ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016)
#61
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
I know that one of the strategies in booking Cathay using AA miles is to first book J, and then to look for F to open up in the days approaching, and upgrade with a few more AA miles.
Can the same strategy apply to booking Cathay using Avios? Book J, and if F opens up in the days leading up to departure, pay with Avios to upgrade?
Yeah, I know, who would use Avios to book CX F? I am trying to also bring along an infant, and BA seems to have one of the more infant-friendly policies.
Can the same strategy apply to booking Cathay using Avios? Book J, and if F opens up in the days leading up to departure, pay with Avios to upgrade?
Yeah, I know, who would use Avios to book CX F? I am trying to also bring along an infant, and BA seems to have one of the more infant-friendly policies.
#62
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 796
I think agents not seeing availability in CX J\F is more a training issue than anything else on the USA desk. I had to HUACA 2x today to upgrade a previously ticketed award to F. First agent could not find the flights I saw available on BA.com. Second agent said I would owe a 150$ change fee to upgrade the award and (!!) another $150 to change my arrival airport to JFK from LGA (was previously on HKG-DFW-LGA). I knew I owed $150 for the change in arrival airport, but charging the redposit fee twice made no sense. I said no thanks and hoped no notes were made on the PNR about my attempts to change the ticket, and tried a third time to get everything ticketed properly on the flights I wanted. So it doesn't seem to be about the USA agents being unable to see partner space.
I don't know if it is the LUS agents that are not where they need to be training wise, but it (compared to AS for instance) has gotten a lot more difficult to get CX partner awards ticketed properly the first time.
I don't know if it is the LUS agents that are not where they need to be training wise, but it (compared to AS for instance) has gotten a lot more difficult to get CX partner awards ticketed properly the first time.
#63
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I agree, or, at least, that in combination with long-standing other AAdv/CX factors-- different and apart from the issue with EY awards and their unique, greater visibility to Australia-based agents.
#64
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
The more people that accept the first "no", hang up and give up, all the better for us.
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I'm very into helping members get best use of their hard-earned AAdv miles, as my posts over the last decade or so surely demonstrate.
#66
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
I don't *quite* share your previously stated outlook on such matters-- very respectfully-- so, in a way yes, but, again, I don't have the same life-view on these things as what you've expressed recently on these matters.
I'm very into helping members get best use of their hard-earned AAdv miles, as my posts over the last decade or so surely demonstrate.
I'm very into helping members get best use of their hard-earned AAdv miles, as my posts over the last decade or so surely demonstrate.
Last August, I single-handedly battled with another FTer that I KNEW was aiming to score a HKGJFK F seat on the same flight. I say "battled" in that we were both hunched over our devices simultaneously for days, albeit in Bali for me and I believe the Maldives for him. Alas, I snagged the seat while in HKG on the day of, and was completing the transaction as he was on hold with AA trying to do the same. (We have since become social with one another).
Did my posts here contribute to his knowledge? Probably not. We'll never know. But I relive the experience practically every time I hit "post" on FT.
As an aside, there's been no sweeter walk of glory EVER than passing my nemesis in 11K while on my way to 1D. I will say he was a gentleman through and through, and let his wife sit up in F while he sat across from my kids in J. My caviar has never tasted better.
Jamie
#67
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Villa Rica
Programs: AA ExP, HHonors Gold
Posts: 21
So I booked an F award in July with a week in Hong Kong, but am wondering if I can add an additional segment to fly to Japan or Taiwan and back in the middle of the reward or would that need to be an additional award?
#68
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,643
Everything is set for Sri Lanka in Feb. except LAX-HKG CX881 on 2/11, looking for 1 F seat and CMB-NRT UL 454 on 2/26 looking for 1 J seat. I check daily on BA.com but no luck so far. Got the seat assignments, meals requested. Still have to make a plan for a 12 hour layover in Hong Kong.
Last edited by susiesan; Jan 8, 2016 at 10:43 am Reason: Removed quote of deleted post
#69
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
Everything is set for Sri Lanka in Feb. except LAX-HKG CX611 on 2/11, looking for 1 F seat and CMB-NRT UL 454 on 2/26 looking for 1 J seat. I check daily on BA.com but no luck so far. Got the seat assignments, meals requested. Still have to make a plan for a 12 hour layover in Hong Kong.
Good luck with the CX flight, what's the sold load at this point? Hopefully showing F6!
#70
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, SC
Programs: AA Plat, SPG/Marriot Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Expl
Posts: 2,363
As noted, the Pier is magnificent, though clearly not worth 12 hrs. That's ample time for a quick trip into town, I'd certainly leave time for a proper meal and massage at the Pier (and time to get there, since it is a ways away from where US flights USUALLY board).
Good luck with the CX flight, what's the sold load at this point? Hopefully showing F6!
Good luck with the CX flight, what's the sold load at this point? Hopefully showing F6!
#71
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
Everything is set for Sri Lanka in Feb. except LAX-HKG CX611 on 2/11, looking for 1 F seat and CMB-NRT UL 454 on 2/26 looking for 1 J seat. I check daily on BA.com but no luck so far. Got the seat assignments, meals requested. Still have to make a plan for a 12 hour layover in Hong Kong.
does some special meal better than the regular meal ? (in F)
#72
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
For sure, with 12hrs you should venture into HKG. If you get in early enough, lines for the Peak Tram are short in the morning, and the views from the top are stunning (assuming it's not cloudy/hazy). Or you might even be able to squeeze in the Lantau Island's Tian Tan Buddha -- the cable car ride alone is worth it for the views.
#73
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 53
Best way to add domestic leg
I know this has been covered a bit in this thread and elsewhere, but curious for advice on the best way to add a domestic positioning flight to an international award on hold. Am I better off trying to get an agent to add the domestic leg to the international leg, or putting the domestic leg on hold online myself and then asking an agent to stitch the two held awards together? Appreciate any advice!
#74
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
I know this has been covered a bit in this thread and elsewhere, but curious for advice on the best way to add a domestic positioning flight to an international award on hold. Am I better off trying to get an agent to add the domestic leg to the international leg, or putting the domestic leg on hold online myself and then asking an agent to stitch the two held awards together? Appreciate any advice!
#75
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,748
I've removed a personal exchange between two longtime members.
Personal exchanges are best confined to PMs.
~Moderator
Personal exchanges are best confined to PMs.
~Moderator