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ARCHIVE: 2018 NEWBIE LOUNGE Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Jan 1, 2018, 1:26 pm
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The 2019 Newbie Lounge thread can be found here.

Welcome to the 2018 "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 2016 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
NOTE: The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here



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ARCHIVE: 2018 NEWBIE LOUNGE Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

Old Sep 16, 2018, 8:17 am
  #1516  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by DSM Flyer
Thinking more about this, does upgrading to F at check-in give the same 3.0 EQM multiplier that buying an F ticket at booking would? I guess I'm just wondering if "upfairing" and "upgrading" at check-in are the same thing. I often see upgrades available between DSM and DFW at check-in for around $100 I believe*, but I usually don't pay much attention to it. I've looked at my EQM's earned on this flight the last few times I've taken it, and if I upgraded both ways and got a 3.0 multiplier, that would put me at 25,092 EQM... pretty thin margin but I believe EQM are direct mileage between airports so should be pretty consistent? I'd have to upgrade both ways, and of course I'd run the risk of my return flight not having an upgrade available or costing more than I'm willing to spend... I will probably end up just being patient and waiting until my next flight, just want to be sure of my options.

* I usually don't pay attention to the upgrade offers at check-in but I believe they vary in price based on how many seats are available, correct?
Upfaring means buying up to a new fare, which earns AAdvantage benefits at the newly purchased fare rate.

Upgrading earns AAdvantage benefits in accordance wwith the originally purchased fare.
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JDiver is offline  
Old Sep 16, 2018, 8:35 am
  #1517  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DSM
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 104
Originally Posted by JDiver
Upfaring means buying up to a new fare, which earns AAdvantage benefits at the newly purchased fare rate.

Upgrading earns AAdvantage benefits in accordance wwith the originally purchased fare.
Thanks JDiver! Now at least I don't have a decision to make and will just be patient
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Old Sep 16, 2018, 12:24 pm
  #1518  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,371
Originally Posted by riphamilton
hi all!

a friend who does some AA flying would like to join my group for a trip to hawaii in mid-november. he's 2700 miles short of a roundtrip. what cheap and relatively simple ways are there to earn those miles?

the best i could come up with is using rocketmiles for a hotel stay. www.rocketmiles.com/aa-welcome seems to have a 4000mi new user bonus, and there's a hotel near his location where he could do a mattress run for $65. i know for UA, there's a site where you can do surveys and earn.

any other creative ideas? thanks!
Does your friend hold a qualifying AA credit card which gives a 10% rebate on miles redemptions?
guv1976 is offline  
Old Sep 16, 2018, 12:35 pm
  #1519  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,751
Originally Posted by guv1976
Does your friend hold a qualifying AA credit card which gives a 10% rebate on miles redemptions?
unfortunately he does not. im thinking rocketmiles is the most straightforward option for him; hopefully the miles post (and do so reasonably promptly).
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Old Sep 16, 2018, 12:42 pm
  #1520  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,371
Originally Posted by riphamilton


unfortunately he does not. im thinking rocketmiles is the most straightforward option for him; hopefully the miles post (and do so reasonably promptly).
Well, if your friend is able and willing to get one of the credit cards, he should receive it about one week after approval, and then qualify for the 10% rebate. And a credit-card holder earns 750 AA miles from even a one-day airport rental from Avis/Budget. Any cheap weekend rates where your friend lives?
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Old Sep 16, 2018, 7:55 pm
  #1521  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Originally Posted by riphamilton
hi all!

a friend who does some AA flying would like to join my group for a trip to hawaii in mid-november. he's 2700 miles short of a roundtrip. what cheap and relatively simple ways are there to earn those miles?

the best i could come up with is using rocketmiles for a hotel stay. www.rocketmiles.com/aa-welcome seems to have a 4000mi new user bonus, and there's a hotel near his location where he could do a mattress run for $65. i know for UA, there's a site where you can do surveys and earn.

any other creative ideas? thanks!
This is not really an answer to your question, but has your friend considered paying cash for the ticket (at least one way)? AA awards to HI are not really that great a use of miles, and award space around Thanksgiving will likely be difficult to find.

