Jan 14, 2016, 5:43 am
Last edit by: medellinfein
Booking Award Seats on EY / Etihad Airways Using AA / AAdvantage Miles
Also see: Earning AA Miles EQM / EQD / EQS on EY / Etihad (master thread)
This thread is about how to book Etihad / EY award seats using AA AAdvantage miles, and sharing success stories. This wiki is new, so anyone with 90/90 who wishes to add helpful information is, of course, urged to do so.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
Please see the archived threads for previous experiences:
Also see: Earning AA Miles EQM / EQD / EQS on EY / Etihad (master thread)
This thread is about how to book Etihad / EY award seats using AA AAdvantage miles, and sharing success stories. This wiki is new, so anyone with 90/90 who wishes to add helpful information is, of course, urged to do so.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
From One Mile at a Time (link)
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
- You can now search or book awards for travel on EY (Etihad) on www.aa.com.
- You can search award availability on EY's website. Look only for seats on flights operated by Etihad Airways that are labeled as "GuestSeats". You can also search on ExpertFlyer
- Note: You may see more availability if you search on EY's website using itineraries that do not originate in the US. In other words, to potentially see more availability on a USA-XYZ segment, search for XYZ-USA-XYZ. Expertflyer does not report this additional availability (if any), and US-based agents probably will not be able to see or book it (but see further below for Fiji).
- To expand on this point a bit, it seems that even if you only want to fly USA-AUH (or to other foreign destinations, since they route through AUH), due to an EY website quirk you need to search AUH-USA-AUH in order to find available USA-AUH routes.
- You no longer have to call AA to book them. You may need to request the AA agent to look up the inventory one segment at a time in order to find the inventory in their system. OR:
- It is often or even typically the case that for first and business class awards US agents cannot see the award space that you see on Etihad's site. Your best bet, then, is to call AA Australia (+61 2-9101-1948 ) then press 3 - or the New Zealand number (+64 09-308-4014) (actually South African contractor Mindpearl in Fiji) or Singapore (+65 6349-8444) as an alternative - what you need is the specific call center which is actually in Suva, Fiji (I believe it's our old South African agency friend Mindpearl) or, according to recent reports, in Trinidad (since there have been some reports that the Fiji center has closed). You can put the EY segments on hold so you can flesh out the award afterward and/or pay the fees in USD through the US call center, or simply buy it through non-US call center if you think you won't be making subsequent routing changes (such as adding AA connecting flights within the USA) that would incur fees. (NOTE: calls may get picked up by the local Brisbane office, or rerouted to Trinidad or the USA. As noted, there are reports that the Fiji call center has closed, but people have still been able to book some of the time, particularly if they reach the Trinidad center since that seems to be the call center that yields the greatest success in late 2017 and 2018 - with the big caveat that there are at least as many failures as successes in calling there, including repeatedly. To increase the chances of success, you may have to call several times, since for some reason a given customer service representative at a given time won't see availability even if it shows at the EY site, but another CSR at the same center may be able to do so even a few minutes later. It's conceivable that this difference is due to some CSRs knowing how to search for award availability better than others do, but that's simply a matter of speculation at this point.)
- Note: EY award holds only last 72 hours...irrespective of what AA reservation hold email states
- Booking connections via AUH / Abu Dabhi using one award is now allowed.
- Get both AA and EY reservation codes/numbers: Upon booking with AA, make sure to get the EY reservation number as well as that of AA from the AA CSR, as without the EY number it will be difficult or impossible to deal with EY, such as for checking or managing your reservation online. And of course, if there is another airline involved in the reservation as well (such as BA), get its reservation number.
- A handy EY route map is here: http://flights.etihad.com/routemap.
- The applicable AAdvantage miles award chart is the oneworld and partner airlines award chart.
- Award routing rules are in the wikipost of this thread.
- If you find EY inventory from your continent but not your city of choice, as usual you can include any other AAdvantage award airlines in order to complete the itinerary. E.g. LHR-xAUH-DEL-xAUH-CDG on EY connecting to CDG-LHR on BA.
- WARNING: While this trick is great for new bookings (especially if you have patience to get lucky for call to be routed to Fiji office), modifying booking on partner airlines is always risky especially when an overseas center is involved, Your original seats are immediately released and while new reservation is supposedly confirmed, it may actually not the case until ticket desk actually issues ticket after approval of the partner liaison. Weekend/Holidays/Time-Difference can delay issuance of ticket and if something goes wrong, there is always risk of being SOL. (Mistakes by agents are rare but not unheard of).
- SEAT ASSIGNMENTS: You cannot choose seats until after ticketing. Even then, the regular web site will not allow seat assignments to be made for AAdvantage award bookings. The mobile site (which can be reached with either a mobile or a desktop browser) may work in some cases. Calling EY to make seat assignments always works, as long as you can give them the EY record locator, and as long as AA has issued the ticket (which can take a few days, you will get e-mail). Call 1-877-690-0767, press 1 for English, then 2 for First/Business, then 2 for existing bookings, then they will tell you the call is ending - but it's not: they have added "press 1 to speak to an agent", so finally, press 1 to continue the call. After this, you should have someone on the line quickly to help you. They will ask you a series of questions such as "What class are you traveling in?" and "Where are you going?" Alternatively, you can choose your seats on the Etihad website and app by using the EY record locator to find your award itinerary.
