"Economy Web Special" Award (dynamic price, fewer miles, more restrictions Oct 2018)
Aug 15, 2019, 9:05 pm
#61
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,112
NYC-BOS appears to have a lot of 5k web special availability, even close in when cash fares are $300+.
Right now 5k miles for the late night JFK-BOS A321T, with an almost guaranteed upgrade to F if EXP, for fewer points than Amtrak (on some days) is a nice deal to ease the pain of 100k “specials” for economy to Europe.
Right now 5k miles for the late night JFK-BOS A321T, with an almost guaranteed upgrade to F if EXP, for fewer points than Amtrak (on some days) is a nice deal to ease the pain of 100k “specials” for economy to Europe.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:34 am
#62
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
Are those close-in web specials (or even not-so-close-in) always accompanied by high dollar fees along with the low miles price? I have bought a couple of these in the last two months, both to attend funerals. I was charged the mileage price plus $85. Not sure if that is a standard thing for AA—I don’t think I’ve ever had to buy tickets this last-minute before—or if it was part of the web special deal.
Aug 16, 2019, 7:47 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
Are those close-in web specials (or even not-so-close-in) always accompanied by high dollar fees along with the low miles price? I have bought a couple of these in the last two months, both to attend funerals. I was charged the mileage price plus $85. Not sure if that is a standard thing for AA—I don’t think I’ve ever had to buy tickets this last-minute before—or if it was part of the web special deal.
Aug 16, 2019, 8:17 am
#64
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
Thanks, I thought it must be something like this but wasn’t sure. One ticket was bought the day before the flight, the other about 8 days before, and both incurred the fee. Now I know why. Even with the $85 charge it was still a great deal vs. a cash ticket.
Aug 16, 2019, 10:50 am
#65
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
<br />Yes, I also noticed some really great fares on routes I use with the new category but wasn't able to commit to flight times, so I couldn't book and now I'm not seeing them. As a matter of fact, last week the awards were much higher than normal, so IDK if there was a temporary glitch while they removed the "Web special" category. Glad someone else noticed it as well. I hope they come back...<br />
Aug 16, 2019, 11:01 am
#66
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 126
Are you using the new booking site? I see a lot of web specials, but they are listed under the Main Cabin column, not their own column. When I select that, I get a pop up warning about the web special limitations.
Aug 16, 2019, 11:27 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelmad478
Are those close-in web specials (or even not-so-close-in) always accompanied by high dollar fees along with the low miles price? I have bought a couple of these in the last two months, both to attend funerals. I was charged the mileage price plus $85. Not sure if that is a standard thing for AA—I don’t think I’ve ever had to buy tickets this last-minute before—or if it was part of the web special deal.
FYI- $75 close-in ticketing fee — American charges $75 per ticket when you book that travel within 21 days of departure, but that's often when some of the best award space appears. Fortunately this fee is waived when you redeem miles from an account with any elite status (Gold or higher)
Originally Posted by travelmad478
Are those close-in web specials (or even not-so-close-in) always accompanied by high dollar fees along with the low miles price? I have bought a couple of these in the last two months, both to attend funerals. I was charged the mileage price plus $85. Not sure if that is a standard thing for AA—I don’t think I’ve ever had to buy tickets this last-minute before—or if it was part of the web special deal.
FYI- $75 close-in ticketing fee — American charges $75 per ticket when you book that travel within 21 days of departure, but that's often when some of the best award space appears. Fortunately this fee is waived when you redeem miles from an account with any elite status (Gold or higher)
Aug 16, 2019, 11:35 am
#68
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
Aug 16, 2019, 11:38 am
#69
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
Has anyone booked the Economy Web special to a reduced mileage city with the credit card? There were flights as low as 6000 miles to reduced mileage cities, eligible for 3750 mileage award reduction. I did not book because my dates were not set and unfortunately I'm no longer seeing web specials on that route.
Aug 16, 2019, 11:41 am
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Has anyone booked the Economy Web special to a reduced mileage city with the credit card? There were flights as low as 6000 miles to reduced mileage cities, eligible for 3750 mileage award reduction. I did not book because my dates were not set and unfortunately I'm no longer seeing web specials on that route.
