Dec 31, 2016, 10:20 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Welcome to the 2017 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
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Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
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The Newbie Lounge is a place for newer and less experienced members to ask their questions about American Airlines and the AAdvantage program and have answered by our more experienced and knowledgeable members. Feel free to ask any question related to American Airlines and AAdvantage here.
NOTE: This is a "flame free" thread; flaming, personal criticism for "failing to search" etc. is not allowed (if posted, the post will be summarily deleted, the poster subject to sanctions).
Advanced questions posed by veteran FT users may be moved and / or merged into existing master or GUIDE threads, most of which have Wikiposts at the top of the page that contain summaries of important information.
We volunteer Moderators monitor this "lounge" thread to assist you as well. When browsing the fora, look at the page tops of the various forums. There will be a menu, and often "sticky" threads, and threads with header "wiki posts" (created and maintained by the FlyerTalk community) with important information relating to that forum / topic.
Don't hesitate to contact a moderator or another member if you have any additional questions. You can PM the Moderators by clicking on
, which pops up a message box; the message goes to all this forum's Moderators. Note that unlike some sites with paid staff moderators, FlyerTalk Moderators are volunteers, and most work, travel, go on holiday, etc. You can Private Message us using the PM system (My Flyertalk) and our handles.We're glad you've chosen to join the Flyertalk frequent flyer community!
Your American Airlines | AAdvantage Forum Moderation Team,
AZ Travels the World, aztimm, dstan, JDiver, JY1024, Microwave
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Thanks for reading!
[2017 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)
Apr 14, 2017, 10:19 am
#751
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: cleveland, oh, usa
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat, AAdvantage, Delta Skymiles, others including Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 786
Seat upgrade charges
Me again!
I thought I would check to see what the exact charges would be to book Main Cabin/Preferred seating if award availability was not available assuming daughter's miles don't post in time this Monday, but there are no charges showing... When I do a dummy reservation for myself, I get all the way to checkout and no additional charge for the higher level seats.
I can't imagine that having a Citibank AA Gold or Platinum card provides this benefit?
Also, if costs do show next time I try to do this, is it indeed possible to 'book the no-cost award seats -- crummy ones and separate from each other -- and wait until 24hr check-in to change seat for free' although that would be a risk of course?
Thanks again for your information sharing, so very much appreciated
I thought I would check to see what the exact charges would be to book Main Cabin/Preferred seating if award availability was not available assuming daughter's miles don't post in time this Monday, but there are no charges showing... When I do a dummy reservation for myself, I get all the way to checkout and no additional charge for the higher level seats.
I can't imagine that having a Citibank AA Gold or Platinum card provides this benefit?
Also, if costs do show next time I try to do this, is it indeed possible to 'book the no-cost award seats -- crummy ones and separate from each other -- and wait until 24hr check-in to change seat for free' although that would be a risk of course?
Thanks again for your information sharing, so very much appreciated
Apr 14, 2017, 11:31 am
#752
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,417
You can check bags from any terminal at DFW. (As you probably know, gate changes are not uncommon, so there's no guarantee anyway that the gate listed a few hours before departure doesn't change to another terminal.)
Apr 14, 2017, 11:55 am
#753
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Me again!
I thought I would check to see what the exact charges would be to book Main Cabin/Preferred seating if award availability was not available assuming daughter's miles don't post in time this Monday, but there are no charges showing... When I do a dummy reservation for myself, I get all the way to checkout and no additional charge for the higher level seats.
I can't imagine that having a Citibank AA Gold or Platinum card provides this benefit?
Also, if costs do show next time I try to do this, is it indeed possible to 'book the no-cost award seats -- crummy ones and separate from each other -- and wait until 24hr check-in to change seat for free' although that would be a risk of course?
Thanks again for your information sharing, so very much appreciated
I thought I would check to see what the exact charges would be to book Main Cabin/Preferred seating if award availability was not available assuming daughter's miles don't post in time this Monday, but there are no charges showing... When I do a dummy reservation for myself, I get all the way to checkout and no additional charge for the higher level seats.
I can't imagine that having a Citibank AA Gold or Platinum card provides this benefit?
Also, if costs do show next time I try to do this, is it indeed possible to 'book the no-cost award seats -- crummy ones and separate from each other -- and wait until 24hr check-in to change seat for free' although that would be a risk of course?
Thanks again for your information sharing, so very much appreciated
And, yes, you can pick a seat now and change to an MCE seat later; cost (if any) would be the same as if you had not first picked some other seat. It's worth checking for them starting a few days out; elites tend to pick MCE seats, which become available as they get upgraded in the last few days.
