Feb 19, 2016, 2:01 pm
Last edit by: thorofare
AA Vacations / aavacations.com Flight and Ground Packages
Trust American Airlines to offer you the perfect package at the best price, guaranteed! When you choose to bundle your travel components into one package price we can offer you an unbeatable value by combining our unpublished low rates on flights with specially negotiated rates on hotels, activities and transportation. So, whether you're looking for a quick flight plus hotel weekend getaway or an all-inclusive package complete with flight, hotel, ground transportation and tickets to local attractions, you can rest easy knowing the entire trip is covered by our Lowest Price Guarantee.
FAQ
Q. Do these earn AAEQM Loyalty Points, Award Miles (RDM) and EQD (EQ Dollars in 2017)?
These generally book into discount paid fare buckets, so "Yes" at this time. There are a few promotional offers that do not earnEQM Loyalty Points; these will clearly say so, so read thoroughly. See:
Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Loyalty Points on aa.com (link)
Earning AA Elite Qualifying Miles / EQM on AA, oneworld, partners 2016
and this for the changes affecting Award Miles coming in the latter part of 2016.
Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016
Q. Can I upgrade these with AA upgrade instruments (e500 "stickers", miles and copay, SWU)? NOTE: As of July 2022, AA no longer issues 500-mile upgrade certificates ("stickers"). Auto-requested complimentary upgrades are now available to all elite status members and one traveling companion. See details at aa.com
Yes. These follow the standard AA upgrade rules.
Q. Can I use AAadvantage Award Miles to "pay" for a vacation?
(Change late 2019) Yes. You can "pay" with money (cards, etc.), AAdvantage miles or a combination of both. Miles may be used to pay for any portion of the vacation package up, and including, all of it. At this time there is no way to distinguish the breakpoint between the land portion and the air portion of the package, except by calling. And even this is a mixed bag.
Q. If I use AAdvantage Aware Miles to pay for part of my vacation, does this impact upgrades or EQM/RDM for the flights?(RDM)?
(Change 2020) AA Vacations agents are confident that using miles will have no impact on EQM/EQD/RDM as the miles are converted to "cash" to pay for the trip, so the AA system sees these as cash paid. This is supposed to apply no matter how much of the trip is paid with miles. Experiences reported here using part miles indicate that all posts as expected in these cases..
Q. So, what kinds of fares are ineligible for earning AA miles?
"Exceptions (aa.com)
Q. What aboutEQM Loyalty Points and Award ("Redeemable") Miles earning later in 2016 after 1 January 2022?
AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes select AA Vacations (where there is a * next to the booking code when looking at the flight details).
Note that the Special Fares page also says, "AAdvantage elite member bonuses will be applied in addition to the percentages shown for award miles."
Q. What fare classes do First and Business packages book into?
Typically A for international First, A, R or P domestic F, and I or D international Business.
Q. What if I'm flying on a flight on a partner airline?
AA Vacations most often books into AA "code shares" / AA marketed flights. In that case, you'll earn miles as if flying on American. If it doesn't, you'll earn per the agreement AA has with the partner airline. Start here to look them up.
Q. What advance purchase restrictions are imposed?
Most advance purchase, minimum stay, etc. normally imposed by the airline don't apply; the restrictions are those imposed by AA Vacations. (Detailed Fare Rules for your fare generally do apply, however.)
Q. Are the trips or fares refundable?
Generally not fully refundable. Hotels and ground activities are generally not at all, and air will depend on the fare bucket and detailed rules. AA vacations does offer protection, but hotels etc. may not be included.
"There are two types of protection available: We offer the Cancellation and Change Waiver (Pre-Departure Protection) which allows you to cancel and/or change either the land or air portion of their package without penalty. Trip Protector (Post-Departure protection) from Allianz Global Assistance can provide protection for your trip expenses, your health and your belongings."
A waiver is usually $129 for international travel and $69 for domestic travel. This can also be paid with miles.
Q. What is the shortest time I can book an air-hotel package for?
It appears three nights is the shortest period allowed by aavacations, unless the total duration of the trip is less than three days, then it is length of trip. However, those three nights do not need to be at a single property.
Q. Can I book a ten day package with only three days of prepaid hotel?
Sure. You'll have to call to do so, however.