- Availability: EY award availability using AA miles can be fairly good, including in business and first class - IF you get past the big, aforementioned challenge of actually booking award seats that the EY site shows as available but that AA agents have trouble finding. But it ebbs and flows quite a bit in at least two respects (in addition to the general rule that the further in advance you seek availability, the better, as well as reports that availability is easier to find from one to three weeks before a flight): 1) availability showing at the EY site and 2) even if availability shows at the EY site, the ability of non-US call centers (especially the "least bad" ones for finding availability, which might have been Fiji and might now be Trinidad) to find that availability. So if the EY site is not showing availability for a given day or week, and if you have flexibility, check other dates. And if availability seems to be particularly constrained across many dates, particularly if you are searching many months in advance, check again periodically to see if this has changed (or arrange an alert via ExpertFlyer, if it provides such a service for EY flights).
- "Baby-sit" your tickets: Though this advice could apply to many award bookings, EY's systems can be glitchy and the airline apparently is going through some financial challenges. So it makes sense to check online or via phone occasionally with EY to make sure everything remains in order, particularly if there have been even minor changes in things like your flight times. And if there seem to be problems, including with checking in online or other procedures, the EY forum here at FT can be a source of useful advice about whether or not those problems are worth worrying about.
- Itinerary: You can use https://www.virtuallythere.com/new/login.html to enter your EY record locator and last name to 1)display your complete itinerary 2)save a pdf 3)add to outlook/ical 4)view ticket # and different times the ticket has been reissued
- AA lounge access: If you book a premium cabin itinerary on EY with domestic connections on AA, you will not be able to access the Admiral's Club during your domestic layovers because EY is not a member of OW.
Please see the archived threads for previous experiences:
- How to: Use AA Miles to Book Award on Etihad / EY (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
- Success stories booking awards on Etihad using AA miles (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
- Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY - [2015-17 ARCHIVE]
Booking AA Award travel on Etihad / EY (master thread July 2017 onwards)
Mar 28, 2020, 1:06 pm
#1576
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I've found that ExpertFlyer is more reliable. Award inventory might show as available to Etihad's own members but if it isn't showing in EF, AA can't book it. Just a few days ago I was searching for a number of potential trips, and I found several instances where EY's web site showed award space as part of a round-trip, but EY didn't show it, and none of the call centers could book it.
Mar 28, 2020, 11:19 pm
#1577
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 209
I've found that ExpertFlyer is more reliable. Award inventory might show as available to Etihad's own members but if it isn't showing in EF, AA can't book it. Just a few days ago I was searching for a number of potential trips, and I found several instances where EY's web site showed award space as part of a round-trip, but EY didn't show it, and none of the call centers could book it.
Mar 29, 2020, 9:54 am
#1578
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
That said, I seem to recall seeing reports in this thread of people having success grabbing award inventory by calling an overseas center and booking a round-trip, with a dummy date for a flight to the US, and the real date for the flight from the US, and then after being confirmed and priced, removing the dummy inbound flight. But my recollection is that those reports are quite old, and this no longer works/is no longer needed.
Mar 31, 2020, 10:29 am
#1579
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 5
My end goal is to fly DFW-JFK-AUH-MLE. I have found the award space I want for JFK - AUH apartments.
1) Do (can) I add the DFW-JFK and AUH-MLE flights when calling Australian/Singapore call centers?
2) Do I wait until the award space is on hold and I call to book via American call centers to add these other legs?
3) Can I add a stopover in AUH for 2/3 days before flying on to MLE?
1) Do (can) I add the DFW-JFK and AUH-MLE flights when calling Australian/Singapore call centers?
2) Do I wait until the award space is on hold and I call to book via American call centers to add these other legs?
3) Can I add a stopover in AUH for 2/3 days before flying on to MLE?
Mar 31, 2020, 1:01 pm
#1580
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
My end goal is to fly DFW-JFK-AUH-MLE. I have found the award space I want for JFK - AUH apartments.
1) Do (can) I add the DFW-JFK and AUH-MLE flights when calling Australian/Singapore call centers?
2) Do I wait until the award space is on hold and I call to book via American call centers to add these other legs?
3) Can I add a stopover in AUH for 2/3 days before flying on to MLE?
1) Do (can) I add the DFW-JFK and AUH-MLE flights when calling Australian/Singapore call centers?
2) Do I wait until the award space is on hold and I call to book via American call centers to add these other legs?
3) Can I add a stopover in AUH for 2/3 days before flying on to MLE?
2) See the posts immediately above yours.
3) Yes, but it breaks the award, so instead of one first class North America to Africa award at 120,000 miles, it will be one first class North America to the Middle East award at 115,000 miles and one business class Middle East to Africa award at 55,000 miles.
