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)
Jan 8, 2019, 6:04 pm
#391
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
Hi all,
Kind of confused by all of this. I am trying to book a "special fare" for LAX-ATL (nonstop) including a car rental on AA vacations in order to earn more EQDs than just straight out buying the fare on AA.com. I found a package with rental car for $691 and it says the fare class is G*. Is this what I need to do? How many EQDs would I earn for this flight or how do I calculate this? Also other than seeing G* how to I look at the fare terms to make sure it is a special fare? Please help!
Thanks!
Kind of confused by all of this. I am trying to book a "special fare" for LAX-ATL (nonstop) including a car rental on AA vacations in order to earn more EQDs than just straight out buying the fare on AA.com. I found a package with rental car for $691 and it says the fare class is G*. Is this what I need to do? How many EQDs would I earn for this flight or how do I calculate this? Also other than seeing G* how to I look at the fare terms to make sure it is a special fare? Please help!
Thanks!
G* according to AA's special fare chart on https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/miles/earn/special-fares.jsp gets you 10% of miles flown in EQDs or 195 (194.60) EQDs each way.
Jan 8, 2019, 6:40 pm
#392
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 280
1946 miles.
G* according to AA's special fare chart on https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp gets you 10% of miles flown in EQDs or 195 (194.60) EQDs each way.
G* according to AA's special fare chart on https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp gets you 10% of miles flown in EQDs or 195 (194.60) EQDs each way.
Jan 8, 2019, 6:47 pm
#393
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
I've not seen one yet workout for do. Estic.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:17 pm
#395
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
Jan 8, 2019, 10:45 pm
#396
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,224
Jan 10, 2019, 3:12 pm
#397
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL DM, AA PlatPro, Hilton DM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 1,532
Does anyone have suggestions when booking this by phone with AA Vacations to make sure I get "*" fares? The agents I've spoken with don't understand that, but they can confirm that it's a "bulk" fare.
Last edited by bworrell; Jan 10, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Jan 11, 2019, 12:43 pm
#399
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
I recently booked airfare from Wells Fargo Travel, operated by AA and paid using WF points. This trip appeared the next day on the AA website under "My Trips" with the amount paid as it would be if I had purchased the trip directly from AA. Should that be taken as an indication that this trip might not be considered a "Special Fare"?
This is my first time using WF Travel with AA-operated flights, thus have no idea how to identify a special fare.
This is my first time using WF Travel with AA-operated flights, thus have no idea how to identify a special fare.
Jan 11, 2019, 1:27 pm
#400
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,438
I recently booked airfare from Wells Fargo Travel, operated by AA and paid using WF points. This trip appeared the next day on the AA website under "My Trips" with the amount paid as it would be if I had purchased the trip directly from AA. Should that be taken as an indication that this trip might not be considered a "Special Fare"?
This is my first time using WF Travel with AA-operated flights, thus have no idea how to identify a special fare.
This is my first time using WF Travel with AA-operated flights, thus have no idea how to identify a special fare.
In many cases, an OTA like Wells Fargo Travel is just booking the normal standard fares (same as you could book at aa.com), but you just have the option to apply your points currency towards the purchase price. In this instance, was the price you paid via Wells Fargo a lot cheaper than the same flights at aa.com? If yes, then it could still be a special fare, if no then probably not. In any event, the fare showing up at aa.com isn't a good sign if you're hoping for special fare credit.
Jan 11, 2019, 2:30 pm
#401
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
... In this instance, was the price you paid via Wells Fargo a lot cheaper than the same flights at aa.com? If yes, then it could still be a special fare, if no then probably not. In any event, the fare showing up at aa.com isn't a good sign if you're hoping for special fare credit.
Jan 11, 2019, 2:54 pm
#402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,438
Yes, WF redeems for airfare at 150% of cash redemptions -- e.g. 1000 WF points = $10 cash or $15 in airfare. And yes, I'm hoping for a special fare. It's long distance / bargain price kind of trip. Maybe I should've gone with AmEx Travel, but that website would not quote me the same bargain fare, and their human agents were not much better than the website.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:23 pm
#403
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
So how should a special fare itin appear on the AA website? Should there be no reference at all to the dollar cost?
Jan 12, 2019, 9:58 am
#404
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
I'm not sure the website gives you the detail you need. I've had the correct, discounted cost of our agency's negotiated fares show up on the website and AA generated receipt, then credit as a special fare.
Jan 12, 2019, 1:59 pm
#405
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
Agreed, it would certainly help if AA website disclosed the correct EQD credit before the trip is taken. Today I happened to be on the phone with AA to book a different trip, and asked the agent about this trip as well. The agent stated that the PNR in question already has the EQD number attached to it. It was rather miniscule, indicating that it would count as a regular fare. Any chance it could credit differently after the trip is taken? Right now I have a huge incentive to credit the trip to a partner airline (e.g. AS) instead.