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 23, 2018, 8:04 am
#1891
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: EWR
Posts: 81
I'm flying PHL-CUN next month, and due to an equipment change have pretty ... undesirable... seats 37 C 37 D in the back center of an A330. AA currently has all the window-aisle pairs of seats blocked off as Preferred Seats (not MCE) with an upcharge. Pretty much every regular seat shows either taken or blocked off. I'm expecting a full flight because they consolidated 2 narrow body flights per day into this 1
Is there any "usual" time when the Preferred seats are made available to be selected for free? Would love to change seats, but obv not willing to pay, or even use Amex Plat credits for it.
Is there any "usual" time when the Preferred seats are made available to be selected for free? Would love to change seats, but obv not willing to pay, or even use Amex Plat credits for it.
Last edited by jerseykeebs; Nov 23, 2018 at 8:05 am Reason: filter
Nov 24, 2018, 3:09 pm
#1892
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
I am looking for award space out of NRT to MLE and AA.com shows a handful of options on QR. I am flexible on dates, so any date is good. But whenever I try to complete the transaction, the option I click
on disappears and a message "The flight you selected is no longer available. Please modify your request.". This happen on all dates and also on flights out of MLE back to Japan or Europe. Is this normal?
Phantom availability? Do I need to call AA?
on disappears and a message "The flight you selected is no longer available. Please modify your request.". This happen on all dates and also on flights out of MLE back to Japan or Europe. Is this normal?
Phantom availability? Do I need to call AA?
Nov 24, 2018, 4:12 pm
#1893
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
I am looking for award space out of NRT to MLE and AA.com shows a handful of options on QR. I am flexible on dates, so any date is good. But whenever I try to complete the transaction, the option I click
on disappears and a message "The flight you selected is no longer available. Please modify your request.". This happen on all dates and also on flights out of MLE back to Japan or Europe. Is this normal?
Phantom availability? Do I need to call AA?
on disappears and a message "The flight you selected is no longer available. Please modify your request.". This happen on all dates and also on flights out of MLE back to Japan or Europe. Is this normal?
Phantom availability? Do I need to call AA?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thd-23.html
Also, be aware that there are more options than just QR (e.g., CX), but you will have to call to book those.
Nov 25, 2018, 2:20 pm
#1894
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
It likely is phantom availability. I would take a look at the QR thread.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thd-23.html
Also, be aware that there are more options than just QR (e.g., CX), but you will have to call to book those.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thd-23.html
Also, be aware that there are more options than just QR (e.g., CX), but you will have to call to book those.
Nov 26, 2018, 8:36 am
#1895
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 5
Hi. I've never used any frequent flyer miles from any program, but I have 60,000+ miles for American Airlines AAdvantage program. My understanding is that I can get 2 one-way MileSAAver tickets between Europe and the US. My wife and I are planning a trip from Minnesota to Scotland. What is the best/correct way for us to do this to ensure we can get tickets and be on the same flight? Do we look for a cheap flights and get 2 round trip tickets, buying one through the AAdvantage program? Or find a cheap flight one one direction, then get 2 one-way tickets in the other direction using the AAdvantage miles? Or something else entirely?
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
Nov 26, 2018, 9:55 am
#1896
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,105
Hi. I've never used any frequent flyer miles from any program, but I have 60,000+ miles for American Airlines AAdvantage program. My understanding is that I can get 2 one-way MileSAAver tickets between Europe and the US. My wife and I are planning a trip from Minnesota to Scotland. What is the best/correct way for us to do this to ensure we can get tickets and be on the same flight? Do we look for a cheap flights and get 2 round trip tickets, buying one through the AAdvantage program? Or find a cheap flight one one direction, then get 2 one-way tickets in the other direction using the AAdvantage miles? Or something else entirely?
