Jan 1, 2018, 1:26 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
The 2019 Newbie Lounge thread can be found here.
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
Forum basics: Now that the new AA has become by some measures "the world's largest airline", this new, combined has become a "mega-forum", very large, very active - and theoretically very difficult to find information and easy to lose one's place. Having to search for and sort through dozens - or more - of threads on baggage, airports, minimum connect times or the like could soon become unproductive and discouraging.
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a Wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
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.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.) NOTE: The 2016 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
NOTE: The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
Thanks for reading!
Welcome to the 2018 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST:
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST:
(This post can only be edited by moderators.)
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
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.
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
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
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
(Our thanks to thread founder / "plank owner" HNL.)
Check out the following resources:
- GUIDE: FT - AA Forum, LOUNGE DASHBOARD and OSO / IRROPS (Links to most important threads, "Help Desk" assistance threads, the thread with resources for off-schedule operations / irregular operations (including links to AA weather policy and tools), hub airport threads, AA lounge Dashboard for all lounges and lounge related issues.)
- FAQ: American Airlines and AAdvantage - Please check here first! (Our FAQ were originally written for the pre-merger AA forum, but there's still a lot of useful information there.)
- New and uncertain where to start here, and it's about American Airlines? Start in our "NEWBIE LOUNGE" thread, here: link.
- Do you have questions about other travel related issues that do not pertain to AA and are unsure where to start? Visit our Information Desk Forum here: U]link. [/U]
- Especially useful to new members: FAQs (How to post like a pro and more)
- The NEW FlyerTalk: Helpful Hints, Tips and Suggestions to Enhance Your Experience (Information Desk Forum)
- FlyerTalk Glossary (What is all this jargon?)
- Airport Code Guide (How do I decode an airport code / find one for a city?)
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
- Canarsie's Using the Search Feature on FlyerTalk: The Definitive Thread has relocated to the Information Desk Forum; it can be found there.
- One can search FlyerTalk with Google with this web form.
- Or, if you are used to Google search, use Google Advanced Search and insert www.flyertalk.com in the "site or domain" box.
Forum basics: Now that the new AA has become by some measures "the world's largest airline", this new, combined has become a "mega-forum", very large, very active - and theoretically very difficult to find information and easy to lose one's place. Having to search for and sort through dozens - or more - of threads on baggage, airports, minimum connect times or the like could soon become unproductive and discouraging.
To prevent this from occurring, please note we try to:
Keep a few "sticky" threads: such as GUIDE posts, OSO / IROPS, etc. for urgent and quick reference, such as basic "where do I find" reasons
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"Popular" threads are likely to have a Wikipost at the head that will summarize important information and have resource links. These are "community property", and as any wiki are established, maintained and updated by the members (with 90 days of tenure and 90 posts on FlyerTalk).
You may find your question or post merged into one of those threads. Be sure that we will leave a link behind from your original thread, and to look up to see if there's a wiki with information. We apologize for any possible inconvenience or difference between this forum and others, but we think you'll like some of the resources and tools here to enable more convenient, comfortable travel on AA and greater knowledge sharing.
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.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)
NOTE: The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
Thanks for reading!
ARCHIVE: 2018 NEWBIE LOUNGE Ask Your "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)
Nov 7, 2018, 5:28 pm
#1816
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
AAnytime Awards: Can I use these for any routing I can find, or just the ones shown to me on AA.com? They keep trying to route me through PHL even though there are a hundred better ways to route.
Also, it seems all the flights have to be on AA metal, no partners. Is that correct?
I'm looking at using Aanytime for 110k miles from KOA to Europe in Business Class beginning of June. Should I be able to book the Hawaii-mainland leg on a lie-flat seat? For example, AA has a KOA-DFW on lie-flat seats... Could I book that as part of my AAnytime award, then a non-stop from DFW-Europe?
Lastly, what is the maximum amount of hours they will allow between flights? I'm seeing a problem with my flight above in that there is 8-11 hours layover at DFW.
Also, it seems all the flights have to be on AA metal, no partners. Is that correct?
