Jan 1, 2016, 11:17 pm
Last edit by: JY1024
Welcome to the 2016 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST:
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST:
(This post can only be edited by moderators.)
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Welcome to Flyertalk!
The Newbie Lounge is a place for newer and less experienced members to ask their questions about American Airlines and the AAdvantage program and have answered by our more experienced and knowledgeable members. Feel free to ask any question related to American Airlines and AAdvantage here.
NOTE: This is a "flame free" thread; flaming, personal criticism for "failing to search" etc. is not allowed (if posted, the post will be summarily deleted, the poster subject to sanctions).
We volunteer Moderators monitor this "lounge" thread to assist you as well. When browsing the fora, look at the page tops of the various forums. There will be a menu, and often "sticky" threads, and threads with header "wiki posts" (created and maintained by the FlyerTalk community) with important information relating to that forum / topic.
Don't hesitate to contact a moderator or another member if you have any additional questions. You can PM the Moderators by clicking on
, which pops up a message box; the message goes to all this forum's Moderators. Note that unlike some sites with paid staff moderators, FlyerTalk Moderators are volunteers, and most work, travel, go on holiday, etc. You can Private Message us using the PM system (My Flyertalk) and our handles.
We're glad you've chosen to join the Flyertalk frequent flyer community!
Your American Airlines | AAdvantage Forum Moderation Team,
AZ Travels the World, aztimm, dstan, JDiver, JY1024, Microwave
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
The Newbie Lounge is a place for newer and less experienced members to ask their questions about American Airlines and the AAdvantage program and have answered by our more experienced and knowledgeable members. Feel free to ask any question related to American Airlines and AAdvantage here.
NOTE: This is a "flame free" thread; flaming, personal criticism for "failing to search" etc. is not allowed (if posted, the post will be summarily deleted, the poster subject to sanctions).
We volunteer Moderators monitor this "lounge" thread to assist you as well. When browsing the fora, look at the page tops of the various forums. There will be a menu, and often "sticky" threads, and threads with header "wiki posts" (created and maintained by the FlyerTalk community) with important information relating to that forum / topic.
Don't hesitate to contact a moderator or another member if you have any additional questions. You can PM the Moderators by clicking on
, which pops up a message box; the message goes to all this forum's Moderators. Note that unlike some sites with paid staff moderators, FlyerTalk Moderators are volunteers, and most work, travel, go on holiday, etc. You can Private Message us using the PM system (My Flyertalk) and our handles.We're glad you've chosen to join the Flyertalk frequent flyer community!
Your American Airlines | AAdvantage Forum Moderation Team,
AZ Travels the World, aztimm, dstan, JDiver, JY1024, Microwave
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
Check out the following resources:
- GUIDE: FT - AA Forum, LOUNGE DASHBOARD and OSO / IRROPS (Links to most important threads, "Help Desk" assistance threads, the thread with resources for off-schedule operations / irregular operations (including links to AA weather policy and tools), hub airport threads, AA lounge Dashboard for all lounges and lounge related issues.)
- FAQ: American Airlines and AAdvantage - Please check here first! (Our FAQ were originally written for the pre-merger AA forum, but there's still a lot of useful information there.)
- New and uncertain where to start here, and it's about American Airlines? Start in our "NEWBIE LOUNGE" thread, here: link.
- Do you have questions about other travel related issues that do not pertain to AA and are unsure where to start? Visit our Information Desk Forum here: U]link. [/U]
- Especially useful to new members: FAQs (How to post like a pro and more)
- The NEW FlyerTalk: Helpful Hints, Tips and Suggestions to Enhance Your Experience (Information Desk Forum)
- FlyerTalk Glossary (What is all this jargon?)
- Airport Code Guide (How do I decode an airport code / find one for a city?)
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
- Canarsie's Using the Search Feature on FlyerTalk: The Definitive Thread has relocated to the Information Desk Forum; it can be found there.
- One can search FlyerTalk with Google with this web form.
- Or, if you are used to Google search, use Google Advanced Search and insert www.flyertalk.com in the "site or domain" box.
Forum basics: Now that the new AA has become by some measures "the world's largest airline", this new, combined has become a "mega-forum", very large, very active - and theoretically very difficult to find information and easy to lose one's place. Having to search for and sort through dozens - or more - of threads on baggage, airports, minimum connect times or the like could soon become unproductive and discouraging.
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
Keep it welcoming: We're proud the members of both FFPs have kept the brickbats to a minimum; we want this forum to be welcoming, civil and information rich, so name calling (including calling a member one disagrees with "AApologist") and snark are not tolerated. Posts with such are likely to be summarily deleted in their entirety; repeated such behavior may result in suspension of one's membership privileges or being banned from this forum. Let's keep it friendly and in accordance with the FT Rules.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)[/LIST]
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
Keep it welcoming: We're proud the members of both FFPs have kept the brickbats to a minimum; we want this forum to be welcoming, civil and information rich, so name calling (including calling a member one disagrees with "AApologist") and snark are not tolerated. Posts with such are likely to be summarily deleted in their entirety; repeated such behavior may result in suspension of one's membership privileges or being banned from this forum. Let's keep it friendly and in accordance with the FT Rules.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)[/LIST]
Thanks for reading!