Apr 6, 2020, 9:51 am
#1581
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
Still having some issues that I’m looking for advice on. Looking MLE-AUH-JFK-DCA. Biggest concern is the AUH-JFK in First on EY.
I found availability on both EY Guest and ExpertFlyer.
Called New Zealand number and guy wouldn’t even run the route because I only wanted to put it on hold and he said I couldn’t do that, ok hang up I’ll try them later.
Called Australia, nice CSR but she couldn’t find AUH-JFK in first, Just economy. So I have that on hold right now. What am I doing wrong that they can’t see the first class?
I found availability on both EY Guest and ExpertFlyer.
Called New Zealand number and guy wouldn’t even run the route because I only wanted to put it on hold and he said I couldn’t do that, ok hang up I’ll try them later.
Called Australia, nice CSR but she couldn’t find AUH-JFK in first, Just economy. So I have that on hold right now. What am I doing wrong that they can’t see the first class?
Apr 6, 2020, 3:11 pm
#1582
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Still having some issues that I’m looking for advice on. Looking MLE-AUH-JFK-DCA. Biggest concern is the AUH-JFK in First on EY.
I found availability on both EY Guest and ExpertFlyer.
Called New Zealand number and guy wouldn’t even run the route because I only wanted to put it on hold and he said I couldn’t do that, ok hang up I’ll try them later.
Called Australia, nice CSR but she couldn’t find AUH-JFK in first, Just economy. So I have that on hold right now. What am I doing wrong that they can’t see the first class?
I found availability on both EY Guest and ExpertFlyer.
Called New Zealand number and guy wouldn’t even run the route because I only wanted to put it on hold and he said I couldn’t do that, ok hang up I’ll try them later.
Called Australia, nice CSR but she couldn’t find AUH-JFK in first, Just economy. So I have that on hold right now. What am I doing wrong that they can’t see the first class?
Apr 6, 2020, 3:27 pm
#1583
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
Just keep calling and trying. Call different countries and the same countries at different times. New Zealand, Australia, Singapore are often the best shots, but much is up to luck, it seems. You can also try the US number, since from time to time there are reports here of success.
Apr 6, 2020, 4:47 pm
#1584
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Keep calling back, to different countries and the same country at different times. Leaving it on hold in coach while trying to change the fare class makes sense if you are willing to fly coach. If you aren't, then there's no benefit.
Apr 6, 2020, 7:44 pm
#1585
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
This is a rookie question.
My points were going to expire on, say 28th, so the day prior I had booked EY award flights.
Given Covid19 is likely going to cancel these EY flights, what would happen to my points?
My points were going to expire on, say 28th, so the day prior I had booked EY award flights.
Given Covid19 is likely going to cancel these EY flights, what would happen to my points?
Apr 6, 2020, 7:54 pm
#1586
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
You can always cancel an award itinerary and reinstate the miles. Normally, there's a fee to do so that's waived for certain elite tiers. If the flight is cancelled or there's a significant schedule change, the fee is waived. During the current extreme situation, AA has waived change and I think award reinstatement fees for everyone for all trips booked before March for travel through May, and all trips booked in March or April for any dates. Miles expire 18 months after the last activity, so an award redemption or reinstatement will reset the clock for another 18 months.
Last edited by anabolism; Apr 7, 2020 at 9:59 am Reason: fix typo ("for" instead of "or")
Apr 6, 2020, 10:01 pm
#1587
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
You can always cancel an award itinerary and reinstate the miles. Normally, there's a fee to do so that's waived for certain elite tiers. If the flight is cancelled or there's a significant schedule change, the fee is waived. During the current extreme situation, AA has waived change and I think award reinstatement fees for everyone for all trips booked before March for travel through May, and all trips booked in March for April for any dates. Miles expire 18 months after the last activity, so an award redemption or reinstatement will reset the clock for another 18 months.
Apr 7, 2020, 10:00 pm
#1588
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: DC
Programs: AA PPRO, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 603
Follow up for my situation:
Had award flight held MLE-AUH-JFK-DCA. AUH-JFK first CSR could only see economy even though expert flyer had First.
Called Australia CSRx2=No luck
Called New Zealand CSRx2=No luck
Called Singapore CSR=Jackpot, found it and held it within minutes.
Looks like SIngapore might be the new award hotline.
Had award flight held MLE-AUH-JFK-DCA. AUH-JFK first CSR could only see economy even though expert flyer had First.
Called Australia CSRx2=No luck
Called New Zealand CSRx2=No luck
Called Singapore CSR=Jackpot, found it and held it within minutes.
Looks like SIngapore might be the new award hotline.
Apr 9, 2020, 7:29 am
#1590
Join Date: May 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Gold, AF apologist
Posts: 207
we had the same: LHR-AUH-SYD, 380 apartments downgraded to J on 787. We just cancelled as we didn't want to travel with all the uncertainty going on. In theory the 380 doesn't come back on the LHR-AUH route until June 30, but who knows if that will happen that quickly