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)
Jan 10, 2018, 4:18 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
On your URL, remove everything before the second https://www.flyertalk.com
Jan 10, 2018, 4:51 pm
#77
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 5
?how to select seats on British Airways flight booked via American Airlines
I know this is a noob question, posting it here ,happy to be referred elsewhere in the forum.
I am flying to Ireland from PHX in Sep 2018, trip out to DUB, trip back from SNN.
I made the reservations via AA Advantage, was able to get seat assignment for the outbound leg, all on AA.
However the homeward leg, since I am leaving via SNN, is via Aer Lingus SNN to LHR, then BA from LHR to PHX.
The AA Advantage agent said she could not give me seat assignments for the Aer Lingus segment, but that I could call tomorrow directly to Aer Lingus and get those seats assigned.
She said I could not get a seat assignment from BA until the day of my departure from LHR.
Is this correct?
Since I am flying with my spouse, it seems unlikely we can get seats together for that long transatlantic flight if we have to wait until the day we leave London for Phoenix to get our seats assigned.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Caroline
I am flying to Ireland from PHX in Sep 2018, trip out to DUB, trip back from SNN.
I made the reservations via AA Advantage, was able to get seat assignment for the outbound leg, all on AA.
However the homeward leg, since I am leaving via SNN, is via Aer Lingus SNN to LHR, then BA from LHR to PHX.
The AA Advantage agent said she could not give me seat assignments for the Aer Lingus segment, but that I could call tomorrow directly to Aer Lingus and get those seats assigned.
She said I could not get a seat assignment from BA until the day of my departure from LHR.
Is this correct?
Since I am flying with my spouse, it seems unlikely we can get seats together for that long transatlantic flight if we have to wait until the day we leave London for Phoenix to get our seats assigned.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Caroline
Jan 10, 2018, 5:02 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Basically yes.
You can pay $, for a specific seat allocation, including in business class, unless you have mid-top tier OW status. No cost with status.
BA forum threads
Club World seat reservations not free?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ts-status.html
Jan 10, 2018, 5:32 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2015
Programs: AA Advantage
Posts: 5
Listed on my ticket as "premium economy".
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
Jan 10, 2018, 5:52 pm
#80
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
Listed on my ticket as "premium economy".
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
Log into aa.com, and look under My Trips. Click on your trip, and then find where the BA segment is. From there it will say something like AA can't assign seats for partner flights, but there should be a link you can click which will take you to the BA website and your itinerary . You can then select seats, but it will cost you a little bit to do so.
Not sure how AA links to EI for that purpose. Haven't had them on an AA ticket yet.
Jan 10, 2018, 6:58 pm
#81
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
Posts: 263
Flying on AA 777 version 3 (https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Am..._777-200_C.php) biz. Any advice of which seats are good if I'd like quiet and privacy as much possible? It's an overnight transatlantic flight and I want to sleep right through it. Some people say the rear facing seats are awkward, someone said 1L (my current selection) is great, someone else said it's noisy as the galley is right next to it. So I'm not sure if I should keep 1L or pick something else? There is still plenty availability.
Last edited by EU-US; Jan 10, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Jan 10, 2018, 7:19 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
Listed on my ticket as "premium economy".
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Have a look the BA forum linked threads and the good information in the post 81 above.
You could try the AA pnr (6 character booking reference) in the BA "manage my booking"
Jan 10, 2018, 7:22 pm
#83
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Listed on my ticket as "premium economy".
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
This was booked via American, and the agent said she could not do anything to get us specific seat assignments.
I suppose I could call BA and inquire about how to get a specific seat.
Sounds like BA is like Southwest, all seating first come first served??
Caroline
Log into aa.com, and look under My Trips. Click on your trip, and then find where the BA segment is. From there it will say something like AA can't assign seats for partner flights, but there should be a link you can click which will take you to the BA website and your itinerary . You can then select seats, but it will cost you a little bit to do so.
Not sure how AA links to EI for that purpose. Haven't had them on an AA ticket yet.
Not sure how AA links to EI for that purpose. Haven't had them on an AA ticket yet.
