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)
Dec 20, 2017, 2:26 pm
#151
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Have two trips booked via aavacations and wanted to ask two questions:
1) Both trips have dummy hotel reservations. One trip we're on a tour with hotel included and one trip I'm staying with friends. What's the current consensus on not using the hotel part? Do I need to call and cancel or just is it okay to just not show up?
2) I've never had status on any airline before, but will going on two business class flights in 2018 get me anything? Miles I can use to upgrade something later? I know the fare is a cheaper business fare so I wasn't sure. One flight is direct RDU-LHR and one is RDU-DFW-PEK.
Thanks!!
1) Both trips have dummy hotel reservations. One trip we're on a tour with hotel included and one trip I'm staying with friends. What's the current consensus on not using the hotel part? Do I need to call and cancel or just is it okay to just not show up?
2) I've never had status on any airline before, but will going on two business class flights in 2018 get me anything? Miles I can use to upgrade something later? I know the fare is a cheaper business fare so I wasn't sure. One flight is direct RDU-LHR and one is RDU-DFW-PEK.
Thanks!!
2. You should get a substantial number of miles from the flights since they'll be distance based with Class-based multiplier, I guess 2x miles flown assuming I class, unless they weren't * fares. Even if they aren't, a fair number of miles should be gained just based on the fare.
Dec 21, 2017, 7:23 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,820
I noticed I got the upgrade while I was checking my reservation, but I didn't get email (re-ticketed) until a couple of days later. I was able to resolve my issue trough AA.com, using the contact form and I explain that my AAV was special fare marked with an (*) and I added the link to AA website, I got a response in less than 24hs saying they were able to confirm your ticket was booked as a Special Fare and they reposted as Special Fare.
I also experienced this very long (20-40 min) "reconstructing the fare" hold twice recently, both on the same trip, day of departure. The first was when I called in to change flights due to IRROPS and C1 was available. The second was at the airport when they cleared me at checkin. On the same trip, outbound, both of us cleared ahead of time, so I didn't have to be on the phone and didn't notice how long the trip took to be re-issued, but all but one of the segments have fictitious EQD associated with them (I.e. not consistent with 10% EQD/mile and much higher than any reasonable breakdown of the bulk fare could explain).
Based on everyone else's reports you should be able to call in and get it fixed if it's not in your favor.
Based on everyone else's reports you should be able to call in and get it fixed if it's not in your favor.
Dec 21, 2017, 11:36 am
#153
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
So my recent trip booked with TYP+cash just posted. I noticed the outbound posted as fare while return posted as method-distance - data unavailable.
Should I call AA to fix the outbound that posted as airfare?
If the outbound changes from fare to distance then I would qualify for Gold (not that it means anything) for 2018.
Should I call AA to fix the outbound that posted as airfare?
If the outbound changes from fare to distance then I would qualify for Gold (not that it means anything) for 2018.
Dec 21, 2017, 4:41 pm
#154
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
So my recent trip booked with TYP+cash just posted. I noticed the outbound posted as fare while return posted as method-distance - data unavailable.
Should I call AA to fix the outbound that posted as airfare?
If the outbound changes from fare to distance then I would qualify for Gold (not that it means anything) for 2018.
Should I call AA to fix the outbound that posted as airfare?
If the outbound changes from fare to distance then I would qualify for Gold (not that it means anything) for 2018.
Was the outbound affected in any way by an upgrade (SWU or other) or IRROPS?
Dec 21, 2017, 5:47 pm
#155
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Dec 22, 2017, 12:10 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Oakland
Programs: AA Explat, UA former 1K + PremExec, DL
Posts: 1,151
Many reports of SWU application causing re-classification to fare-based. brp and others report high success in getting it fixed with a call, though others have reported some resistance.
Dec 28, 2017, 11:15 am
#157
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Called AA and they were happy to correct the outbound to post as distance rather than fare. Those segments disappeared from my account activity and I presume should repost... Anyone have any experience of how long it takes for the system to repost?