If you have an extra 3,000 miles, you could share the miles with your friend. That probably will be the fastest way and cost less than outright buying the miles (~$60).
MikeFromTokyo and riphamilton like this.
flyingeph12 is offline  
Old Sep 16, 2018, 9:46 pm
  #1522  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 789
I signed up for JAL account and use that to check space availability. It is very good for First availability but I find Business and Coach availability for both BA and JAL is different on the carrier site to AA as they withheld some inventory fo their own Frequent Flyers.
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Old Sep 16, 2018, 11:47 pm
  #1523  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Originally Posted by riphamilton
unfortunately he does not. im thinking rocketmiles is the most straightforward option for him; hopefully the miles post (and do so reasonably promptly).
I would not want to wait for miles to post from a third party. Just buy miles, transfer from your account to his (gift miles), or transfer in from an hotel program etc.. if that is an option. Just get it ticketed and then move on with life, its not worth the effort to do extra car rentals or hotel stays for 2,700 miles, and as this is an award reservation in a high demand period, you risk losing availability if you wait.
JDiver and diburning like this.
MikeFromTokyo is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2018, 1:32 am
  #1524  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,751
Originally Posted by MikeFromTokyo


I would not want to wait for miles to post from a third party. Just buy miles, transfer from your account to his (gift miles), or transfer in from an hotel program etc.. if that is an option. Just get it ticketed and then move on with life, its not worth the effort to do extra car rentals or hotel stays for 2,700 miles, and as this is an award reservation in a high demand period, you risk losing availability if you wait.
agreed; ill just have him buy the miles from AA. thanks!
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riphamilton is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2018, 11:45 am
  #1525  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
Originally Posted by jsl_313
I have an option for a connection to LIH through PHX or LAX. I'm flying First Class through an award booking and the connection/arrival times are pretty much the same (~1.5 hour connection). Aircraft departing LAX is an A321 (32B) and departing PHX is a 757 (752). I'm wondering if someone could provide guidance on where I should make my connection based primarily on aircraft choice and secondarily on airport.
On the 32B you're going to get a newer plane with power and setback screens (IFE) with a recliner seat in F. On the 757 you're going to get an older plane with a lay-flat seat, BUT no seatback entertainment, and I believe they have tablets with entertainment only for international routes. LAX has a nice flagship lounge but you wont get access with your first class ticket unless its an international route so to me the two are about the same. Hope this helps.
AAdamE is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2018, 2:08 pm
  #1526  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 246
Question avoid booking fee

I've have been in dark since airlines changed rules to obtain status. AA website reads $75 charge for mileage booking within 21 days. AS doesn't have this policy on their website. If I book a flight on AA using my AA miles, but the carrier is AS, do I still have to pay the $75 fee? It appears Delta's website doesn't have the fee on their website either.
natalie is offline  
Old Sep 17, 2018, 3:03 pm
  #1527  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,371
If you lack status with AAdvantage and book a close-in flight award, you will be subject to the $75 fee. The carrier operating the award flight is irrelevant for these purposes.

There is no close-in award booking fee when redeeming BA Avios on AS, or on any other BA partner.
JDiver likes this.
guv1976 is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 11:02 am
  #1528  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
I have a bulk fare for an upcoming flight and I noticed that EDQ for those is based on miles flown. I am currently in Q, but I am on the upgrade list. Suppose I got upgraded, would that change my fare class? https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
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Old Sep 18, 2018, 11:12 am
  #1529  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,361
Originally Posted by AAdamE
I have a bulk fare for an upcoming flight and I noticed that EDQ for those is based on miles flown. I am currently in Q, but I am on the upgrade list. Suppose I got upgraded, would that change my fare class? https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp
If it's an AA Vacations special fare then upgrading shouldn't change anything, it should post as a special fare, and if it doesn't you can call AAdvantage Customer Service to get it corrected.

If it's a bulk fare purchased somewhere else (OTA, Amex, etc.) then its anybody's guess. Is this a domestic flight, international, sticker upgrade or miles/copay/SWU? Sticker upgrades don't require re-ticketing while miles/copay and SWU typically do. If it doesn't post as a special fare then there's nothing you can do.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 11:39 am
  #1530  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold,Marriott PP,Hilton Diamond, National EX, Hertz PC
Posts: 114
I just booked at award ticket in J AA PHL - LHR and Etihad to AUH, will I have access to the One World clubs in LHR or just Etihad's. I am arriving on One World but not departing them, read the rules and they say traveling on One World.
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