Cost information, assuming you have no oneworld status:
- Standard seats in World Traveller Plus start from Ł18/€22/$27.
- Exit row seats are available on longer international flights in World Traveller Plus starting from Ł50/€60/$75.
- Bulkhead seats are usually reserved for customers with a disability, or those travelling with an infant (under 2 years) as this is where the fold-down cot tables are positioned, so it may not be possible to reserve these seats.
Jan 10, 2018, 8:31 pm
#84
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
The AA PNR will not work. You can call AA to get the BA PNR, but it's much easier to just click through from the trip on AA into the BA website (which is their manage my booking area) and then the BA PNR is listed on their page. Quicker and saves the hassle of a phone call.
Jan 11, 2018, 12:17 am
#85
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
Posts: 263
Flying on AA 777 version 3 (https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Am..._777-200_C.php) biz. Any advice of which seats are good if I'd like quiet and privacy as much possible? It's an overnight transatlantic flight and I want to sleep right through it. Some people say the rear facing seats are awkward, someone said 1L (my current selection) is great, someone else said it's noisy as the galley is right next to it. So I'm not sure if I should keep 1L or pick something else? There is still plenty availability.
Jan 11, 2018, 12:42 am
#86
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Personally, I like the rear facing seats. Since the plane flies naturally at a slight angle, the rear-facing seats allow my head to be elevated above my feet even when fully flat.
I like 7A and 7L because they aren't attached to another seat, and the galley and lavs aren't as close as they are to Row 6 or Row 1. There is a missing window at Row 7, though, I believe—although if your primary goal is to sleep on an overnight flight, that might not be much of an issue.
If you want forward-facing, I don't think 1L is bad, although you might also think about Row 10, as those seats are also unconnected. However, I don't have any personal experience in any of the forward-facing seats, as I prefer rear-facing.
I like 7A and 7L because they aren't attached to another seat, and the galley and lavs aren't as close as they are to Row 6 or Row 1. There is a missing window at Row 7, though, I believe—although if your primary goal is to sleep on an overnight flight, that might not be much of an issue.
If you want forward-facing, I don't think 1L is bad, although you might also think about Row 10, as those seats are also unconnected. However, I don't have any personal experience in any of the forward-facing seats, as I prefer rear-facing.
Last edited by flyingeph12; Jan 11, 2018 at 12:48 am
Jan 11, 2018, 7:22 am
#87
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Planet Earth (mostly)
Posts: 263
Personally, I like the rear facing seats. Since the plane flies naturally at a slight angle, the rear-facing seats allow my head to be elevated above my feet even when fully flat.
I like 7A and 7L because they aren't attached to another seat, and the galley and lavs aren't as close as they are to Row 6 or Row 1. There is a missing window at Row 7, though, I believe—although if your primary goal is to sleep on an overnight flight, that might not be much of an issue.
If you want forward-facing, I don't think 1L is bad, although you might also think about Row 10, as those seats are also unconnected. However, I don't have any personal experience in any of the forward-facing seats, as I prefer rear-facing.
I like 7A and 7L because they aren't attached to another seat, and the galley and lavs aren't as close as they are to Row 6 or Row 1. There is a missing window at Row 7, though, I believe—although if your primary goal is to sleep on an overnight flight, that might not be much of an issue.
If you want forward-facing, I don't think 1L is bad, although you might also think about Row 10, as those seats are also unconnected. However, I don't have any personal experience in any of the forward-facing seats, as I prefer rear-facing.
Jan 11, 2018, 8:52 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
You might find this thread helpful:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...t-seats-4.html
Jan 11, 2018, 12:24 pm
#90
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MSP
Programs: MP MVP Gold; Hilton - Gold; Marriott - Silver;
Posts: 213
Question about checked luggage as a Gold. Does my 1 checked bag allowance carry over to others on the same reservation? Does my wife, 2 kids and myself all get the checked luggage fee for the first bag waived? This is how it's worked for me in the past with other programs but I want to make sure this is also the case with AA. Thanks!