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
Nov 26, 2018, 10:00 am
#1897
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,927
Hi. I've never used any frequent flyer miles from any program, but I have 60,000+ miles for American Airlines AAdvantage program. My understanding is that I can get 2 one-way MileSAAver tickets between Europe and the US. My wife and I are planning a trip from Minnesota to Scotland. What is the best/correct way for us to do this to ensure we can get tickets and be on the same flight? Do we look for a cheap flights and get 2 round trip tickets, buying one through the AAdvantage program? Or find a cheap flight one one direction, then get 2 one-way tickets in the other direction using the AAdvantage miles? Or something else entirely?
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
Nov 26, 2018, 10:25 am
#1898
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 5
From MSP, I'd probably say you're going to be much better getting a round trip ticket with one in cash and one in miles. If you are going next summer, pretty much the only option for a one stop itinerary is going to be with a stop in PHL. Otherwise you will probably want to route via Chicago and do MSP-ORD-LHR-EDI as the most direct method to use AA miles. While the two stops is annoying it does help that on each way you get immigration over with at the intermediate stop so you can just walk out at your destination.
One way paid tickets are expensive, unless you use carriers such as Norwegian. This means that if you want to do both ways on AA then you will need to buy one round trip with miles and the other with cash. You can check that both are available for the same flights and use the "hold" option for one ticket while you book the other. You can hold awards for five days and cash tickets for 24 hours. The fact that you are different records means that there is a slight chance that you will get treated differently in the event of delays or cancellations.
Nov 26, 2018, 1:05 pm
#1899
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,927
Thanks. This is helpful. We are looking to travel in late July through early August, so I think we have a while to book. As of now, AA is fare more expensive than a couple others (especially using multiple airlines). If that remains the case, it may be cheaper to work with one-way tickets. But it sounds like either option will work with the miles, and knowing about the holds is very valuable. I appreciate the help and patience with my ignorance!
Nov 26, 2018, 1:13 pm
#1900
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 5
That sounds bad, but I don't know what BA means. If I were to buy tickets today, should I expect them to be taken away at some point?
Last edited by TheSapient; Nov 26, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Nov 26, 2018, 2:02 pm
#1901
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,927
BA is their partner in crime (Joint Business) British Airways, it would be an AA flight number but "operated by British Airways". As an added bonus you have to pay for reserved seats on BA. I'm not sure what you mean by "taken away" but once you have bought the tickets they are yours. AA may make schedule changes which make your life difficult but you will have considerable freedom to change the flights if they do.
Nov 26, 2018, 2:08 pm
#1902
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 5
BA is their partner in crime (Joint Business) British Airways, it would be an AA flight number but "operated by British Airways". As an added bonus you have to pay for reserved seats on BA. I'm not sure what you mean by "taken away" but once you have bought the tickets they are yours. AA may make schedule changes which make your life difficult but you will have considerable freedom to change the flights if they do.
Nov 26, 2018, 2:17 pm
#1903
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,927
You can do a dummy booking to see what the fee will be. It is pretty high for Business or First but not too bad for the main cabin. If you can put together a routing on AA it will be much lower.
Nov 26, 2018, 2:19 pm
#1904
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 5
Thank you for all of the info and peace of mind that comes with being informed!
Nov 26, 2018, 3:45 pm
#1905
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,580
Hi. I've never used any frequent flyer miles from any program, but I have 60,000+ miles for American Airlines AAdvantage program. My understanding is that I can get 2 one-way MileSAAver tickets between Europe and the US. My wife and I are planning a trip from Minnesota to Scotland. What is the best/correct way for us to do this to ensure we can get tickets and be on the same flight? Do we look for a cheap flights and get 2 round trip tickets, buying one through the AAdvantage program? Or find a cheap flight one one direction, then get 2 one-way tickets in the other direction using the AAdvantage miles? Or something else entirely?
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
My apologies if these are very stupid questions!
If you have any interest in seeing Iceland for a day or two, Icelandair has seasonal MSP-KEF service; there are at least a couple of low-cost carriers that offer service between KEF and Glasgow/Edinburgh.