Sep 8, 2017, 4:48 pm
Last edit by: thorofare
American Airlines "Special Fares" and EQD Earning
Link to aa.com Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Elite Qualifying Credits
"Special Fares" include some fares sold by other than AA, such as those sold in conjunction with a travel lodging package by AA Vacations, and those purchased with credit card points, such as Thank You Points and Membership Rewards points.
Like oneworld partner (and Alaska Airlines through 31 Dec 2017) fares, these earn Elite Qualifying Dollars based on a percentage of base miles / miles flown / flight distance and the fare class purchased.
Flights booked using Thank You Points, Membership Rewards, etc. where the cardholder is essentially buying your ticket most often are special fares as well.
NOTE: EQD credit varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changed on 1 Jan 2019. See here.
Link to aa.com Special fares: Earning Award Miles and Elite Qualifying Credits
"Special Fares" include some fares sold by other than AA, such as those sold in conjunction with a travel lodging package by AA Vacations, and those purchased with credit card points, such as Thank You Points and Membership Rewards points.
Like oneworld partner (and Alaska Airlines through 31 Dec 2017) fares, these earn Elite Qualifying Dollars based on a percentage of base miles / miles flown / flight distance and the fare class purchased.
Flights booked using Thank You Points, Membership Rewards, etc. where the cardholder is essentially buying your ticket most often are special fares as well.
NOTE: EQD credit varies for "Special Fares" (e.g. AA Vacations), and the chart for those changed on 1 Jan 2019. See here.
AA "Special Fare" (AA Vacations, TYP, MR, etc.) Questions, EQD, Issues (merged)
Jun 1, 2017, 8:56 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Guangzhou, China
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 11
I sometimes booked AA ticket in some Chinese OTA website, eg. Alitrip, Ctrip (have English version), but not always got a special fare. It really depends on the specific agent they directed me to. So my experience is to talk with that specific agent about the origin of the ticket they issued, though I am not sure if they know about "special fare"...
Jun 2, 2017, 6:51 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Jun 20, 2017, 6:32 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: american, starwood, united
Posts: 2
Citi Portal - and miscrediting special fare EQD (to merge)
Is anyone having issues with getting the special fares credit on flights booked through the portal? I went in may and got the credit that way, but went in June to Sweden but didn't have it credited that way which gave me markedly less eqd's than I was expecting.
Jun 20, 2017, 7:26 am
#35
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
Welcome to FlyerTalk.
We have retitled your thread title, as our Rules require specific and clear titles. This makes it easier for members to decide to read and assist. In the meantime, you may wish to read the thread (and the Wikipost at the top of the page summarizing key information) in HELP DESK: Earning Elite Qualifying EQD, EQM & Award / RDM AA, Partners 2017 (link), where we will ultimately merge this query.
We're glad you're here. Be sure to check the "sticky" threads and many useful threads on a variety of AA-related topics.
/Moderator
We have retitled your thread title, as our Rules require specific and clear titles. This makes it easier for members to decide to read and assist. In the meantime, you may wish to read the thread (and the Wikipost at the top of the page summarizing key information) in HELP DESK: Earning Elite Qualifying EQD, EQM & Award / RDM AA, Partners 2017 (link), where we will ultimately merge this query.
We're glad you're here. Be sure to check the "sticky" threads and many useful threads on a variety of AA-related topics.
/Moderator
Jul 2, 2017, 12:58 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
I suspect that you were expecting your EQD earnings to be based on AA's "Special Fares" table. In which case, you should have no such expectation. As you can see in the thread this will be merged into, sometimes paying with TYPs results in the use of the Special Fares table and sometimes it does not. No-one guarantees that it will, so unfortunately you have no grounds to complain to AA (or Citi).
Jul 8, 2017, 9:25 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Lifetime Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 178
Miles + CoPay upgrade eligibility on Chase Portal special fare?
Searched a few threads and couldn't find an answer, apologies if this is a repeat.
I am looking at booking two seats on the Chase portal that show they would book into an N fare code on AA. AA's upgrade information states that N is an eligible class for upgrades. Is there anything related to a portal ticket being considered a "special fare" that would prevent it being treated like a normal cash ticket for the purposes of UDU or miles + copay upgrades?
I am looking at booking two seats on the Chase portal that show they would book into an N fare code on AA. AA's upgrade information states that N is an eligible class for upgrades. Is there anything related to a portal ticket being considered a "special fare" that would prevent it being treated like a normal cash ticket for the purposes of UDU or miles + copay upgrades?
Jul 12, 2017, 5:54 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 51
Sep 8, 2017, 5:48 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Citibank TYP (Thank You Points) and EQD Ques.
In several spots on FT TYP bookings could be either mileage based or fare based; I have one such future booking, on AA.COM that booking shows NO pricing info: "see your TA..." for further details. Does that mean that it will post as a "special fare"?
Sep 8, 2017, 6:54 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
EQD will be distance-based and the multiplier (starting at 10%) will depend on the fare class:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
So far, every single TYP booking I've made in the past year has shown up as a special fare.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
So far, every single TYP booking I've made in the past year has shown up as a special fare.
Sep 8, 2017, 11:46 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
EQD will be distance-based and the multiplier (starting at 10%) will depend on the fare class:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
So far, every single TYP booking I've made in the past year has shown up as a special fare.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
So far, every single TYP booking I've made in the past year has shown up as a special fare.
The Special Fares page does not specifically say that purchases made with TYPs will result in their use. However, I have reported on the EQD thread that an AAgent told me that that was (now?) the policy -- for what that's worth. And, indeed, like phazedowt my two TYP bookings have used it.
They were both domestic though, and I wonder whether domestic vs international made the difference in the earlier reports you noted. Also, note that some of those examples also involved re-ticketing, which is known to often cause Special Fares.