Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY - [2015-17 ARCHIVE]
May 19, 2017, 11:59 am
#2777
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Omaha, NE
Programs: Marriott Gold, Delta, AMEX Membership Rewards
Posts: 140
Just booked AUH-JFK for my girlfriend and I! Called the fine folks in Australia and they handled it without issue. I did try the US number for kicks and giggles and they "couldn't see any space available in business or first..." poor guys are set up for failure.
May 19, 2017, 1:32 pm
#2778
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 539
From my experience last month, this was priced as two awards apparently because of AA's rule of not allowing transit in a third region. I was trying for AUH-JFK-YVR. The agent claimed I couldn't transit USA to reach Canada. I tried HUCA with no success.
May 19, 2017, 2:34 pm
#2780
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,578
For routing (unless changed) , USA and Canada are both considered as North America
I suspect that it may have been correct not to allow the flight, but that the reason may be wrong
I suspect that it may have been correct not to allow the flight, but that the reason may be wrong
May 19, 2017, 3:16 pm
#2781
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I too doubt the agent's explanation was correct, not a 3rd region.
May 19, 2017, 3:26 pm
#2782
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Out of curiosity, any thoughts or rumors about loosening the third-region rule to include EY on appropriate routings? I assume no, but one can hope.
As an aside, is the QR exemption due to them being in Oneworld and, I assume, the amount AA has to pay Oneworld partners is set by the alliance while AA only partners are bilateral agreements (assuming, again, in this case that EY costs more to AA than QR)? Though to expand on this point (in my mind), this could also be a concession to QR being in the alliance.
Friday afternoon musings over a Flying Dog. 🤣
As an aside, is the QR exemption due to them being in Oneworld and, I assume, the amount AA has to pay Oneworld partners is set by the alliance while AA only partners are bilateral agreements (assuming, again, in this case that EY costs more to AA than QR)? Though to expand on this point (in my mind), this could also be a concession to QR being in the alliance.
Friday afternoon musings over a Flying Dog. 🤣
May 20, 2017, 9:31 pm
#2783
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Anyone had any luck changing a flight through the Aus ticketing office? I'm currently booked DFW-AUH-MLE with a return of MLE-AUH-JFK. Would like to switch DFW to JFK on the outbound but I seem to remember in the past there were difficulties maintaining the other leg (in my case the MLE-AUH leg) when trying to change the longhaul.
May 22, 2017, 10:37 am
#2784
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Anyone had any luck changing a flight through the Aus ticketing office? I'm currently booked DFW-AUH-MLE with a return of MLE-AUH-JFK. Would like to switch DFW to JFK on the outbound but I seem to remember in the past there were difficulties maintaining the other leg (in my case the MLE-AUH leg) when trying to change the longhaul.
In my case, I had a DFW-AUH-MLE trip booked and wanted to change to JFK-AUH-MLE. I initially asked for availability for 2 seats on the JFK-AUH leg which they were able to see. Once I requested that they change my flights, they were no longer able to see availability. This seems to be normal based on others previous experience.
I had the agent go in and cancel my original itinerary and start a new booking from scratch. Once again, they were able to see the JFK-AUH availability but my two F seats from AUH-MLE didn't go right back into inventory so I settled for Business class for that leg. Put the new itinerary on hold.
About 20 minutes later, I checked and my original first class seats AUH-MLE showed back up in inventory. I canceled the new itinerary and called the Aus res. number to try again. When I cancelled the held reservation, all inventory became available immediately so they were able to see all the seats I wanted. Unfortunately, someone else snagged my F seats from AUH-MLE while the agent was putting the new itinerary together. Had to settle for business again for the short leg, which I am totally ok with. Well worth the "sacrifice" in order to fly F JFK-AUH.
The bottom line - still can't change existing itineraries but can now book ex-US flights through AUH.
May 23, 2017, 3:24 pm
#2785
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SIN
Programs: Marriott Platinum | Hilton Diamond | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 114
Was able to book MLE-AUH-JFK, in F for my honeymoon. 
Paid like $75 each in taxes/fees, so $150-ish total + 230k AA miles.
Don't know if they charged me $25 phone booking fee..
Paid like $75 each in taxes/fees, so $150-ish total + 230k AA miles.
Don't know if they charged me $25 phone booking fee..
May 23, 2017, 3:45 pm
#2786
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 159
wanted to thank everyone who contributed/maintain the WIKI.
Booked business class tickets DEL-AUH-LAX
1) Confirmed availability through Etihad's website
2) Called US based reservations without any luck
3) Called Australian reservation and placed award on hold
4) Called US and paid for reservation ($54 fees and 70k miles/ticket)
^I assume people go this route to avoid currency exchange issues and/or foreign transaction fees.
sometimes I wonder how the hell does the average American get these "complicated" award travel without forums like this or bloggers sharing their experiences.
