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[2017 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Dec 31, 2016, 10:20 pm
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Welcome to the 2017 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
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(This post can only be edited by moderators.)



Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Welcome to Flyertalk!

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.

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Keep it welcoming: We're proud the members of both FFPs have kept the brickbats to a minimum; we want this forum to be welcoming, civil and information rich, so name calling (including calling a member one disagrees with "AApologist") and snark are not tolerated. Posts with such are likely to be summarily deleted in their entirety; repeated such behavior may result in suspension of one's membership privileges or being banned from this forum. Let's keep it friendly and in accordance with the FT Rules.

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NOTE: The older AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here

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[2017 NEWBIE LOUNGE] Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Apr 27, 2017, 8:29 pm
  #811  
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Originally Posted by Tiffywren
Hi guys, I'm flying MAN-BOS next week booked on one PNR, the international leg is MAN-PHL, then a domestic PHL-BOS, all on AA. I have a couple of questions:-

1. Do I clear immigration at PHL? (UK passport, no GE)
2. Do have to collect and recheck my bag or will it go straight to BOS?

This is the first time I've done an international and domestic on the same day so I'm a bit nervous the 2 hrs 10 min at PHL won't be enough.

Thanks, T
Have you traveled to US before since ESTA became a requirement?
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Old Apr 28, 2017, 4:37 am
  #812  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Portsmouth, UK
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Originally Posted by flyerCO
Have you traveled to US before since ESTA became a requirement?
I have but my sister travelling with me has never been to the US before.
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Old Apr 28, 2017, 5:45 am
  #813  
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Originally Posted by Tiffywren
I have but my sister travelling with me has never been to the US before.
As, OK, then will have to go through the normal immigration process since it's her first trip.
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Old Apr 28, 2017, 8:42 am
  #814  
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CUR
Posts: 2,170
Originally Posted by flyerCO
Have you traveled to US before since ESTA became a requirement?
Did AA finally install APC kiosks (for ESTA users) at PHL?

Last time I flew through PHL, that wasn't the case. If it's still the same, it's a moot point.
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Old Apr 28, 2017, 4:49 pm
  #815  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
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Originally Posted by Tiffywren
I have but my sister travelling with me has never been to the US before.
Note that the ESTA usually lasts for two years so worth checking your ESTA is still valid. Also if you have had a change of passport since your ESTA was issued you will need to apply again. Definitely sounds like your Sister will need an ESTA being her first time.

Have a good trip.
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 1:00 am
  #816  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Portsmouth, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR
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Originally Posted by steviewire
Note that the ESTA usually lasts for two years so worth checking your ESTA is still valid. Also if you have had a change of passport since your ESTA was issued you will need to apply again. Definitely sounds like your Sister will need an ESTA being her first time.

Have a good trip.
Hi steviewire, mine ran out last August so we've both applied for (and received) new ones. I'll have to book some more trips to make sure I get value for my $14

Thanks everyone, for all the advice, can't wait to show my sister NY - it's also her first time in Business Class too!
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 3:48 am
  #817  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: UK
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Originally Posted by Tiffywren
Hi steviewire, mine ran out last August so we've both applied for (and received) new ones. I'll have to book some more trips to make sure I get value for my $14

Thanks everyone, for all the advice, can't wait to show my sister NY - it's also her first time in Business Class too!
^
I have flown the Man-Phl route numerous times and particularly liked the business class pods on the A330.
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 8:41 am
  #818  
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Should I use QF or AA Status within US?

hi everyone!

ive just moved to the US from Australia (loving it here already after only 2mths!). I'll probably be in the states for 2-3yrs.

Ive got qantas gold status but will be taking a lot of domestic US flights while I'm here.

Would love any any advice on whether I should be using qantas or AA frequent flyer no when I book. It'd be great to get to AA or Qantas platinum but it's hard to work out which is the best way to do it - I'm guessing stick with booking AA flights using Qantas FF number but not sure?

i was going to use the AA app for convenience but wondering if i would need to use the AA frequent flyer number for my flights for the app to recognize the flights which wouldn't make it worthwhile of itself.