[2016 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)
May 30, 2016, 4:46 pm
#1561
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Correct and correct.
May 30, 2016, 4:52 pm
#1562
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I apolegize for not following all the changes to the AAdvantage program in recent years. But just want to confirm that the old Oneworld awards with 16 segments worldwide based on miles flown are gone and no replacement program.
Also, no stopovers allowed on an award ticket, correct?
Joyce
Also, no stopovers allowed on an award ticket, correct?
Joyce
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...pr-2014-a.html
Your maximum connections time to remain one award are:
4 hours domestic
18 hours if travel is to/from Hawai'i
24 hours international
There are minimal exceptions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2015-a.html.
May 31, 2016, 7:33 am
#1563
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Virginia
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum - 2M miles
Posts: 216
oneworld Explorer awards ended a bit two years ago.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...pr-2014-a.html
Your maximum connections time to remain one award are:
4 hours domestic
18 hours if travel is to/from Hawai'i
24 hours international
There are minimal exceptions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2015-a.html.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...pr-2014-a.html
Your maximum connections time to remain one award are:
4 hours domestic
18 hours if travel is to/from Hawai'i
24 hours international
There are minimal exceptions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...es-2015-a.html.
May 31, 2016, 8:00 am
#1564
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: STL...for now
Programs: HH Gold, CC Gold, Accor Plat, BW Diamond
Posts: 224
Hi, all. I'm planning a TATL award trip in Y and have no status on AA but spouse and I have Gold status on AB. I'm trying to decide if I should go on AA metal or AB metal. I've heard that AA gives MCE to AB elites for free but AB does not give it to their own elites. I am looking for the best option to get complimentary MCE (have only every flown TATL Y). Thank you!
May 31, 2016, 10:10 am
#1565
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 71
Allowed time between flights on one award ticket
We have ANYTIME award tickets to fly JFK-LAX-LIH. After assistance from supervisor, was able to get last flight out, first out next am. We plan to hotel it for a few hours. My question is if it is possible to request an earlier flight out of JFK, so that we will arrive LAX at a more reasonable evening hour? Does the 18 hour max mentioned above apply?
Last edited by decabea; May 31, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Jun 1, 2016, 7:15 am
#1566
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 71
We have ANYTIME award tickets to fly JFK-LAX-LIH. After assistance from supervisor, was able to get last flight out, first out next am. We plan to hotel it for a few hours. My question is if it is possible to request an earlier flight out of JFK, so that we will arrive LAX at a more reasonable evening hour? Does the 18 hour max mentioned above apply?
Jun 1, 2016, 11:20 am
#1567
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Hello friendly AA folks,
An AA newbie question:
Recently, I voluntarily canceled an AA ticket (all AA flights).
Ticket value = approx 500; CXL fee = 200; Balance = 300 to be used within one year of the date of issue of original ticket.
I was given the e-ticket number by the AAgent for use when I am ready to book a ticket using the 300$.
I had upgraded 2 segments on this ticket using my SWU's. The AAgent said that the SWU will not return to the account. It can be applied to the flights on the next trip I book using the 300$.
Is this correct?
What happens to the SWU's if my next trip is booked in the front cabin...(e.g., DFW-LGA in First class)...will I lose the SWU's for ever?
Not clear about this.
An AA newbie question:
Recently, I voluntarily canceled an AA ticket (all AA flights).
Ticket value = approx 500; CXL fee = 200; Balance = 300 to be used within one year of the date of issue of original ticket.
I was given the e-ticket number by the AAgent for use when I am ready to book a ticket using the 300$.
I had upgraded 2 segments on this ticket using my SWU's. The AAgent said that the SWU will not return to the account. It can be applied to the flights on the next trip I book using the 300$.
Is this correct?
What happens to the SWU's if my next trip is booked in the front cabin...(e.g., DFW-LGA in First class)...will I lose the SWU's for ever?
Not clear about this.
Jun 1, 2016, 11:54 am
#1568
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Hello friendly AA folks,
An AA newbie question:
Recently, I voluntarily canceled an AA ticket (all AA flights).
Ticket value = approx 500; CXL fee = 200; Balance = 300 to be used within one year of the date of issue of original ticket.
I was given the e-ticket number by the AAgent for use when I am ready to book a ticket using the 300$.
I had upgraded 2 segments on this ticket using my SWU's. The AAgent said that the SWU will not return to the account. It can be applied to the flights on the next trip I book using the 300$.