You can change the dates of the hotel to be different from those of the flights in the "More Search Options" section of the search. You can also book multiple rooms here too, specifying the number of guests per room.I don't think you can book hotel to be in a different city though. A hotel in a different city (or continent, even) can be booked, but must be done over the phone.
Q. Is only one hotel offered?
No. A variety of properties is generally offered, but this will of course affect pricing.
Q. Does the hotel have to be in the destination city?
No. You can book a property in another city if it's offered by AA Vacations.
Q. What happens if I don't use the ground part (hotel, car, etc.)? Will they cancel my return flights?
Nothing. You can use it or forget it. No flight cancellations ensue. See AA Vacations - not checking in at Hotel Some purposely book the cheapest pricing for their trip knowing they're choosing a "throwaway hotel" they won't use.
Though one AA Vacations agent actually said "always book with us and just book the cheapest hotel for 3 days and throw it away", don't you say it's your intent.
Q. Will AA Vacations cause problems for me?
If you disclose your intent to AA Vacations to "throw away" (not stay at) the hotel, they can not sell you the package. So, don't.
Q. Will the hotel cause problems for me?
Not likely; they're paid for a prepaid stay whether you stay or not, as they get to keep the money and have "your" room to sell.
Q. Will I earn points at the hotel? Will they recognize my status?
Many chains don't recognize third party bookings for points or stay credit, but will usually recognize your status. Properties will treat as prepaid booking.
Q. Are there ever deals or promos?
Indeed. There are often sales and promotions; look for them on the site.
Q. What if I want to book open jaw or customize?
Calling can do that. There's a $39 call fee, unless it's not able to be booked online. Others have said you can generally calculate the price of an open jaw itinerary by adding half the price of pricing for vacations to the arrival and departure cities and adding those.
Q. Can I put these on "hold" while I think about it since these include air fare?
No. But: Refund of Air Ticket Portion Within 24 Hours of Purchase
Within 24 hours of booking, you are allowed to cancel your refundable or non-refundable air ticket for a full refund (and no change fees and/or difference in fare) subject to the following rules:
Q. My AAdvantage credit card earns double Award ("Redeemable") Miles on AA purchases. Will AA Vacations purchases earn 2x miles?
No. What transactions are eligible to earn double AAdvantage® miles?
Eligible American Airlines purchases are items billed by American Airlines as the merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels (aa.com, American Airlines Reservations, American Airlines airport, in-flight and city ticket counters). American Airlines tickets purchased through other channels or that are a component of any other cruise or tour package do not earn the additional mile purchase bonuses. Products or services that do not qualify for the additional bonus miles include car rentals, hotel reservations, American Airlines Vacations packages, purchases of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, duty free purchases and or AA Cargo℠
Q. Do these earn AA
These generally book into discount paid fare buckets, so "Yes" at this time. There are a few promotional offers that do not earn
Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Loyalty Points on aa.com (link)
and this for the changes affecting Award Miles coming in the latter part of 2016.
Earning AA Award / Redeemable Miles / RDM on AA, partners later 2016
Q. Can I upgrade these with AA upgrade instruments (
Yes. These follow the standard AA upgrade rules.
Q. Can I use AAadvantage Award Miles to "pay" for a vacation?
(Change late 2019) Yes. You can "pay" with money (cards, etc.), AAdvantage miles or a combination of both. Miles may be used to pay for any portion of the vacation package up, and including, all of it. At this time there is no way to distinguish the breakpoint between the land portion and the air portion of the package, except by calling. And even this is a mixed bag.
Q. If I use AAdvantage Aware Miles to pay for part of my vacation, does this impact upgrades or EQM/RDM for the flights?(RDM)?
(Change 2020) AA Vacations agents are confident that using miles will have no impact on EQM/EQD/RDM as the miles are converted to "cash" to pay for the trip, so the AA system sees these as cash paid. This is supposed to apply no matter how much of the trip is paid with miles. Experiences reported here using part miles indicate that all posts as expected in these cases..
Q. So, what kinds of fares are ineligible for earning AA miles?
"Exceptions (aa.com)
There are certain airline ticket types that are not eligible for mileage accrual regardless of the booking class. These include, without limitation, the following:
Q Are there any types of tickets that won’t earn award miles?
Yes, tickets that currently do not earn award miles, elite-qualifying miles or elite-qualifying segments will not earn award miles in the future. This includes:
Q Are there any types of tickets that won’t earn award miles?
