA Gold (fake), UA FO.
Posts: 740
PSA: I am planning to cancel 2 SEA-HEL J award tix in the next few days. AY 34 on July 15. No clue if they'll go back into award inventory, but if anyone wants to coordinate with me to try to scoop them up in case they do, just send me a DM in the next couple of days and I'll be happy to cancel whenever is most convenient.
#215
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: The part of NC where we have electricity, paved roads, and high school diplomas.
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 3,132
1. With only a week before the flight, the airline is unlikely to release any canceled award seats.
2. With SAS long-haul flights grounded because of a pilot strike, Finnair will likely have absolutely no problem selling all available seats. In the SAS forum there are several reports of travelers to/from the US west coast being rebooked on Finnair's Seattle flight + a connecting flight along the coast.
#216
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DCA/IAD/SFO/SJC/JFK/NRT/LHR/BOS/etc
Programs: AA (EXP, 3 MM), Hyatt Globalist, Taj InnerCircle Silver, MLife Noir, former LHW-Aurelian
Posts: 365
I checked shortly after you posted. The award seats are not available, which is not unexpected because:
1. With only a week before the flight, the airline is unlikely to release any canceled award seats.
2. With SAS long-haul flights grounded because of a pilot strike, Finnair will likely have absolutely no problem selling all available seats. In the SAS forum there are several reports of travelers to/from the US west coast being rebooked on Finnair's Seattle flight + a connecting flight along the coast.
1. With only a week before the flight, the airline is unlikely to release any canceled award seats.
2. With SAS long-haul flights grounded because of a pilot strike, Finnair will likely have absolutely no problem selling all available seats. In the SAS forum there are several reports of travelers to/from the US west coast being rebooked on Finnair's Seattle flight + a connecting flight along the coast.
#217
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pacific Standard Time
Programs: AA EXP / CK
Posts: 136
Sure is. Looks like Finnair is jumping in where Norweigian used to have routes between the US and Scandanavia, and presumably where the SAS vacuum also lives (SAS currently has both a pilots strike and bankruptcy).
#218
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,160
I'm looking for AA award availability on AY from USA to HEL next spring (April/May) with tons of flexibility. Can't find a single date with 2 seats available in J, from any US gateway. Any advice? There are tons of flights with 1 seat. Perhaps I'll just make a reservation for 1 and then see if they release an additional seat. Have plenty of time.
#219
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,613
I have searched but cannot seem to find the answer. Does the no-fee reinstatement of miles for an AA Award include partner airlines. I am holding an IB award on AA.COM for next spring (the YQ is not too bad...) but the rules say changes are OK but that cancellation is subject to a $150 fee.
I think it might be a holdover of old verbage but cannot find anything on AA.COM that specifically state the no-fee reinstate includes partner awards with AAdvantage miles booked on AA.
I think it might be a holdover of old verbage but cannot find anything on AA.COM that specifically state the no-fee reinstate includes partner awards with AAdvantage miles booked on AA.
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,606
I have searched but cannot seem to find the answer. Does the no-fee reinstatement of miles for an AA Award include partner airlines. I am holding an IB award on AA.COM for next spring (the YQ is not too bad...) but the rules say changes are OK but that cancellation is subject to a $150 fee.
I think it might be a holdover of old verbage but cannot find anything on AA.COM that specifically state the no-fee reinstate includes partner awards with AAdvantage miles booked on AA.
I think it might be a holdover of old verbage but cannot find anything on AA.COM that specifically state the no-fee reinstate includes partner awards with AAdvantage miles booked on AA.
This is the language I am seeing under "Manage your award travel:
"Canceling flight awards and reinstating miles If your plans change and you no longer wish to travel, you can cancel your trip anytime on aa.com. We’ll reinstate your miles and refund eligible taxes and fees up to 1 year after the ticket issue date, but you have to cancel your trip before the first flight departs. If you cancel your trip on aa.com, your miles will be reinstated and your refund will be requested automatically in most cases. There is no fee to reinstate your miles."
(As you can see, there is no exception listed for award travel on partner carriers.)
#221
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,613
Can you post the exact language -- or a link to -- for the $150 change fee?
This is the language I am seeing under "Manage your award travel:
"Canceling flight awards and reinstating miles If your plans change and you no longer wish to travel, you can cancel your trip anytime on aa.com. We’ll reinstate your miles and refund eligible taxes and fees up to 1 year after the ticket issue date, but you have to cancel your trip before the first flight departs. If you cancel your trip on aa.com, your miles will be reinstated and your refund will be requested automatically in most cases. There is no fee to reinstate your miles."
(As you can see, there is no exception listed for award travel on partner carriers.)
This is the language I am seeing under "Manage your award travel:
"Canceling flight awards and reinstating miles If your plans change and you no longer wish to travel, you can cancel your trip anytime on aa.com. We’ll reinstate your miles and refund eligible taxes and fees up to 1 year after the ticket issue date, but you have to cancel your trip before the first flight departs. If you cancel your trip on aa.com, your miles will be reinstated and your refund will be requested automatically in most cases. There is no fee to reinstate your miles."
(As you can see, there is no exception listed for award travel on partner carriers.)
Cancellations/Refunds
BEFORE TRAVEL BEGINS - MILEAGE MAY BE REINSTATED WITHIN 1 YEAR FROM ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUANCE DATE IF MILES HAVE NOT EXPIRED - REINSTATEMENT CHARGES MAY APPLY.
I agree it seems like no fees - but it also says contact AA for partner travel... I just wanted to see if anyone has specific experience with this.
#223
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,613
Asked the question in chat. The agent called the advantage desk and after a long time came back with the reply there is no fee on partner awards either...
#224
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
Was reminded by this thread activity that I needed to cancel just such an itinerary (one-way, nonstop award on JL). Canceled and redeposited online with no charge.
#225
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I’m stating the obvious here but w the change to most domestic AA awards usually being websaver or higher, it’s really hard to use partners unless they fly from your coast (or you are willing to pay for a cash connection and risk schedule changes). For us on the west coast it makes IB and AT much less useful. The 57.5 k awards to Europe are really hard to piece together these days.