Would be very grateful for any advice! Thanks all

cheers
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 10:51 am
  #819  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 2,811
Originally Posted by maggosplace
hi everyone!

ive just moved to the US from Australia (loving it here already after only 2mths!). I'll probably be in the states for 2-3yrs.

Ive got qantas gold status but will be taking a lot of domestic US flights while I'm here.

Would love any any advice on whether I should be using qantas or AA frequent flyer no when I book. It'd be great to get to AA or Qantas platinum but it's hard to work out which is the best way to do it - I'm guessing stick with booking AA flights using Qantas FF number but not sure?

i was going to use the AA app for convenience but wondering if i would need to use the AA frequent flyer number for my flights for the app to recognize the flights which wouldn't make it worthwhile of itself.

Would be very grateful for any advice! Thanks all

cheers
Welcome to FlyerTalk.

If it's just 2-3 years, my gut reaction would be to stick with QF. Unless QF, like other airlines, has a "must take 4 flights on QF to earn status" rule -- you would know better than I. In any case, there is a forum dedicated to the "which OneWorld FF program is best for me?" question.

As to your question about finding AA flights, you can do so with the AA PNR, whether you've attached your AA FF# to the flight or not. Folks here do it all the time in reverse, to choose their seat on a QF, BA, et al flight, even if they don't even have a FF# for that airline.

And on that note, if you decided to not even get an AA FF# (but why not?), both AA.com and the AA app apparently let you log in with a "username" instead of an AA FF#; I haven't tried it, though.
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 5:29 pm
  #820  
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After the massive devaluation last year I decided to do away with AA and went from EXP to zip on 1 March. Or at least I thought I did.

Two days ago I flew a flight with QR using AA miles that I'd booked several months ago. My boarding pass had my AA number and Emerald. When I login to my AA account it shows me nothing status.

Any thoughts as to why the boarding pass would show the Emerald status?
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 5:48 pm
  #821  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
Originally Posted by danger
AAny thoughts as to why the boarding pass would show the Emerald status?
Because you were Emerald when you booked the flight and AA's IT systems tend not to automatically update status (either to reflect an increase or a decrease in status).
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 6:18 pm
  #822  
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Originally Posted by danger
After the massive devaluation last year I decided to do away with AA and went from EXP to zip on 1 March. Or at least I thought I did.

Two days ago I flew a flight with QR using AA miles that I'd booked several months ago. My boarding pass had my AA number and Emerald. When I login to my AA account it shows me nothing status.

Any thoughts as to why the boarding pass would show the Emerald status?
Most likely QR system verified status at time the reservation was sent to their systems. Since the number wasn't removed and since AA status requires QR to request the status from OW systems, until there's a reason to request the status again QR will show you as OWE.
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 7:59 pm
  #823  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
Have a discounted Y r/t ticket from Japan to the US and back with some domestic US segments as well.

Booking code for the outbound is Q and inbound is S.

I called AA Plat desk to try and make a date change and was told that I cannot make changes on this ticket at all, even with a change fee. That it is essentially a use it or lose it ticket.

Is this standard for the Q booking codes on transpac flights?
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Old Apr 29, 2017, 9:41 pm
  #824  
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Originally Posted by mcrw00
Have a discounted Y r/t ticket from Japan to the US and back with some domestic US segments as well.

Booking code for the outbound is Q and inbound is S.

I called AA Plat desk to try and make a date change and was told that I cannot make changes on this ticket at all, even with a change fee. That it is essentially a use it or lose it ticket.

Is this standard for the Q booking codes on transpac flights?
Booking codes have zero to do with it. The fare rules are what govern. This could happen with any fare class. Even those used for business.

Basically some discounted coach/discounted business/discounted first fares (usually ex-outside the US) have use it or lose it restrictions. It just happens in ypur case to be pbe tgat books into Q.
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Old Apr 30, 2017, 12:20 am
  #825  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
Originally Posted by flyerCO
Booking codes have zero to do with it. The fare rules are what govern. This could happen with any fare class. Even those used for business.

Basically some discounted coach/discounted business/discounted first fares (usually ex-outside the US) have use it or lose it restrictions. It just happens in ypur case to be pbe tgat books into Q.

Thanks. Any way to view fare rules after buying the ticket?
mcrw00 is offline  


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