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 17, 2018, 9:14 am
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,517
Jan 17, 2018, 11:56 am
#137
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Amex MR, SPG, Aeroplan
Posts: 129
There's a thread specifically about married segments on awards, and there are some recent indications that you may no longer be allowed to drop a segment if only married-segment inventory is available.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...egments-3.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...egments-3.html
Being that I only have Avios (and not AA points), I can't even pull up the married itinerary on BA... because it is married
Oh, well, time to earn money for the actual tickets...
Jan 17, 2018, 1:44 pm
#138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,536
The ba.com website often has difficulty displaying award itineraries that involve connecting flights on AA. So it's possible that the Bay Area connection is available with Avios. If you are willing to pay the extra Avios, I would call BAEC and ask them to check.
Jan 18, 2018, 4:31 am
#139
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 861
Hello all – is there an earliest time when checking in luggage is available with AA at LAX T4?
My usual airline is BA and as an Executive Club Gold I can effectively check in and drop bags whenever I want from the point LHR T5 opens each day – the only reference I have seen on aa.com is to baggage drop being available from 4 hours before the flight.
- We arrive on BA from LHR into TBIT with a scheduled arrival of 1:05pm
- We then fly from LAX to LAS on AA from T4 at 10:40pm
- Can we check in and drop our luggage in the afternoon? Let’s assume it will be ca. 2:30pm by the time we get to T4 (I think I can use Flagship First check-in as a OW Emerald)
- We then plan to meet some friends who live nearby and head to the beach for a few hours, before returning to LAX for our late departure
My usual airline is BA and as an Executive Club Gold I can effectively check in and drop bags whenever I want from the point LHR T5 opens each day – the only reference I have seen on aa.com is to baggage drop being available from 4 hours before the flight.
Jan 18, 2018, 7:40 am
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,727
Hello all – is there an earliest time when checking in luggage is available with AA at LAX T4?
- We arrive on BA from LHR into TBIT with a scheduled arrival of 1:05pm
- We then fly from LAX to LAS on AA from T4 at 10:40pm
- Can we check in and drop our luggage in the afternoon? Let’s assume it will be ca. 2:30pm by the time we get to T4 (I think I can use Flagship First check-in as a OW Emerald)
- We then plan to meet some friends who live nearby and head to the beach for a few hours, before returning to LAX for our late departure
Jan 18, 2018, 9:04 am
#141
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 861
BA no longer offer to through check on separate tickets (even on their own metal!), so unfortunately that won't work. I am comfortable with the stroll over to T4 when we do retrieve our bags, just wondering if we will be too early to drop off our baggage.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:07 am
#142
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
It is two tickets - the transatlantic on BA is an award ticket, then a paid ticket on AA in First (solely for the BA tier points!)
BA no longer offer to through check on separate tickets (even on their own metal!), so unfortunately that won't work. I am comfortable with the stroll over to T4 when we do retrieve our bags, just wondering if we will be too early to drop off our baggage.
BA no longer offer to through check on separate tickets (even on their own metal!), so unfortunately that won't work. I am comfortable with the stroll over to T4 when we do retrieve our bags, just wondering if we will be too early to drop off our baggage.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:07 am
#143
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
It is two tickets - the transatlantic on BA is an award ticket, then a paid ticket on AA in First (solely for the BA tier points!)
BA no longer offer to through check on separate tickets (even on their own metal!), so unfortunately that won't work. I am comfortable with the stroll over to T4 when we do retrieve our bags, just wondering if we will be too early to drop off our baggage.
BA no longer offer to through check on separate tickets (even on their own metal!), so unfortunately that won't work. I am comfortable with the stroll over to T4 when we do retrieve our bags, just wondering if we will be too early to drop off our baggage.
If that fails, there is a luggage storage facility right next to the In-N-Out on Sepulveda.
Jan 18, 2018, 10:07 am
#144
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: Mucci (Scirocco Sash), BAEC Gold, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 861
At a hub like LAX, it's usually not a problem to drop your bags off many hours before your flight. I've done it before. 8 hours might be a lot, though! I think the bag drop time is for facilities where they're not checking in passengers ALL DAY. At a place like LAX, they should be able to take your luggage since they're open all the time. Someone may tell me I'm wrong, though.
If that fails, there is a luggage storage facility right next to the In-N-Out on Sepulveda.
If that fails, there is a luggage storage facility right next to the In-N-Out on Sepulveda.
I will report back if we are succesful (it's not for a few months)
Jan 18, 2018, 10:54 am
#145
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 42
Any idea on lounge access during my connection at JFK. I have an award ticket on RJ Business arriving JFK and then First class (321-T/32B lie flat) to BOS. I doubt I can access the Flagship First lounge, but possibly just the admirals club? Would I be able to leverage my RJ biz ticket to get into Flagship lounge?
Jan 18, 2018, 1:36 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,443
Any idea on lounge access during my connection at JFK. I have an award ticket on RJ Business arriving JFK and then First class (321-T/32B lie flat) to BOS. I doubt I can access the Flagship First lounge, but possibly just the admirals club? Would I be able to leverage my RJ biz ticket to get into Flagship lounge?
Jan 18, 2018, 2:48 pm
#148
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 125
I have lost my AA status but have quite a few 500mile upgrades. I travel frequently with someone who is AA gold and one time since we were on the same PNR, the gate agent was able to use them. Now I'm not sure if this was the exception or the norm but my question is as follows:
Can a non status AA flyer (British airways silver if that matters) fly with an AA gold on the same PNR and use their 500mile upgrades on the party? Would this work on flights to Mexico?
Can a non status AA flyer (British airways silver if that matters) fly with an AA gold on the same PNR and use their 500mile upgrades on the party? Would this work on flights to Mexico?
I'm wondering if anyone knows the answer to this. I called AA a couple of times and am getting conflicting answers from reps
Jan 18, 2018, 5:14 pm
#150
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
Airside check-in at LAX?
Thinking of booking LAX-HND/NRT on AA as I haven't tried out the premium economy yet. I was considering booking a separate AS ticket SEA-LAX arriving 3-4 hrs prior.
Is there any way to check in/retrieve my boarding pass airside at LAX for the Japan flight in case OLCI fails? Or will I have to return to the check-in desk?
I am aware of the risk of misconnect, I just want my extra 1900 AS EQMs
Is there any way to check in/retrieve my boarding pass airside at LAX for the Japan flight in case OLCI fails? Or will I have to return to the check-in desk?
I am aware of the risk of misconnect, I just want my extra 1900 AS EQMs