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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)
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST:
(This post can only be edited by moderators.)



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.

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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)

Old May 7, 2017, 1:28 pm
  #871  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
Originally Posted by guv1976
How many classes of service is AA selling on your flight?
Does MCE count as a cabin? If yes, 3 classes. If not, just 2 classes.
MSYtoJFKagain is offline  
Old May 7, 2017, 1:30 pm
  #872  
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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Posts: 29,505
Originally Posted by MSYtoJFKagain
Does MCE count as a cabin? If yes, 3 classes. If not, just 2 classes.
No, MCE is not considered a separate class of service for AA. (AA does offer a "Premium Economy" class of service on some international flights, but that is different from MCE.)
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Old May 7, 2017, 4:54 pm
  #873  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
So I'd be paying 15k + $350 for an upgrade to Business. Seems like a good deal considering my original fare cost. ($589)
MSYtoJFKagain is offline  
Old May 7, 2017, 5:04 pm
  #874  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Originally Posted by MSYtoJFKagain
So I'd be paying 15k + $350 for an upgrade to Business. Seems like a good deal considering my original fare cost. ($589)
I believe it is 25k + $350 to upgrade JFK-CDG. Whether that is a good deal depends on you. Note that you would earn mileage, etc., based on your original fare (i.e., based on an O fare).
flyingeph12 is offline  
Old May 7, 2017, 5:33 pm
  #875  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cape Cod
Programs: Free agent
Posts: 1,535
Oh, I misread. 25k is a bit too much. Maybe I'll get a good buy-up offer. I'll be fine in Y, always looking for a way to move up though.
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Old May 7, 2017, 8:48 pm
  #876  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,539
I am flying PHL-MIA-PTY in paid first/biz class, does that grant lounge access at either PHL or MIA? Website seems to mention int'l over 5 hours is ok but excludes Caribbean (which PTY would not be I presume).

Thanks for your expert guidance.
FlyingHoustonian is offline  
Old May 7, 2017, 9:28 pm
  #877  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 615
I feel like a complete moron asking this...but...every time I log in to aa.com to redeem miles (have never done so) I am seeing fares published in dollar amounts rather than points. I also see that I cannot see these fares on the app unlike united app where you can book. Is it something that's staring my right in the face that I'm not doing? Thanks in advance
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Old May 7, 2017, 9:46 pm
  #878  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Originally Posted by FlyingHoustonian
I am flying PHL-MIA-PTY in paid first/biz class, does that grant lounge access at either PHL or MIA? Website seems to mention int'l over 5 hours is ok but excludes Caribbean (which PTY would not be I presume).

Thanks for your expert guidance.
Yes, you should get AC access in both PHL and MIA. PTY is Central America, not Caribbean.