Yes, tickets that currently do not earn award miles, elite-qualifying miles or elite-qualifying segments will not earn award miles in the future. This includes:
- All tickets issued as AAdvantage awards
- Other free ticket promotions including free or reduced rate tickets
- Companion tickets
- Charter flight tickets
- Travel agency/industry reduced rate tickets
- Infant tickets
- Extra seats or items occupying a purchased seat
- Unpublished fare tickets, including consolidator fares
- Tickets issued subject to special provisions
Q. What about
AA has specified a set of "Special Fares", which includes select AA Vacations (where there is a * next to the booking code when looking at the flight details).
Some fares (such as bulk or consolidator fares) earn award miles and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) Loyalty Points (LPs) at a modified rate based on a percentage of the distance flown as determined by the booking code.
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
Special fares are often purchased through a specialized agent, third party or as part of a package including air transportation and lodging.
Examples:
- Bulk fares
- Cruise fares
- Consolidator fares
- Discounted or inclusive tour packages
- Vacation packages, including select American Airlines Vacations® packages. For Vacations, special fares are marked with an asterisk (*) after the booking code in the AAVacations.com booking path,
- Other tickets where the fare isn't disclosed, excluding bookings made through priceline.com or hotwire.com where the carrier isn't disclosed before buying
Q. What fare classes do First and Business packages book into?
Typically A for international First, A, R or P domestic F, and I or D international Business.
Q. What if I'm flying on a flight on a partner airline?
AA Vacations most often books into AA "code shares" / AA marketed flights. In that case, you'll earn miles as if flying on American. If it doesn't, you'll earn per the agreement AA has with the partner airline. Start here to look them up.
Q. What advance purchase restrictions are imposed?
Most advance purchase, minimum stay, etc. normally imposed by the airline don't apply; the restrictions are those imposed by AA Vacations. (Detailed Fare Rules for your fare generally do apply, however.)
Q. Are the trips or fares refundable?
Generally not fully refundable. Hotels and ground activities are generally not at all, and air will depend on the fare bucket and detailed rules. AA vacations does offer protection, but hotels etc. may not be included.
"There are two types of protection available: We offer the Cancellation and Change Waiver (Pre-Departure Protection) which allows you to cancel and/or change either the land or air portion of their package without penalty. Trip Protector (Post-Departure protection) from Allianz Global Assistance can provide protection for your trip expenses, your health and your belongings."
A waiver is usually $129 for international travel and $69 for domestic travel. This can also be paid with miles.
Q. What is the shortest time I can book an air-hotel package for?
It appears three nights is the shortest period allowed by aavacations, unless the total duration of the trip is less than three days, then it is length of trip. However, those three nights do not need to be at a single property.
Q. Can I book a ten day package with only three days of prepaid hotel?
You can change the dates of the hotel to be different from those of the flights in the "More Search Options" section of the search. You can also book multiple rooms here too, specifying the number of guests per room.
Q. Is only one hotel offered?
No. A variety of properties is generally offered, but this will of course affect pricing.
Q. Does the hotel have to be in the destination city?
No. You can book a property in another city if it's offered by AA Vacations.
Q. What happens if I don't use the ground part (hotel, car, etc.)? Will they cancel my return flights?
Nothing. You can use it or forget it. No flight cancellations ensue. See AA Vacations - not checking in at Hotel Some purposely book the cheapest pricing for their trip knowing they're choosing a "throwaway hotel" they won't use.
Though one AA Vacations agent actually said "always book with us and just book the cheapest hotel for 3 days and throw it away", don't you say it's your intent.
Q. Will AA Vacations cause problems for me?
If you disclose your intent to AA Vacations to "throw away" (not stay at) the hotel, they can not sell you the package. So, don't.
Q. Will the hotel cause problems for me?
Not likely; they're paid for a prepaid stay whether you stay or not, as they get to keep the money and have "your" room to sell.
Q. Will I earn points at the hotel? Will they recognize my status?
Many chains don't recognize third party bookings for points or stay credit, but will usually recognize your status. Properties will treat as prepaid booking.
Q. Are there ever deals or promos?
Indeed. There are often sales and promotions; look for them on the site.
Q. What if I want to book open jaw or customize?
Calling can do that. There's a $39 call fee, unless it's not able to be booked online. Others have said you can generally calculate the price of an open jaw itinerary by adding half the price of pricing for vacations to the arrival and departure cities and adding those.
