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[2016 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Jan 1, 2016, 11:17 pm
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Welcome to the 2016 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
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[2016 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

Old May 24, 2016, 8:38 am
  #1501  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: American - Platinum Pro, Marriott - Platinum
Posts: 479
JJeffrey - many thanks! The $39 one-way seems perfect.

Can I use the new voucher for anyone? Or can it only be used for my travel?

Last edited by raj_cl; May 24, 2016 at 9:21 am Reason: Add question
raj_cl is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 10:19 am
  #1502  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,660
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
All tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of issue, so they were correct in that you cannot keep extending the date out of the same ticket past 1 year.

But you can definitely change to a cheap flight before it expires and get the remainder in another voucher, which will be good for another year.

Right now there are a number of dates in June where MIA-TPA is $39 one way. Switch your current flight to that and AA will issue you a new voucher for $161 good for another year.
Is that true? Wow, I learned something today. Thanks. Under the old US program, you would lose any unused value. Thanks JJeffrey for this!
apeortdz is online now  
Old May 24, 2016, 11:15 am
  #1503  
vishnu88
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Chase UR, AAdvantage, Dividend Miles, United MileagePlus
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by JonNYC
Was this a typo above? If so, and if what ya meant was: ORD-ICN, ICN-HKG, no, can't remove ORD-ICN w/o starting over again.
That is not a typo. My ICN-CDG flight is on another airline (not on this record, or even One World).
Aviator88 is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 11:17 am
  #1504  
vishnu88
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Chase UR, AAdvantage, Dividend Miles, United MileagePlus
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by flyingeph12
You can change the date of your ORD-NRT-ICN flights without paying a fee and without affecting the other segments in your itinerary. You can push out those flights up to a year from the date you originally ticketed the award.

Canceling the ORD-ICN in theory should be possible since it appears to be a separate award, but since all of your awards are in one record, it may cause some issues. I think a date change is a safer bet if you plan on using it at a later date.
Interesting. I might do that. If I were to delay the ORD-ICN flights to a year later, can I then redeposit those miles at that point (since I would have travelled on my CDG-HKG and HKG-LAX flights by then already)?
Aviator88 is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 12:25 pm
  #1505  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
Originally Posted by Aviator88
Interesting. I might do that. If I were to delay the ORD-ICN flights to a year later, can I then redeposit those miles at that point (since I would have travelled on my CDG-HKG and HKG-LAX flights by then already)?
Not for free (unless you're EXP), but pushing it out into the future you increase the likelihood of having a significant schedule change which could trigger a fee-free cancellation/redeposit.
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Old May 24, 2016, 12:30 pm
  #1506  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,920
I redeemed miles for a flight and wanted to know what exactly the fees are for. Is there a way to get a breakdown of the fees? (using the receipt method I confirmed the amount, but not a breakdown)
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Old May 24, 2016, 1:13 pm
  #1507  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Texas
Programs: IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, La Quinta Gold
Posts: 3
Question

Let me start by saying my goal is to upgrade my long-haul flights from and to Europe (in that order of priority). By upgrade, I would love Business Class(Club World) but would also be glad with MCE(WTP).

Now, here's the situation.
Flights were booked during the sale a few weeks ago, all on AA.com.
DFW-EWR-LHR
1st leg on AA, 2nd on BA
Return
PRG-LHR-MIA-DFW
1st 3 legs on BA, final leg on AA

I was hoping to upgrade using AA miles. Upon some research here, I saw on the AA award page that I could upgrade to World Traveler Plus for 12.5K AA miles. Another page stated that since I had Booking Code O, they were not eligible for upgrade. So, I called AA and they said that I could be upgraded, but there are no seats available. Even though the flight is virtually empty, there are apparently no award/upgrade seats available in WTP. There are plenty in Economy and Club World for all flights. AA suggested I call BA to find out if upgrade/award seats would be made available. Calling BA just led to more confusion.
Not that it's important, the only segment that is not Booking Code O is the PRG-LHR flight, which is Code S.
Other item of note, I've checked on the AA site several times since booking and have not seen any WTP seats for either the full flights (DFW-LHR for example), nor the individual segments (EWR-LHR).

My questions:
Is it possible to upgrade to Club World or WTP for either or both transatlantic flights using AA miles? If so, is it 12.5K per person or 25K?
Is it possible that BA will open up some WTP award/upgrade seats for use with AA miles?
Is it possible to do a 2 class upgrade from economy to Club World using miles?
The language on this page is not yet clear to me given my novice travel habits.
Finally, where did I go wrong? How could I have booked or planned this better? I'm still learning when it comes to frequent travel and I appreciate any feedback or advice.

Thanks!
PGAdam is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 1:29 pm
  #1508  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
You can upgrade BA flights with AA miles to the next class of service. Economy can be upgraded to WTP, and WTP to Club World.

See this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
akcae is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 2:20 pm
  #1509  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Originally Posted by Aviator88
That is not a typo. My ICN-CDG flight is on another airline (not on this record, or even One World).
Regardless, changing the origin or destination (which you're effectively doing by removing the ORD-ICN leg) requires a redeposit and ticket reissue.
rjw242 is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 2:22 pm
  #1510  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by PGAdam
Let me start by saying my goal is to upgrade my long-haul flights from and to Europe (in that order of priority). By upgrade, I would love Business Class(Club World) but would also be glad with MCE(WTP).

