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 12, 2019, 7:03 pm
#407
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
Programs: IATA, Sabre, AvgeekAgent
Posts: 1,958
Agreed.
Jan 12, 2019, 10:21 pm
#408
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75k, AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Posts: 197
With a ton of TYPs to spend before the 25% bonus goes away in December, I'll continue to book flights on AA with them but will avoid booking O and Q fares with them.
Jan 13, 2019, 6:12 pm
#409
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 181
I've had a couple of domestic flights so far this year booked with TYP, and they are still posting as special fares. Unfortunately, both were O fares, and so the 5% EQDs really hurts - a $128.30 ORD fare which used to earn 185 EQDs now earns 93 EQDs. If booked as a normal fare, it'd earn 106 EQDs.
With a ton of TYPs to spend before the 25% bonus goes away in December, I'll continue to book flights on AA with them but will avoid booking O and Q fares with them.
With a ton of TYPs to spend before the 25% bonus goes away in December, I'll continue to book flights on AA with them but will avoid booking O and Q fares with them.
Jan 14, 2019, 6:04 pm
#410
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
Unfortunately they don't seem to be able to do this, at least for open-jaw itineraries. You have to book and hope that what they told you about "bulk" is correct.
Jan 15, 2019, 8:42 am
#411
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
I've had a couple of domestic flights so far this year booked with TYP, and they are still posting as special fares. Unfortunately, both were O fares, and so the 5% EQDs really hurts - a $128.30 ORD fare which used to earn 185 EQDs now earns 93 EQDs. If booked as a normal fare, it'd earn 106 EQDs.
With a ton of TYPs to spend before the 25% bonus goes away in December, I'll continue to book flights on AA with them but will avoid booking O and Q fares with them.
With a ton of TYPs to spend before the 25% bonus goes away in December, I'll continue to book flights on AA with them but will avoid booking O and Q fares with them.
Feb 26, 2019, 9:53 am
#412
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Feb 27, 2019, 10:12 am
#414
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
). If ever anything goes wrong, the original email with the asterisk is your key.By the way, the reticketing email will not show the asterisk on the upgrade clas, but it still retains the property.
Cheers.
Feb 27, 2019, 11:02 am
#415
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
Nope. Done this more than a few times. Posts as distance-based (on original fare class with the very occasional mistake into the upgraded class ). If ever anything goes wrong, the original email with the asterisk is your key.
By the way, the reticketing email will not show the asterisk on the upgrade clas, but it still retains the property.
Cheers.
). If ever anything goes wrong, the original email with the asterisk is your key.By the way, the reticketing email will not show the asterisk on the upgrade clas, but it still retains the property.
Cheers.
Feb 27, 2019, 11:07 am
#416
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
interesting. More than half a dozen of these and no issues. Just been lucky, I guess 😀
Feb 27, 2019, 12:39 pm
#417
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,507
Feb 27, 2019, 12:59 pm
#418
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: GNV
Programs: AA EP (life Gold), Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 392
search around, lots of threads on it. I wouldn’t mind a little of your luck.
Feb 27, 2019, 1:27 pm
#419
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: UA & AA 1 million miler
Posts: 1,134
I already had twice this year. My flight were upgraded, and then I received miles based on fare even original fare with asterisk . I just sent AAdvantage email to fix, though.
Mar 1, 2019, 11:24 am
#420
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,967
Ive had cruises twice book me on an N fare, which shows on the chart as a normal fare. Both have come in as "special fares" distance based (on expensive tickets). I know cruises get bulk discounts, but I wish these fares were coded differently. It's as if they are trying to trick us. Is N fare always a cruise fare?