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)
Dec 3, 2019, 12:42 pm
#1427
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North America
Posts: 2,265
Yeah, AA does not pass on the middle name to some partners including EY/JL (unless it’s visible to their staff on some backend system). Middle name is not an issue on EY.
Dec 6, 2019, 9:46 am
#1428
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Just emerged victorious in booking multi-trip (on 2 separate PNRs) of JFK/AUH/BAH and AMM/AUH/JFK in Etihad Business @ 70k miles a leg, and $16.50 + $101 in fees (respectively).
Like most people - I found Guest availability on EY site, seats were showing up in AA Awards search but could not hold/book, and US AA could not see any availability. Spent many hours lurking on this thread reading of countless similar experiences. HUCA 3x - first to Australia (6 PM CST), second to NZ (8 PM CST), third time got success at 6 AM today with NZ.
Was seeing "I" availability on EF too - knew I wasn't going crazy. Agent the legs for me and I purchased them through US AA call-center within a couple of hours. Both went from On Request to Ticketed within hours.
QUESTION: I am booking an individual, third itinerary for a DFW/JFK roundtrip, since I actually live in DFW. But award availability would not show when booking DFW/BAH (I was trying to go through JFK to get 380). I'm not too familiar with technicalities like married segments - but what happened here? Why can't I book DFW/JFK/AUH/BAH and AMM/AUH/JFK/DFW?
Additionally - am I breaking any rules by doing this? In other words do I need to take precautions on booking my DFW/JFK flights on same account/carrier? Thanks.
Like most people - I found Guest availability on EY site, seats were showing up in AA Awards search but could not hold/book, and US AA could not see any availability. Spent many hours lurking on this thread reading of countless similar experiences. HUCA 3x - first to Australia (6 PM CST), second to NZ (8 PM CST), third time got success at 6 AM today with NZ.
Was seeing "I" availability on EF too - knew I wasn't going crazy. Agent the legs for me and I purchased them through US AA call-center within a couple of hours. Both went from On Request to Ticketed within hours.
QUESTION: I am booking an individual, third itinerary for a DFW/JFK roundtrip, since I actually live in DFW. But award availability would not show when booking DFW/BAH (I was trying to go through JFK to get 380). I'm not too familiar with technicalities like married segments - but what happened here? Why can't I book DFW/JFK/AUH/BAH and AMM/AUH/JFK/DFW?
Additionally - am I breaking any rules by doing this? In other words do I need to take precautions on booking my DFW/JFK flights on same account/carrier? Thanks.
Dec 6, 2019, 10:06 am
#1429
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sacramento
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 1,341
But the first night I called they weren't able to see either. The next morning I called, I had success.
Dec 6, 2019, 11:05 am
#1430
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Dec 7, 2019, 9:44 pm
#1431
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Plat Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carl Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,002
I've been trying to hold 2 F tix AUH to JFK, Etihad shows guest space, AA shows award online but not bookable when click through. Called AU and NZ at 6:00 pm CST, couldn't see it. Called both again at 7:00pm, couldn't see it. Called both again at 9:00pm, couldn't see it. Called NZ at 10:30pm CST, agent saw the award space and put it on hold. Tried to click through online right before I called, was still not bookable online. YAY!!
Dec 8, 2019, 6:19 pm
#1432
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
QUESTION: I am booking an individual, third itinerary for a DFW/JFK roundtrip, since I actually live in DFW. But award availability would not show when booking DFW/BAH (I was trying to go through JFK to get 380). I'm not too familiar with technicalities like married segments - but what happened here? Why can't I book DFW/JFK/AUH/BAH and AMM/AUH/JFK/DFW?
Additionally - am I breaking any rules by doing this? In other words do I need to take precautions on booking my DFW/JFK flights on same account/carrier? Thanks.
Additionally - am I breaking any rules by doing this? In other words do I need to take precautions on booking my DFW/JFK flights on same account/carrier? Thanks.
I'm not sure what rules you are worried about breaking.
Dec 9, 2019, 2:17 am
#1433
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 209
Is the roundtrip search trick still working and able to be booked? For example on Feb 23 and 24 I see Guest first seat availability on Jfk-Auh however it only shows up when searching Auh-Jfk-Auh and not when searching one way. Lately the posts seem all over the place and I am a bit confused on which call center to call to attempt to book this.
Dec 11, 2019, 7:39 pm
#1434
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 53
So, had some issues recently and had to change a EY First booking to business class due to my date changes.
AA were just fantastic, it was changed very quickly, the $150 was waved to have the miles difference credited back to my account.
The original refund taxes were refunded within two days.
Just want to say a huge thank you to AA if somebody sees this.
A stressful couple of days was made much easier.
AA were just fantastic, it was changed very quickly, the $150 was waved to have the miles difference credited back to my account.
The original refund taxes were refunded within two days.
Just want to say a huge thank you to AA if somebody sees this.
A stressful couple of days was made much easier.
Dec 13, 2019, 10:06 am
#1435
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 102
I am actually seeing the opposite of the "look for round trip when you need only one way" rule. On the EY Guest site, for example
June 2nd shows 2 seats available in J AUH-IAD. If I search IAD-AUH-IAD then that availability disappears.
Anyone else experiencing this?
June 2nd shows 2 seats available in J AUH-IAD. If I search IAD-AUH-IAD then that availability disappears.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Dec 13, 2019, 10:31 am
#1436
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 64
It disappears because you are originating your search in the US. Search AUH-IAD-AUH and it should show you the availability (if there is any) in both directions
Dec 14, 2019, 2:35 pm
#1438
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 64
You do not get access to any AA lounge (flagship or admirals club) with EY J ORD-AUH. Etihad contracts with Air France/KLM at ORD so that is the lounge you are given access to.
Dec 14, 2019, 2:50 pm
#1439
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American
Posts: 2
Dec 19, 2019, 4:33 am
#1440
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 141
I'm trying to book MUC-AUH-SYD-MEL with the last segment a domestic connection on Qantas. I've been told after long period on hold and escalation to a supervisor that this is not allowed on one award?
Is this correct or am I being fed false information.
I was also told my existing booking from Australia to Europe on Etihad with domestic connections would be cancelled by Etihad as it was against policy. Thankfully they didn't cancel my ticket, just informing me that it would be cancelled by Etihad. Should I be worried?
Is this correct or am I being fed false information.
I was also told my existing booking from Australia to Europe on Etihad with domestic connections would be cancelled by Etihad as it was against policy. Thankfully they didn't cancel my ticket, just informing me that it would be cancelled by Etihad. Should I be worried?