Q. Can I put these on "hold" while I think about it since these include air fare?
No. But: Refund of Air Ticket Portion Within 24 Hours of Purchase
Within 24 hours of booking, you are allowed to cancel your refundable or non-refundable air ticket for a full refund (and no change fees and/or difference in fare) subject to the following rules:
- You must call 800-321-2121 within 24 hours of purchase to cancel the air ticket reservation and request a refund of the air ticket.
- The reservation must have been booked at least 7 days before scheduled departure.
- This policy does not apply to hotel or other non-air portions of the package. Standard cancellation policies will apply to all non-air components of the package.
- Refunds are only issued for tickets booked on aavacations.com or with American Airlines Vacations Reservations.
Q. My AAdvantage credit card earns double Award ("Redeemable") Miles on AA purchases. Will AA Vacations purchases earn 2x miles?
No. What transactions are eligible to earn double AAdvantage® miles?
Eligible American Airlines purchases are items billed by American Airlines as the merchant of record booked through American Airlines channels (aa.com, American Airlines Reservations, American Airlines airport, in-flight and city ticket counters). American Airlines tickets purchased through other channels or that are a component of any other cruise or tour package do not earn the additional mile purchase bonuses. Products or services that do not qualify for the additional bonus miles include car rentals, hotel reservations, American Airlines Vacations packages, purchases of American Airlines AAdvantage miles, duty free purchases and or AA Cargo℠
(lower right wiki corner)Updated by JDiver 19 Feb 2016
FAQ: aavacations.com / AA Vacations flight & vacation package questions, discussion
Aug 17, 2017, 6:25 pm
#226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
EQD/$: 1.125
EQM/$: 9.24
Certainly not the best, but this is based on flights we want to take, and not with the specific intent of maximizing ratios.
Cheers.
Aug 17, 2017, 6:48 pm
#227
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
The "special fare" designation on the fares through AA Vacations is orthogonal to the price paid for AA Vacations fares. One will almost always pay less through AA Vacations for the same flights. It may, or may not, have the "Special fare" designator (*). So, one can get both the lower price and a non-special fare.
Aug 17, 2017, 7:05 pm
#228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
Cheers.
Aug 17, 2017, 7:46 pm
#229
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 304
I have all the data per flight, but don't compute on a per-flight basis. For the 2017 year (for EXP requal), I will be at:
EQD/$: 1.125
EQM/$: 9.24
Certainly not the best, but this is based on flights we want to take, and not with the specific intent of maximizing ratios.
Cheers.
EQD/$: 1.125
EQM/$: 9.24
Certainly not the best, but this is based on flights we want to take, and not with the specific intent of maximizing ratios.
Cheers.
Aug 17, 2017, 9:48 pm
#230
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CGX
Posts: 168
The "special fare" designation on the fares through AA Vacations is orthogonal to the price paid for AA Vacations fares. One will almost always pay less through AA Vacations for the same flights. It may, or may not, have the "Special fare" designator (*). So, one can get both the lower price and a non-special fare.
With that said, I've never found J on AA Vacations, only I. And I'm hard-pressed to find I fares where I don't get more EQD than dollars spent for international. One should certainly be able to find I ORD-LHR for less than $2300.
I earns 20%, so 1581 on ORD-LHR RT. Should be able to get a fare in I for less than that.
Cheers.
With that said, I've never found J on AA Vacations, only I. And I'm hard-pressed to find I fares where I don't get more EQD than dollars spent for international. One should certainly be able to find I ORD-LHR for less than $2300.
I earns 20%, so 1581 on ORD-LHR RT. Should be able to get a fare in I for less than that.
Cheers.
I can usually find J on a codeshare - in my example, IB MAD-LHR and AY LHR-HEL.
Aug 17, 2017, 11:40 pm
#231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
If AA cancels flt, how is hotel portion treated?
I have an upcoming AA Vacation package (air + hotel), if AA cancels my flight, I would get the fare portion refunded; but, if the hotel portion is NON-REFUNDABLE how is that dealt with?
PS: I bought the package using my Citi AA Premier card, but closed that acct and switched to the Executive card. Would any protections under Premier Card still apply?
PS: I bought the package using my Citi AA Premier card, but closed that acct and switched to the Executive card. Would any protections under Premier Card still apply?