Is this correct?
What happens to the SWU's if my next trip is booked in the front cabin...(e.g., DFW-LGA in First class)...will I lose the SWU's for ever?
Not clear about this.
An AA newbie question:
Recently, I voluntarily canceled an AA ticket (all AA flights).
Ticket value = approx 500; CXL fee = 200; Balance = 300 to be used within one year of the date of issue of original ticket.
I was given the e-ticket number by the AAgent for use when I am ready to book a ticket using the 300$.
I had upgraded 2 segments on this ticket using my SWU's. The AAgent said that the SWU will not return to the account. It can be applied to the flights on the next trip I book using the 300$.
Is this correct?
What happens to the SWU's if my next trip is booked in the front cabin...(e.g., DFW-LGA in First class)...will I lose the SWU's for ever?
Not clear about this.
Jun 1, 2016, 12:21 pm
#1569
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 8
AAdvantage Miles & Avios at the same time?
Hi!
I was wondering that if you were part of the AAdvantage program, but the BA Executive club also, is it possible to, if flying on a British Airways flight, earn avios with the executive club, and earn miles with AA/Oneworld at the same time?
Cheers folks!
I was wondering that if you were part of the AAdvantage program, but the BA Executive club also, is it possible to, if flying on a British Airways flight, earn avios with the executive club, and earn miles with AA/Oneworld at the same time?
Cheers folks!
Jun 1, 2016, 12:28 pm
#1570
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Nope, you can only earn on one program per flight.
Jun 1, 2016, 1:02 pm
#1572
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Munich, Deutscheland
Programs: Try to be elite again... :)
Posts: 488
Need some help here to plan the trip, in order to maximize the value of miles 
I myself and my wife will fly from Seoul to Hawaii on 7/25 (flights confirmed already) and then either stay in Hawaii or head to the west part of USA to visit national parks, or both. This would last for about 2 weeks in total, and then we fly to Boston (. We together have ~400K AA miles, ~200K United miles, ~20K Delta miles and ~200K Chase miles (which can be transferable to multiple partners including Hyatt etc.). Ideally we can fly First but we also want to take advantage of the systemwide upgrades and regional/global premier upgrades we currently hold (so that we do not have to pay all flights in First in cash). We have Exec Platinum at AA and Platinum 1K at United.
What would be the best way to fly - purchase economy then use upgrades, or use all miles (if we use miles, what would be the best way to use them since I read somewhere that we can get a ticket from Hawaii to Boston and in between we make a stopover at e.g. Phoenix or Denver)?
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions.
I myself and my wife will fly from Seoul to Hawaii on 7/25 (flights confirmed already) and then either stay in Hawaii or head to the west part of USA to visit national parks, or both. This would last for about 2 weeks in total, and then we fly to Boston (. We together have ~400K AA miles, ~200K United miles, ~20K Delta miles and ~200K Chase miles (which can be transferable to multiple partners including Hyatt etc.). Ideally we can fly First but we also want to take advantage of the systemwide upgrades and regional/global premier upgrades we currently hold (so that we do not have to pay all flights in First in cash). We have Exec Platinum at AA and Platinum 1K at United.
What would be the best way to fly - purchase economy then use upgrades, or use all miles (if we use miles, what would be the best way to use them since I read somewhere that we can get a ticket from Hawaii to Boston and in between we make a stopover at e.g. Phoenix or Denver)?
Thanks a lot for all the suggestions.
Jun 1, 2016, 1:03 pm
#1573
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Its no fun when the AAgents make up new stuff.
I will call AAdvantage CS.
Jun 1, 2016, 1:12 pm
#1574
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,018
Update - called AAdvantage CS. (NOT reservations agent).
Same story essentially.
The lady said this:
"You canceled your flights; its a non-refundable ticket; so the SWU's are still tied to this ticket until you use the funds remaining on the ticket".
I asked what happens if I buy a front cabin ticket...she said "in that case, you can request that the SWU's go back in to the account.........until then, the SWU's will be tied to this ticket".
So, no luck.
Anyways, the SWU's exist somewhere.. They are not lost,,thats the good news.
Jun 1, 2016, 2:40 pm
#1575
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Delta
Posts: 7
Thinking of doing status match from 1k to EP
UA 1K here. Based out of ORD, usually fly 2-4 segments per week, typically staying in the general Midwest with a few international trips each year (Asia & Europe). Spend usually around $30k-$40k annually.
I know AA is offering status matches to certain 1k'ers. For those of you based at ORD, why do you fly AA and do you think given the changes this year (different awards chart, less SWU) EP is still better than 1k?
Thanks in advance for the input!
I know AA is offering status matches to certain 1k'ers. For those of you based at ORD, why do you fly AA and do you think given the changes this year (different awards chart, less SWU) EP is still better than 1k?
Thanks in advance for the input!