Booked business class tickets DEL-AUH-LAX
1) Confirmed availability through Etihad's website
2) Called US based reservations without any luck
3) Called Australian reservation and placed award on hold
4) Called US and paid for reservation ($54 fees and 70k miles/ticket)
^I assume people go this route to avoid currency exchange issues and/or foreign transaction fees.
sometimes I wonder how the hell does the average American get these "complicated" award travel without forums like this or bloggers sharing their experiences.
May 23, 2017, 3:49 pm
#2787
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 159
wanted to thank everyone who contributed/maintain the WIKI.
Booked business class tickets DEL-AUH-LAX
1) Confirmed availability through Etihad's website
2) Called US based reservations without any luck
3) Called Australian reservation and placed award on hold
4) Called US and paid for reservation ($54 fees and 70k miles/ticket)
^I assume people go this route to avoid currency exchange issues and/or foreign transaction fees.
sometimes I wonder how the hell does the average American get these "complicated" award travel without forums like this or bloggers sharing their experiences.
Booked business class tickets DEL-AUH-LAX
1) Confirmed availability through Etihad's website
2) Called US based reservations without any luck
3) Called Australian reservation and placed award on hold
4) Called US and paid for reservation ($54 fees and 70k miles/ticket)
^I assume people go this route to avoid currency exchange issues and/or foreign transaction fees.
sometimes I wonder how the hell does the average American get these "complicated" award travel without forums like this or bloggers sharing their experiences.
May 23, 2017, 4:12 pm
#2788
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 623
First issue - it would seem that Australia call center can now see availability for flights originating in the US. I searched for availability on the Etihad site using round trips and was able to see lots of availability JFK-AUH. Aus reservations were able to see the same availability as on the Etihad site.
In my case, I had a DFW-AUH-MLE trip booked and wanted to change to JFK-AUH-MLE. I initially asked for availability for 2 seats on the JFK-AUH leg which they were able to see. Once I requested that they change my flights, they were no longer able to see availability. This seems to be normal based on others previous experience.
I had the agent go in and cancel my original itinerary and start a new booking from scratch. Once again, they were able to see the JFK-AUH availability but my two F seats from AUH-MLE didn't go right back into inventory so I settled for Business class for that leg. Put the new itinerary on hold.
About 20 minutes later, I checked and my original first class seats AUH-MLE showed back up in inventory. I canceled the new itinerary and called the Aus res. number to try again. When I cancelled the held reservation, all inventory became available immediately so they were able to see all the seats I wanted. Unfortunately, someone else snagged my F seats from AUH-MLE while the agent was putting the new itinerary together. Had to settle for business again for the short leg, which I am totally ok with. Well worth the "sacrifice" in order to fly F JFK-AUH.
The bottom line - still can't change existing itineraries but can now book ex-US flights through AUH.
In my case, I had a DFW-AUH-MLE trip booked and wanted to change to JFK-AUH-MLE. I initially asked for availability for 2 seats on the JFK-AUH leg which they were able to see. Once I requested that they change my flights, they were no longer able to see availability. This seems to be normal based on others previous experience.
I had the agent go in and cancel my original itinerary and start a new booking from scratch. Once again, they were able to see the JFK-AUH availability but my two F seats from AUH-MLE didn't go right back into inventory so I settled for Business class for that leg. Put the new itinerary on hold.
About 20 minutes later, I checked and my original first class seats AUH-MLE showed back up in inventory. I canceled the new itinerary and called the Aus res. number to try again. When I cancelled the held reservation, all inventory became available immediately so they were able to see all the seats I wanted. Unfortunately, someone else snagged my F seats from AUH-MLE while the agent was putting the new itinerary together. Had to settle for business again for the short leg, which I am totally ok with. Well worth the "sacrifice" in order to fly F JFK-AUH.
The bottom line - still can't change existing itineraries but can now book ex-US flights through AUH.
May 23, 2017, 5:04 pm
#2789
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SIN
Programs: Marriott Platinum | Hilton Diamond | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 114
Guys, a quick question.
I have MLE-AUH-JFK booked, but want to stop over in JFK for a few days and add a JFK-DCA leg to the reservation.
I thought I read that the flight to the NA gateway can be added for free - does the domestic add-on allow stopovers?
I have MLE-AUH-JFK booked, but want to stop over in JFK for a few days and add a JFK-DCA leg to the reservation.
I thought I read that the flight to the NA gateway can be added for free - does the domestic add-on allow stopovers?
May 24, 2017, 12:47 am
#2790
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 209
This will not be possible, Jfk-Dca will price as a separate leg if flown a few days after, the NA gateway perk has been gone for a while now.