Mixed cabin / class award issues, questions, discussion
Jan 5, 2018, 6:19 pm
#121
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 55
So if I find something on a partner airline for the domestic flight and find a connecting flight on AA, I can call AA and have them book it as one journey??
Jan 5, 2018, 6:23 pm
#122
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Did you search award flight or revenue? If it's the former, it should be ok as long as the routing is permitted.
Jan 5, 2018, 6:57 pm
#124
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Note that on the US end (SAN-hub), this advice may not be valid any more. AA is now pricing awards using married segment logic, so there may be availability on (for example) SAN-DFW-LHR even when there's no availability on the DFW-LHR segment as a standalone option. In that case, you'd only see the availability if you search SAN-LHR; if you search DFW-LHR, there wouldn't be anything. See this thread.
Jan 5, 2018, 7:01 pm
#125
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Nashville,TN
Programs: AA Gold Elite
Posts: 601
You have several options:
1. Call AA and just pay the very minimal phone ticketing fee to get Business class awards for the Business class AA miles. No one should submit to paying Business award miles to fly in economy-that is fraud.
2. Use a service to do the work for you(there are a LOT of websites on Flyertalk that do this). You will pay anywhere from $150-$350 for two people but depending on who you use it can be money well spent. I have a service I found on FT and they have been great at booking me in the class I requested AND follow my flights(and family members itineraries) if there are delays on the flights. Money well spent for me at least. I will be a loyal client for many years.
1. Call AA and just pay the very minimal phone ticketing fee to get Business class awards for the Business class AA miles. No one should submit to paying Business award miles to fly in economy-that is fraud.
2. Use a service to do the work for you(there are a LOT of websites on Flyertalk that do this). You will pay anywhere from $150-$350 for two people but depending on who you use it can be money well spent. I have a service I found on FT and they have been great at booking me in the class I requested AND follow my flights(and family members itineraries) if there are delays on the flights. Money well spent for me at least. I will be a loyal client for many years.
Jan 5, 2018, 8:18 pm
#128
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Keep in mind Dubrovnik is going to be very limited.
Also, since connections to Dubrovnik and Budapest will almost certainly involve British Airways, you should know their business class, aka Club Europe, is not the same as domestic First on American or any of the US carriers. Rather, it is economy seating, with the middle seat blocked off, and a little better service (drinks/snack).
Personally, I'd consider being flexible on your dates and where you fly into. For example, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, and Zurich are all places you can fly into on American and enjoy a true business class experience. On the other hand, sometimes it's easier, to get award seats into LHR because there are so many more flights in there.
Once you're in Europe, there are lots of inexpensive options to get around (but lots of add on fees) but not really US style First/Business. It's all about the low cost carriers but flying into Frankfurt/Munich/Milan and exploring for a day, catching a low cost carrier to Dubrovnick or Budapest, or taking the train over are all fun options.
Also, since connections to Dubrovnik and Budapest will almost certainly involve British Airways, you should know their business class, aka Club Europe, is not the same as domestic First on American or any of the US carriers. Rather, it is economy seating, with the middle seat blocked off, and a little better service (drinks/snack).
Personally, I'd consider being flexible on your dates and where you fly into. For example, Frankfurt, Milan, Munich, and Zurich are all places you can fly into on American and enjoy a true business class experience. On the other hand, sometimes it's easier, to get award seats into LHR because there are so many more flights in there.
Once you're in Europe, there are lots of inexpensive options to get around (but lots of add on fees) but not really US style First/Business. It's all about the low cost carriers but flying into Frankfurt/Munich/Milan and exploring for a day, catching a low cost carrier to Dubrovnick or Budapest, or taking the train over are all fun options.
Jan 5, 2018, 8:34 pm
#129
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Do you mean that you’re looking on Alaska’s web site and seeing availability on Alaska flights with miles? If so, those will only be bookable using AA miles if they’re available at the lowest price. AS, like pretty much every airline including AA, has awards available at the lowest price which are available to their own members and partners as well as awards at higher prices that are only available to their own members with AS miles.
Jan 5, 2018, 10:32 pm
#131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
Feb 28, 2018, 8:55 am
#132
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 163
Saver price misleading
Looking for Biz class from LIT to DUB while avoid BA. Found some that routes me through ORD on AA, then through MAD on IB. No big deal. But, the only Biz class is from LIT-ORD, and hour and half flight. Everything else is economy, that is ORD-MAD and MAD-DUB. Why would anyone do that?
Feb 28, 2018, 9:03 am
#133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Looking for Biz class from LIT to DUB while avoid BA. Found some that routes me through ORD on AA, then through MAD on IB. No big deal. But, the only Biz class is from LIT-ORD, and hour and half flight. Everything else is economy, that is ORD-MAD and MAD-DUB. Why would anyone do that?
Feb 28, 2018, 9:11 am
#134
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 163
Yes, it really wasting my time. I mean, I will avoid BA as much as possible because that's a rip off of in itself. I've flown through MAD to get to FCO. I don' mind that. But, it's hard planning if these show up but on a 3 leg route and the shortest route is the only one showing biz class. FRUSTRATING.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:38 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
UA also shows Mixed cabins but I find AA really bad- or maybe just the destinations I choose.
The other waste of time is looking for fares and being routed via BA and seeing about $500 fees which makes the use of miles illogical.
The other waste of time is looking for fares and being routed via BA and seeing about $500 fees which makes the use of miles illogical.