I figure probably around 48 hours similar to a regular flight posting... I did receive a confirmation email from AA with the updated award miles, EQMs and EQDs.
ETA: Everything reposted and all is well
Last edited by golfingboy; Dec 28, 2017 at 11:25 am
Dec 30, 2017, 2:16 am
#158
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA & Hyatt
Posts: 11
Anyone have any experience booking with an OTA for flights/hotels turning into special fares? Looking into CX with hotels on expedia in economy. CX fares typically don't yield any EQDs when trying to credit with AA but seeing if partnering with a hotel booking makes a difference.
Dec 30, 2017, 3:57 am
#159
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Anyone have any experience booking with an OTA for flights/hotels turning into special fares? Looking into CX with hotels on expedia in economy. CX fares typically don't yield any EQDs when trying to credit with AA but seeing if partnering with a hotel booking makes a difference.
Jan 3, 2018, 10:51 am
#160
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Anyone have any experience booking regular ticket (full cash) through amextravel or a bank travel portal and did the trip post as fare or distance?
Reason I am asking as it appears MR and TYP redemptions consistently (more often than not) posts as special fare, so how would paying full cash be any different since those portals pretty much charge the same rate when booking with points (I.e. .001 per $1).
Reason I am asking as it appears MR and TYP redemptions consistently (more often than not) posts as special fare, so how would paying full cash be any different since those portals pretty much charge the same rate when booking with points (I.e. .001 per $1).
Jan 5, 2018, 3:12 am
#161
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
I think "consistently" is an overstatement, and I'd caution others who take this on face value. I think I'm about 50-50, and my most recent TYP redemption posted the domestic flight by distance and the TATL and intra-Europe BA segments by fare. I ended up with slightly more EQD than if the entire thing had posted by fare, but not by much. I'd recommend always expecting everything to post by fare, and take it as a gift whenever it doesn't.
Jan 7, 2018, 8:09 pm
#162
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
I think "consistently" is an overstatement, and I'd caution others who take this on face value. I think I'm about 50-50, and my most recent TYP redemption posted the domestic flight by distance and the TATL and intra-Europe BA segments by fare. I ended up with slightly more EQD than if the entire thing had posted by fare, but not by much. I'd recommend always expecting everything to post by fare, and take it as a gift whenever it doesn't.
My read of the DPs reported here is that distance is indeed more likely on domestic, possibly because those are bulk tickets more often?
Jan 10, 2018, 4:55 pm
#163
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 181
I've had success with "wholesale" fares posting as special fares when booking through the TYP. I am about to make another booking, and the fare rules do not list "wholesale", but instead list "contract bulk fares". I'm assuming that this should also post as special fare. Anyone have data points on "contract bulk fare"?
Jan 25, 2018, 1:02 pm
#164
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
I just flew the first segments of my first AAV trip and used 2 SWUs (one for me, one for wife). And was very disappointed to see that they credited as fare-based. My SWU has not cleared for the return trip. If it doesn't, will that have also already been reissued as a "normal" ticket? I purchased as an O* so am definitely in the disappointed camp not having seen this before.
Jan 25, 2018, 9:27 pm
#165
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
So...is this a 100% of the time thing or hit/miss?
I just flew the first segments of my first AAV trip and used 2 SWUs (one for me, one for wife). And was very disappointed to see that they credited as fare-based. My SWU has not cleared for the return trip. If it doesn't, will that have also already been reissued as a "normal" ticket? I purchased as an O* so am definitely in the disappointed camp not having seen this before.
I just flew the first segments of my first AAV trip and used 2 SWUs (one for me, one for wife). And was very disappointed to see that they credited as fare-based. My SWU has not cleared for the return trip. If it doesn't, will that have also already been reissued as a "normal" ticket? I purchased as an O* so am definitely in the disappointed camp not having seen this before.
If your SWU doesn't clear on the return, in my experience, the return probably will post as special fare.