I'm looking at using Aanytime for 110k miles from KOA to Europe in Business Class beginning of June. Should I be able to book the Hawaii-mainland leg on a lie-flat seat? For example, AA has a KOA-DFW on lie-flat seats... Could I book that as part of my AAnytime award, then a non-stop from DFW-Europe?
Lastly, what is the maximum amount of hours they will allow between flights? I'm seeing a problem with my flight above in that there is 8-11 hours layover at DFW.
Last edited by qofmiwok; Nov 7, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Nov 7, 2018, 8:42 pm
#1817
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
AAnytime Awards: Can I use these for any routing I can find, or just the ones shown to me on AA.com? They keep trying to route me through PHL even though there are a hundred better ways to route.
Also, it seems all the flights have to be on AA metal, no partners. Is that correct?
I'm looking at using Aanytime for 110k miles from KOA to Europe in Business Class beginning of June. Should I be able to book the Hawaii-mainland leg on a lie-flat seat? For example, AA has a KOA-DFW on lie-flat seats... Could I book that as part of my AAnytime award, then a non-stop from DFW-Europe?
Lastly, what is the maximum amount of hours they will allow between flights? I'm seeing a problem with my flight above in that there is 8-11 hours layover at DFW.
Also, it seems all the flights have to be on AA metal, no partners. Is that correct?
I'm looking at using Aanytime for 110k miles from KOA to Europe in Business Class beginning of June. Should I be able to book the Hawaii-mainland leg on a lie-flat seat? For example, AA has a KOA-DFW on lie-flat seats... Could I book that as part of my AAnytime award, then a non-stop from DFW-Europe?
Lastly, what is the maximum amount of hours they will allow between flights? I'm seeing a problem with my flight above in that there is 8-11 hours layover at DFW.
Nov 7, 2018, 9:22 pm
#1818
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
Thanks. Only AA flights, or partner flights OK?
Nov 8, 2018, 2:38 am
#1819
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 789
Depends on Partner. AA have JBA’s with BA, JAL etc and they seem to be more avsilable. Partners generally are not anytime awards.
I fly Hawaii to UK regularly. Flying 772 into DFW is better overnight than A321 but hanging around DFW is very tedious. My preferred routing would be afternoon flight to LAX, overnight in an airport hotel, proper night’s sleep. Enough time to do some work, shopping etc then non stop LAX to LHR which being 10 hiur flight us perfect fir a good sleep. Also this is 77W or 772 and I find I sleep better on 77W. Good luck.
I fly Hawaii to UK regularly. Flying 772 into DFW is better overnight than A321 but hanging around DFW is very tedious. My preferred routing would be afternoon flight to LAX, overnight in an airport hotel, proper night’s sleep. Enough time to do some work, shopping etc then non stop LAX to LHR which being 10 hiur flight us perfect fir a good sleep. Also this is 77W or 772 and I find I sleep better on 77W. Good luck.
Last edited by flyertalker54234; Nov 8, 2018 at 3:39 am
Nov 8, 2018, 7:01 am
#1820
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Nov 9, 2018, 2:38 am
#1821
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SIN
Programs: AS MVPG75k, AA Plat
Posts: 741
Non-AA-plated DONEx Accrual
Does anyone have experience crediting AA segments on a non-AA-plated DONEx to AAdvantage? Did they post as special fares?
Nov 10, 2018, 11:17 am
#1822
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 16
Finding the best business class route from DFW - BLR
You guys have been really helpful in the past (especially on my 2017 Mileage Run - amazing help from @nikitab!!) so I thought I'd throw this question out there to see if you have any advice.
Basically, I'm looking for the best experience business-class flight from DFW-BLR for <$5K.
Background:
I'm trying to figure out a better plan, but it seems like my only options are (a.) go through LHR and take the crap LHR-BLR 777-200, or (b.) go through HK on Cathay, but I haven't seen it cheap enough.
Any comments / input are welcome.
Basically, I'm looking for the best experience business-class flight from DFW-BLR for <$5K.
Background:
- I fly from Dallas to Bangalore ~3-4x / year and I'm permitted Business Class as long as I keep below $5K.