One caveat: You mentioned "award travel" earlier. You cannot pay for an MCE seat on an award flight; picking the seat has to be free or it won't work.
Apr 14, 2017, 12:04 pm
#754
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
I'm keeping an eye on awards as they're released. Of course no saver awards anymore so I'm watching anytime awards for RAP-GRR in First.
We'd hope to travel on a Sunday but, for the last one to be released, 11th March 2018, they're demanding 75K miles!!! Is there a chance the miles demanded for a particular date would reduce in time or will it stay at that outrageous level, 3 times the saver cost I'd been hoping and planning to get?
In other words, when the date I want is released and it's more than the 50K I'd expect, is it worth waiting to see if that reduces in the following few weeks or will it remain at, say, 75k? Thanks.
We'd hope to travel on a Sunday but, for the last one to be released, 11th March 2018, they're demanding 75K miles!!! Is there a chance the miles demanded for a particular date would reduce in time or will it stay at that outrageous level, 3 times the saver cost I'd been hoping and planning to get?
In other words, when the date I want is released and it's more than the 50K I'd expect, is it worth waiting to see if that reduces in the following few weeks or will it remain at, say, 75k? Thanks.
Apr 14, 2017, 12:08 pm
#755
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Hi everyone, I've got a newbie question about the baggage allowance on a domestic flight and I'm not sure I've worked out my baggage charges correctly.
Economy fare BOS-LGA
2 Pax - 1 x OWE (BAEC)(also active duty UK military if it makes a difference) 1 x no status
Flight booked as a redemption through BA so not able to add a bag at the time of booking.
Am I correct that I will get a checked bag for free because I'm OWE but my sister will have to pay $25 to check hers? Is it the same price at the airport as online?
Many thanks,
Tiff
Economy fare BOS-LGA
2 Pax - 1 x OWE (BAEC)(also active duty UK military if it makes a difference) 1 x no status
Flight booked as a redemption through BA so not able to add a bag at the time of booking.
Am I correct that I will get a checked bag for free because I'm OWE but my sister will have to pay $25 to check hers? Is it the same price at the airport as online?
Many thanks,
Tiff
Just be sure to have your BAEC Gold card with you when you check in for your AA flight. It might also be wise to carry a printout of AA's baggage policy for oneworld elites. (You can easily find it with a Google search.)
Apr 14, 2017, 3:12 pm
#756
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: NYC,MIA,XFL
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, DL PM
Posts: 863
Apr 14, 2017, 6:48 pm
#757
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: cleveland, oh, usa
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat, AAdvantage, Delta Skymiles, others including Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 786
Do you have Gold status with AA? That would get you free checkin of one bag, and free MCE selection 24 hours out. An AA card gets you the former but not the latter.
And, yes, you can pick a seat now and change to an MCE seat later; cost (if any) would be the same as if you had not first picked some other seat. It's worth checking for them starting a few days out; elites tend to pick MCE seats, which become available as they get upgraded in the last few days.
One caveat: You mentioned "award travel" earlier. You cannot pay for an MCE seat on an award flight; picking the seat has to be free or it won't work.
And, yes, you can pick a seat now and change to an MCE seat later; cost (if any) would be the same as if you had not first picked some other seat. It's worth checking for them starting a few days out; elites tend to pick MCE seats, which become available as they get upgraded in the last few days.
One caveat: You mentioned "award travel" earlier. You cannot pay for an MCE seat on an award flight; picking the seat has to be free or it won't work.
I have been away from travelling and esp. points/miles for too long -- and so many things I feel better double checking while learning, thank you!
Apr 14, 2017, 7:54 pm
#758
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,740
If the award is an Anytime Award, then selection of MCE is included. It's just with Saaver awards where you don't have access to MCE seats unless you have it for free (through status, etc).
Last edited by wrp96; Apr 15, 2017 at 7:46 am
Apr 15, 2017, 5:11 am
#759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,043
Hi everyone, I've got a newbie question about the baggage allowance on a domestic flight and I'm not sure I've worked out my baggage charges correctly.
Economy fare BOS-LGA
2 Pax - 1 x OWE (BAEC)(also active duty UK military if it makes a difference) 1 x no status
Flight booked as a redemption through BA so not able to add a bag at the time of booking.
Am I correct that I will get a checked bag for free because I'm OWE but my sister will have to pay $25 to check hers? Is it the same price at the airport as online?
Many thanks,
Tiff
Economy fare BOS-LGA
2 Pax - 1 x OWE (BAEC)(also active duty UK military if it makes a difference) 1 x no status
Flight booked as a redemption through BA so not able to add a bag at the time of booking.