Originally Posted by gumercindo
I feel like a complete moron asking this...but...every time I log in to aa.com to redeem miles (have never done so) I am seeing fares published in dollar amounts rather than points. I also see that I cannot see these fares on the app unlike united app where you can book. Is it something that's staring my right in the face that I'm not doing? Thanks in advance
You need to make sure you check the box that says something like "Redeem Miles." Note that AA.com does not show all possible options on partner airlines. You will need to use other search engines if you are looking for certain partner options.
flyingeph12 is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 7:59 am
  #879  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 47
I have a long (~7 hours) connection in MIA that requires me to pick up my luggage from AA and check them into TK. Since the TK counter won't open until 3 hours prior to flight, I'm stuck with luggage. Ideally, I'd like AA to pick the bags off the carousel and hold them for me while I wait for check in to open in the comfort of the Centurion lounge. Is this something that can be arranged with AA?
HughMann is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 10:17 am
  #880  
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,413
Originally Posted by HughMann
I have a long (~7 hours) connection in MIA that requires me to pick up my luggage from AA and check them into TK. Since the TK counter won't open until 3 hours prior to flight, I'm stuck with luggage. Ideally, I'd like AA to pick the bags off the carousel and hold them for me while I wait for check in to open in the comfort of the Centurion lounge. Is this something that can be arranged with AA?
Is your flight into AA international or domestic? If it's domestic, you should be fine. I'll sometimes get off my flight and head to the lounge to take a few calls. In that case, my luggage comes out on the carousel, goes around a few times, then AA grabs it and takes it to the luggage desk. Then when I'm ready, I head down to the luggage desk and show my bag claim ticket and/or ID to claim my bag. (Of course, there is slight risk of theft if your bag is just sitting there all lonely on the carousel. But I generally don't travel with anything too valuable in my checked bags, and I only do this on my last leg coming back home.)
JY1024 is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 11:27 am
  #881  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by JY1024
Is your flight into AA international or domestic? If it's domestic, you should be fine. I'll sometimes get off my flight and head to the lounge to take a few calls. In that case, my luggage comes out on the carousel, goes around a few times, then AA grabs it and takes it to the luggage desk. Then when I'm ready, I head down to the luggage desk and show my bag claim ticket and/or ID to claim my bag. (Of course, there is slight risk of theft if your bag is just sitting there all lonely on the carousel. But I generally don't travel with anything too valuable in my checked bags, and I only do this on my last leg coming back home.)
It is domestic. Good info, thanks!
HughMann is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 11:45 am
  #882  
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
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Posts: 12,419
Originally Posted by FlyingHoustonian
I am flying PHL-MIA-PTY in paid first/biz class, does that grant lounge access at either PHL or MIA? Website seems to mention int'l over 5 hours is ok but excludes Caribbean (which PTY would not be I presume).
Originally Posted by flyingeph12
Yes, you should get AC access in both PHL and MIA. PTY is Central America, not Caribbean.
PTY is Central America, but in order to access the AC based solely on First or Business class (no status) the flight needs to be over 5 hrs. MIA-PTY isn't that long, so no access in this case.

This is a confusing area of the lounge access rules, since a PLT or EXP does get lounge access flying a shorter Central America route like MIA-PTY.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 2:10 pm
  #883  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 12
AA VOUCHERS
I have looked through as much information on this topic as I could find and I am still unsure so I hope someone can offer me the correct information.I was given two 500 dollar AA vouchers for a delayed cross atlantic flight. To use these must the flight be operated by AA or can it be a combination? for example I am looking at flights from either Belfast or Dublin to Miami and most show the first leg to London operated by BA although there is also an aa flight no and the last leg to Miami is aa flight no and aa operated. I have only started posting and could not find any other method to post other than use a reply.
thanks in advance.

Last edited by rufusrea; May 8, 2017 at 2:27 pm Reason: left some info out
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Old May 8, 2017, 2:51 pm
  #884  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
Programs: United Global Svs, AA PlatPro, WN RR, AZ/ITA Freccia, Hilton Diam, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz Prez, IHG
Posts: 3,539
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
PTY is Central America, but in order to access the AC based solely on First or Business class (no status) the flight needs to be over 5 hrs. MIA-PTY isn't that long, so no access in this case.

This is a confusing area of the lounge access rules, since a PLT or EXP does get lounge access flying a shorter Central America route like MIA-PTY.
I am supposed to get Exec Plat for three months on a status match just before the flight as part of a challenge, does that allow it with the int'l?

I was not sure if the 5hours was cumulative or one flight.
FlyingHoustonian is offline  
Old May 8, 2017, 7:46 pm
  #885  
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
PTY is Central America, but in order to access the AC based solely on First or Business class (no status) the flight needs to be over 5 hrs. MIA-PTY isn't that long, so no access in this case.

This is a confusing area of the lounge access rules, since a PLT or EXP does get lounge access flying a shorter Central America route like MIA-PTY.
I flew on a SAN-MIA-PTY itinerary in First/business last year as a Gold and was able to access the lounge with just my PTY boarding pass. I do have a Citi Executive card, so would have access with that, but chose to see if I could enter with the international business class BP in order to get some drink chits! Mission accomplished.

I also did the same on a SAN-MIA-LIR routing the same year.
Reetmafreen is offline  

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