Aug 16, 2019, 12:44 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,929
FYI- $75 close-in ticketing fee — American charges $75 per ticket when you book that travel within 21 days of departure, but that's often when some of the best award space appears. Fortunately this fee is waived when you redeem miles from an account with any elite status (Gold or higher)
Aug 16, 2019, 2:48 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Fort Worth, Texas USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum 5 million miles
Posts: 1,001
Redeemed miles for a ticket from DFW to SFO last weekend. Outbound was an economy web special award. Only one flight was available at that level. On day of travel checked to see if could use same day flight change feature and was able to confirm and change to a later flight on-line. I am EP.
Was on the upgrade list for the flight but did not clear. Cleared at 100 hours for return flight.
Was on the upgrade list for the flight but did not clear. Cleared at 100 hours for return flight.
Last edited by FlyForFun; Aug 16, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Aug 16, 2019, 3:08 pm
#73
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
Q - if I book a MileSAAver w/reduced mileage for 17500, then need to change it to the following month (which is not listed) but does have 25k awards, would they change it or would I have to move it to a month that is listed on the reduced mileage list?
Do you know if a "MileSAAver" of only 7500 for a short flight from DFW to a reduced mileage city (COU) is eligible for 3750 mileage reduction? TIA.
Aug 16, 2019, 3:26 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Thanks for the quick response-good to know! Makes an 8750 reduced MileSAAver award a much better option for me, with fliexibility to change.
Q - if I book a MileSAAver w/reduced mileage for 17500, then need to change it to the following month (which is not listed) but does have 25k awards, would they change it or would I have to move it to a month that is listed on the reduced mileage list?
Do you know if a "MileSAAver" of only 7500 for a short flight from DFW to a reduced mileage city (COU) is eligible for 3750 mileage reduction? TIA.
Q - if I book a MileSAAver w/reduced mileage for 17500, then need to change it to the following month (which is not listed) but does have 25k awards, would they change it or would I have to move it to a month that is listed on the reduced mileage list?
Do you know if a "MileSAAver" of only 7500 for a short flight from DFW to a reduced mileage city (COU) is eligible for 3750 mileage reduction? TIA.
As to your second question, review "Step 1" of the reduced-mileage-award landing page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...dmileageawards
Aug 24, 2019, 2:22 pm
#75
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: Marriott, American, Delta, United
Posts: 38
Quote:
Originally Posted by mland0821
Thanks for the quick response-good to know! Makes an 8750 reduced MileSAAver award a much better option for me, with fliexibility to change.
Q - if I book a MileSAAver w/reduced mileage for 17500, then need to change it to the following month (which is not listed) but does have 25k awards, would they change it or would I have to move it to a month that is listed on the reduced mileage list?
Do you know if a "MileSAAver" of only 7500 for a short flight from DFW to a reduced mileage city (COU) is eligible for 3750 mileage reduction? TIA.
FYI-I thought I would share T&Cs re:reduced mileage booking restrictions-I was unaware that even though you have a year to rebook award flights, the reduced mileage award flights need to be taken the same quarter as booking. Hence, if you do not fly within that quarter, you have to pay the mileage reinstatement fee to put the miles back into the account, even if it is to book another reduced mileage award.
PS-I also learned that if you can wait a year, until right before expiration to reinstate miles to your account- it is $150 for first & $25 thereafter, regardless of different itineraries, passengers, dates, etc. So if you don't need the miles before one year is up, you might save fees if you have several awards to reinstate.
Originally Posted by mland0821
Thanks for the quick response-good to know! Makes an 8750 reduced MileSAAver award a much better option for me, with fliexibility to change.
Q - if I book a MileSAAver w/reduced mileage for 17500, then need to change it to the following month (which is not listed) but does have 25k awards, would they change it or would I have to move it to a month that is listed on the reduced mileage list?
Do you know if a "MileSAAver" of only 7500 for a short flight from DFW to a reduced mileage city (COU) is eligible for 3750 mileage reduction? TIA.
I don't know the answer to your first question, but I suspect that you would only be able to change to a date in a month when the reduced-mileage-award is offered to your destination.
As to your second question, review "Step 1" of the reduced-mileage-award landing page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...dmileageawards
As to your second question, review "Step 1" of the reduced-mileage-award landing page:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...dmileageawards
PS-I also learned that if you can wait a year, until right before expiration to reinstate miles to your account- it is $150 for first & $25 thereafter, regardless of different itineraries, passengers, dates, etc. So if you don't need the miles before one year is up, you might save fees if you have several awards to reinstate.
- Awards may be booked effective August 1, 2019 – September 30, 2019
- Awards are valid for travel August 1, 2019 – November 30, 2019
- Awards must be claimed by September 30, 2019