- I want to try and keep to AA and affiliates to accrue the AAdvantage miles.
- My travel dates are generally flexible and can be booked months in advance
I'm trying to figure out a better plan, but it seems like my only options are (a.) go through LHR and take the crap LHR-BLR 777-200, or (b.) go through HK on Cathay, but I haven't seen it cheap enough.
Any comments / input are welcome.
Nov 10, 2018, 11:35 am
#1823
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
You guys have been really helpful in the past (especially on my 2017 Mileage Run - amazing help from @nikitab!!) so I thought I'd throw this question out there to see if you have any advice.
Basically, I'm looking for the best experience business-class flight from DFW-BLR for <$5K.
Background:
I'm trying to figure out a better plan, but it seems like my only options are (a.) go through LHR and take the crap LHR-BLR 777-200, or (b.) go through HK on Cathay, but I haven't seen it cheap enough.
Any comments / input are welcome.
Basically, I'm looking for the best experience business-class flight from DFW-BLR for <$5K.
Background:
- I fly from Dallas to Bangalore ~3-4x / year and I'm permitted Business Class as long as I keep below $5K.
- I want to try and keep to AA and affiliates to accrue the AAdvantage miles.
- My travel dates are generally flexible and can be booked months in advance
I'm trying to figure out a better plan, but it seems like my only options are (a.) go through LHR and take the crap LHR-BLR 777-200, or (b.) go through HK on Cathay, but I haven't seen it cheap enough.
Any comments / input are welcome.
Nov 10, 2018, 1:03 pm
#1824
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Nov 10, 2018, 5:57 pm
#1825
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 16
For some reason I thought AA and Qatar stopped their partnership. If it does count, any idea what the EQD / EQM rate for AAdvantage would be for a Qatar business class flight (especially with the 2019 changes announced)?
Nov 10, 2018, 6:48 pm
#1826
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
For QR Business flights, EQM is 1.5x, and EQD is 20 or 25% of miles flown depending on Fare class.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp
Nov 10, 2018, 7:01 pm
#1827
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 16
For QR Business flights, EQM is 1.5x, and EQD is 20 or 25% of miles flown depending on Fare class.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ines/qatar.jsp
Super-newb question: how would this compare with what I’d accrue on an AA/BA route (EQM/EQD)?
Nov 10, 2018, 7:04 pm
#1828
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Another option to consider is to originate somewhere else besides DFW and buy a second ticket from DFW to that place. For example, a YVR-BLR ticket in CX J plus a DFW-YVR ticket in AA J might be significantly less expensive than DFW-BLR in CX J.
Nov 10, 2018, 7:16 pm
#1829
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 16
If you care about EQM, starting in 2019, BA will earn 2.0x EQM for business class fares—as opposed to 1.5x EQM for QR. The EQD earning rates are the same for both BA and QR (although you will earn slightly more EQD with QR, since DFW-DOH-BLR is a slightly longer distance than DFW-LHR-BLR).
Another option to consider is to originate somewhere else besides DFW and buy a second ticket from DFW to that place. For example, a YVR-BLR ticket in CX J plus a DFW-YVR ticket in AA J might be significantly less expensive than DFW-BLR in CX J.
Another option to consider is to originate somewhere else besides DFW and buy a second ticket from DFW to that place. For example, a YVR-BLR ticket in CX J plus a DFW-YVR ticket in AA J might be significantly less expensive than DFW-BLR in CX J.
Last question, is there an easy resource (possibly already on Flyertalk) that will help me look at a Business Class flight and know if the seat / experience will be good or bad (e.g. this 777-200 Club World flight I’m still on...)?
Nov 10, 2018, 8:43 pm
#1830
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
ranking the best one world business class seats
Ben at One Mile at a Time recently ranked "The World's 9 Best Business Class Seats" (which I generally agree with)
https://onemileatatime.com/best-business-class-seats/
All that said, it's hard really to generalize, since everyone values different things differently. For example, I would choose AA over CX on LAX-HKG (assuming the price is the same) because I value having Internet access on such a long flight. So, perhaps the best course would be to figure out the various options within your budget and then do research on individual fora.