Aug 18, 2017, 10:56 am
#232
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
The first examples I remember seeing on FT where AAVacations use did not get Special Fares were ones where -- perhaps coincidentally -- the trip was less than 3 nights. The buyers bought because it was a much lower fare. But that might have been because it was a special deal.
The posts might have been on the EQD thread...
Aug 18, 2017, 3:22 pm
#233
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
I have no idea whatsoever what triggers the special fare vs. not distinction, though. It seems basically completely at random as far as I can tell. I'm not able to find fares where it looks like a large discount is being applied and they're not special fares, only the crappy deals like I mentioned above.
Sep 25, 2017, 3:23 pm
#234
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Confused about the asterisk "*"
If one purchases a AA vacations package with 3 or more nights hotel, EQD should be distance-based per the "Special Fares" page, should it not? After reading through these past pages a few times, I'm not sure- I get the sense that it reverts to fare based if it's not a * designated special fare.
Or is it simply a discussion that there are some fares marked by * that are effectively much lower than what you could get booking flight only directly on AA.com?
I finished one AAvacations package that has posted largely as distance-based (except one segment, for some reason) as expected, and another for later in the year, but I don't recall seeing or looking for the *. However, I am thinking of booking one more where I am not seeing the *, and it could make a difference in meeting the EQD threshold at the end of the year.
Or is it simply a discussion that there are some fares marked by * that are effectively much lower than what you could get booking flight only directly on AA.com?
I finished one AAvacations package that has posted largely as distance-based (except one segment, for some reason) as expected, and another for later in the year, but I don't recall seeing or looking for the *. However, I am thinking of booking one more where I am not seeing the *, and it could make a difference in meeting the EQD threshold at the end of the year.
Sep 25, 2017, 6:53 pm
#236
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
It's actually called a "waiver" and from time to time it doesn't come up in the UI for me and I have to call in. I started to wonder if either "it was me" (namely they saw I used it and didn't want to offer it to me!) or it was the city pairs. But I called in and they have always been able to add it on and book the flights I found online. There are rarely, and I mean rarely, flights at this price with anything less than a $500 cancellation/refund fee, and most have only the opportunity to rebook after a $300+ change fee. The $129 is well spent.
Sep 25, 2017, 9:46 pm
#237
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Your reading of the discussion on this is correct. * must be present for it to post as distance. See AA .com for the full explanation.
If one purchases a AA vacations package with 3 or more nights hotel, EQD should be distance-based per the "Special Fares" page, should it not? After reading through these past pages a few times, I'm not sure- I get the sense that it reverts to fare based if it's not a * designated special fare.
Or is it simply a discussion that there are some fares marked by * that are effectively much lower than what you could get booking flight only directly on AA.com?
I finished one AAvacations package that has posted largely as distance-based (except one segment, for some reason) as expected, and another for later in the year, but I don't recall seeing or looking for the *. However, I am thinking of booking one more where I am not seeing the *, and it could make a difference in meeting the EQD threshold at the end of the year.
Or is it simply a discussion that there are some fares marked by * that are effectively much lower than what you could get booking flight only directly on AA.com?
I finished one AAvacations package that has posted largely as distance-based (except one segment, for some reason) as expected, and another for later in the year, but I don't recall seeing or looking for the *. However, I am thinking of booking one more where I am not seeing the *, and it could make a difference in meeting the EQD threshold at the end of the year.
Oct 6, 2017, 11:29 am
#238
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,214
Pain to deal with Mileage accrual with AA now even with AAV...
Just noticed my flights went to 'fare-based' posting, when it was clear there was asterisk * on all the flight segments. Was told the comments were put and they would be under review. I should get an answer in two to three weeks. It's just pathetic that we have to wait this long to review.
Oct 6, 2017, 11:34 am
#239
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
Just noticed my flights went to 'fare-based' posting, when it was clear there was asterisk * on all the flight segments. Was told the comments were put and they would be under review. I should get an answer in two to three weeks. It's just pathetic that we have to wait this long to review.
Cheers.
Oct 6, 2017, 11:57 am
#240
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,214
Call back. Ask why it has to be reviewed/what has to be reviewed since the rules are very clear on this. There is no reason for this delay. They should be able to fix it on the spot (they've done it for me on more than one occasion). Press them on what needs to be reviewed.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Pathetic, simply pathetic.