Now, here's the situation.
Flights were booked during the sale a few weeks ago, all on AA.com.
DFW-EWR-LHR
1st leg on AA, 2nd on BA
Return
PRG-LHR-MIA-DFW
1st 3 legs on BA, final leg on AA

I was hoping to upgrade using AA miles. Upon some research here, I saw on the AA award page that I could upgrade to World Traveler Plus for 12.5K AA miles. Another page stated that since I had Booking Code O, they were not eligible for upgrade. So, I called AA and they said that I could be upgraded, but there are no seats available. Even though the flight is virtually empty, there are apparently no award/upgrade seats available in WTP. There are plenty in Economy and Club World for all flights. AA suggested I call BA to find out if upgrade/award seats would be made available. Calling BA just led to more confusion.
Not that it's important, the only segment that is not Booking Code O is the PRG-LHR flight, which is Code S.
Other item of note, I've checked on the AA site several times since booking and have not seen any WTP seats for either the full flights (DFW-LHR for example), nor the individual segments (EWR-LHR).

My questions:
Is it possible to upgrade to Club World or WTP for either or both transatlantic flights using AA miles? If so, is it 12.5K per person or 25K?
Is it possible that BA will open up some WTP award/upgrade seats for use with AA miles?
Is it possible to do a 2 class upgrade from economy to Club World using miles?
The language on this page is not yet clear to me given my novice travel habits.
Finally, where did I go wrong? How could I have booked or planned this better? I'm still learning when it comes to frequent travel and I appreciate any feedback or advice.

Thanks!
WTP is an entirely separate class of service (not like AA MCE, a part of Economy but with extended seat pitch). You can use AA miles to upgrade from WT to WTP, or from WTP to CW, but you can not upgrade two classes of service.

Please see the thread you've been referred to, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html, as there are substantive restrictions. (E.g. You must have purchased a full fare to upgrade using AAdvantage miles). Please be sure to read the wikipost.

You can inquire about counter ($$) upgrades when at the airport, as well.

Book it better? Discounted WTP or CW seats bought from BA would probably cost you considerably less than full fare offerings on aa.com. And BA occasionally has great sales.
JDiver is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 2:49 pm
  #1511  
vishnu88
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Chase UR, AAdvantage, Dividend Miles, United MileagePlus
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by Aviator88
Interesting. I might do that. If I were to delay the ORD-ICN flights to a year later, can I then redeposit those miles at that point (since I would have travelled on my CDG-HKG and HKG-LAX flights by then already)?
Thanks. I was expecting to pay a fee. That's not the issue.

There doesn't seem to be any availability in F for any dates on the ORD-ICN route. But there seems to be Y (saver) availability on aa.com. Can I downgrade and not have to redeposit the entire itinerary?
Aviator88 is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 3:22 pm
  #1512  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by Aviator88
Thanks. I was expecting to pay a fee. That's not the issue.

There doesn't seem to be any availability in F for any dates on the ORD-ICN route. But there seems to be Y (saver) availability on aa.com. Can I downgrade and not have to redeposit the entire itinerary?
You can "upgrade" to a higher class or higher award and the redeposit fee will be waived. You can not do the reverse without paying it.

Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l-changes.html (particularly the wikipost at the top of the page) for more in depth on award changes.
JDiver is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 3:57 pm
  #1513  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CHS
Programs: United 1K, Globalist Hyatt, Plat Marriott
Posts: 289
My wife has an AA account that was just used to earn AA credit card miles / bonuses. For work, I will be traveling heavily internationally and would like to use her account to earn miles as I do not have an account.

I was able to change the name on her account to mine (same last name) and the system accepted it. Am I setting myself up for an issue down the road with AA?
mayday23 is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 4:03 pm
  #1514  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by flyfaraway
I flew early yesterday morning to get the last miles I needed for gold. When they post it will retroactively give me gold, correct? I want to grab some preferred seats for my return on 1/4 and another set of flights in January.
Uh, "When they post it will retroactively give me gold.. " I'm not sure of your question here. You will get Gold when it posts, but previously made future bookings may have to be updated manually (call).

If you're inquiring if AA will apply bonuses for your status to the flight upon which you passed the threshold, AA will not.
JDiver is offline  
Old May 24, 2016, 4:08 pm
  #1515  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Originally Posted by mayday23
My wife has an AA account that was just used to earn AA credit card miles / bonuses. For work, I will be traveling heavily internationally and would like to use her account to earn miles as I do not have an account.

I was able to change the name on her account to mine (same last name) and the system accepted it. Am I setting myself up for an issue down the road with AA?
Yes, do not do that.

Originally Posted by Aviator88
Thanks. I was expecting to pay a fee. That's not the issue.

There doesn't seem to be any availability in F for any dates on the ORD-ICN route. But there seems to be Y (saver) availability on aa.com. Can I downgrade and not have to redeposit the entire itinerary?
Did you clarify as to how all this is ticketed? All one ticket/one PNR?
JonNYC is offline  

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