Am I correct that I will get a checked bag for free because I'm OWE but my sister will have to pay $25 to check hers? Is it the same price at the airport as online?
Many thanks,
Tiff
Apr 15, 2017, 5:47 am
#760
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: cleveland, oh, usa
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat, AAdvantage, Delta Skymiles, others including Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 786
Apr 15, 2017, 7:31 am
#761
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Passenger deboarding at PVG
Had a rather eventful pre-flight on AA182 Friday PVG-LAX. We board on time and close the door about 2 minutes late.
about 10 minutes later, we go through the safety video and then it stops and I hear "flight attendants disarm doors"...and sure enough, they do, and a women grabs her stuff and gets off.
I'm not complaining at all, I just thought that would be next to impossible. Not only were doors shut, what is a passenger even considered at that point (from an immigration status)?
Theres a a bit of delay as we have to wait to get a jet bridge back. Then the pilot comes on and says that ATC is penalIzing us and we will have another half hour delay. Airport seemed pretty quiet at 8pm, so not sure what the pilot meant (it was hard to hear). I don't think it was traffic related, but I can only see so much out of a window.
Any idea what what actually happened? We ended up pushing back for real over 2 hours late.
about 10 minutes later, we go through the safety video and then it stops and I hear "flight attendants disarm doors"...and sure enough, they do, and a women grabs her stuff and gets off.
I'm not complaining at all, I just thought that would be next to impossible. Not only were doors shut, what is a passenger even considered at that point (from an immigration status)?
Theres a a bit of delay as we have to wait to get a jet bridge back. Then the pilot comes on and says that ATC is penalIzing us and we will have another half hour delay. Airport seemed pretty quiet at 8pm, so not sure what the pilot meant (it was hard to hear). I don't think it was traffic related, but I can only see so much out of a window.
Any idea what what actually happened? We ended up pushing back for real over 2 hours late.
Apr 15, 2017, 7:36 am
#762
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,043
ATC isn't just the local airspace. Once you missed the takeoff slot, ATC had to rejuggle placing your flight into the enroute airspace. I'm China that means dealing with the military as all airspace in China is military controlled.
Apr 15, 2017, 5:04 pm
#763
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Understood. I must just have been over analyzing the pilots use of the word "penalizing" - like we were in trouble, when most likely it was just us having to wait to get our space lined up.
Apr 16, 2017, 10:57 am
#764
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 6
newbie, stuck by bathrooms, hnl-phx new 757-200 seats
AA is showing the new 757-200 and our travel agent put us in tow 29, right against the restrooms on a red eye from Honolulu to Phoenix on our way home in May.
We can pay $80 more for 6 more inches of leg room if we move up to rows. 13 B and C, which is the exit, 14, 15 or 16 with various A,B, C, D, E, F seats.
If we just want to move up without the extra 6 inches of leg room we can pay $37-$40 for row 10D and E, row 13 exit D and E or rows 17-20 all seats.
Considering this is a red eye and we are going from Hawaii back to Wisconsin we will pay for the upgraded seats but are not sure which to pick. We don't want to end up in a non reclining seat etc.
Thank you!
Brooke
Apr 16, 2017, 11:27 am
#765
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
I am sorry if I am putting this in the wrong place, I hope someone sees it. I have spent hours trying to figure out why my plane layout is different and found out here that it is a new layout for the 757. I can't find info on best seats in coach anywhere.
AA is showing the new 757-200 and our travel agent put us in tow 29, right against the restrooms on a red eye from Honolulu to Phoenix on our way home in May.
We can pay $80 more for 6 more inches of leg room if we move up to rows. 13 B and C, which is the exit, 14, 15 or 16 with various A,B, C, D, E, F seats.
If we just want to move up without the extra 6 inches of leg room we can pay $37-$40 for row 10D and E, row 13 exit D and E or rows 17-20 all seats.
Considering this is a red eye and we are going from Hawaii back to Wisconsin we will pay for the upgraded seats but are not sure which to pick. We don't want to end up in a non reclining seat etc.
Thank you!
Brooke
AA is showing the new 757-200 and our travel agent put us in tow 29, right against the restrooms on a red eye from Honolulu to Phoenix on our way home in May.
We can pay $80 more for 6 more inches of leg room if we move up to rows. 13 B and C, which is the exit, 14, 15 or 16 with various A,B, C, D, E, F seats.
If we just want to move up without the extra 6 inches of leg room we can pay $37-$40 for row 10D and E, row 13 exit D and E or rows 17-20 all seats.
Considering this is a red eye and we are going from Hawaii back to Wisconsin we will pay for the upgraded seats but are not sure which to pick. We don't want to end up in a non reclining seat etc.
Thank you!
Brooke