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)
Sep 29, 2017, 6:11 pm
#76
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Where do you see the "*" next to the fare code, before or after you book the ticket and hotel package on AAV?
OK - I when through a booking but just got to the pay page, the outbound does not have an * but the return flights do have an *. Strange.
OK - I when through a booking but just got to the pay page, the outbound does not have an * but the return flights do have an *. Strange.
Sep 30, 2017, 5:08 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
I have a question, found a fare on AA vacations but thee outbound is without asterisk and the return is with asterisk, how would this work? The outbound will post as fare based and the return as distance based? How they would even calculate that fare for the outbound?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
Also, my understanding is that, after applying an SWU, if the return converts to fare based, I can call and ask they re-post it as distance based?
As to the second, if it is purchased as Special (asterisk), upgrading will not impact that, in the end. If it does when it first posts, just call. I've never failed to get them to fix mistakes. But, surprisingly, few things post with mistakes...even a recent one purchased as Special, with an airport change that they allowed because of a schedule change. Still posted as Special.
Cheers.
Sep 30, 2017, 5:15 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,666
I have never seen a mixed (asterisk and non-asterisk) itinerary, so I can't answer that part.
As to the second, if it is purchased as Special (asterisk), upgrading will not impact that, in the end. If it does when it first posts, just call. I've never failed to get them to fix mistakes. But, surprisingly, few things post with mistakes...even a recent one purchased as Special, with an airport change that they allowed because of a schedule change. Still posted as Special.
Cheers.
As to the second, if it is purchased as Special (asterisk), upgrading will not impact that, in the end. If it does when it first posts, just call. I've never failed to get them to fix mistakes. But, surprisingly, few things post with mistakes...even a recent one purchased as Special, with an airport change that they allowed because of a schedule change. Still posted as Special.
Cheers.
Sep 30, 2017, 11:32 pm
#79
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Why is this strange? Means a bulk type fare was only used one way.
Oct 1, 2017, 7:33 am
#80
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Oct 1, 2017, 8:39 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
Oct 1, 2017, 3:29 pm
#82
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
This is a Premium Economy fare on AA for the international segment in each direction with a coach feeder segment. The non-bulk is a K fare, the bulk fare is a full Y fare for the domestic segment. The international segments are P in both directions, with the more expensive direction the bulk fare.
Seems like the bulk would be the cheaper segment.
If I book economy in both directions it comes out bulk in both directions.
Oct 1, 2017, 6:04 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
It could still be that the cheapest available fare in one direction on that particular date was a bulk fare and in the other direction it was a non-bulk fare.
Oct 25, 2017, 12:29 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Upper U.S.
Programs: AA EXP x 1.5, DL GM, JB, HH GLD
Posts: 145
Does anyone have specific experience using BOA travel reward points to buy a ticket. It seems as though it should work just like TYP, but I was wondering if anyone has actually used them, and how the EQDs were calculated. I have already confirmed with AA that I can use a SWU to upgrade the ticket, but I would really like the distance based calculation if possible.
Oct 25, 2017, 1:24 pm
#85
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Upper U.S.
Programs: AA EXP x 1.5, DL GM, JB, HH GLD
Posts: 145
Well, I just booked a rt ticket MIA-MAD with BOA points, using a combination of part points, part cash, to see whether that confuses the ability of AA to determine the fare any further. I will report back once I see how EQDs are computed.
Oct 25, 2017, 1:51 pm
#86
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Upper U.S.
Programs: AA EXP x 1.5, DL GM, JB, HH GLD
Posts: 145
To add a further data point, there was no problem in immediately contacting AA EXP and getting the SWU applied to my outbound ticket, and listed for the flight home. BOA had "requested" aisle seats, which caused the ticket price on AA to show much higher, which the agent corrected, hopefully further muddling the ticket cost issue. We'll see.
Oct 25, 2017, 11:00 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP, UA GM (2013 Gold, 2014 Silver), Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 435
Does anyone have any recommendations on a travel agent / OTA that could book a bulk fare? I booked a ticket via Chase ($15 less than aa.com), but the rules and fare class show it's a published fare. I don't have access the Citi or Amex portals. Thanks
Nov 3, 2017, 4:46 am
#88
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Less AAV *J/Y fares recently...
I am not sure if anybody noticed, but I found there have been way less AAV * fares lately. I pulled up the same flight in OTA, and it indicated it's a 'Special Fare' during checkout. I saw that in the similar flight I took on OTA Vacation package in March, and it worked out as distance-based.
I think AA is trying to limit the number of miles on AAV reservations too. I may just go over to OTA if that is really the case.
I think AA is trying to limit the number of miles on AAV reservations too. I may just go over to OTA if that is really the case.
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Nov 3, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Nov 3, 2017, 9:44 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 866
I am not sure if anybody noticed, but I found there have been way less AAV * fares lately. I pulled up the same flight in OTA, and it indicated it's a 'Special Fare' during checkout. I saw that in the similar flight I took on OTA Vacation package in March, and it worked out as distance-based.
I think AA is trying to limit the number of miles on AAV reservations too.
I think AA is trying to limit the number of miles on AAV reservations too.
Nov 4, 2017, 6:08 pm
#90
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Delta Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 197
Has AA Vacations removed all special fares from routes to Asia? I cannot find one single special fare anymore (as marked by *) ... but when I searched a couple days ago there were many. I've been looking JFK/LAX to CGK/HKG various days. Please let me know if you can find ANY special fares to Asia. Thank you!