Jan 1, 2019, 2:12 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Welcome to the 2019 "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.
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(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:
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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
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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.
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NOTE: 2019 NEWBIE LOUNGE older posts are here.
The 2018 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2017 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
The 2016 AA NEWBIE LOUNGE post thread is here
Thanks for reading!
ARCHIVE: NEWBIE LOUNGE 2019: Ask "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)
May 9, 2019, 6:39 pm
#736
Join Date: May 2019
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP 6MM Marriott Titanium
Posts: 7
I’m an AA PLT (former CK when buying expensive tickets) and will be flying Buisness class to FCO from DFW.Is there an arrivals lounge at FCO I can use while I wait two hours to meet someone?
May 9, 2019, 7:04 pm
#737
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BGI | MIA
Programs: AA Platinum Pro | Hyatt Globalist | HH Diamond | SPG Gold
Posts: 316
Theres also a PP lounge directly across from it. Honestly they are the same quality and the PP might even have better food options.
May 9, 2019, 8:14 pm
#738
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
I assume you mean DFW-FCO? Unless there is a specific arrivals lounge, oneworld status or business class does not grant arrivals lounge access, you must have an onward oneworld boarding pass.
May 10, 2019, 12:21 am
#739
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
While there are no arrivals lounges at FCO (but dee the next post for a pay lounge), the Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are nearby on the airport grounds, and iirc very close to the rail station for the Leonardo Express train non-stop service between FCO and Rome Termini (the main station).
Last edited by JDiver; May 10, 2019 at 1:11 pm
May 10, 2019, 8:47 am
#740
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
There's a similar question on the FCO thread on the Italy board, and there's the HelloSky lounge landside by the entrance to the car rental area.
May 10, 2019, 1:44 pm
#741
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
I believe those are departure lounges; the OP is arriving Rome Fiumicino from DFW.
While there are no arrivals lounges at FCO (but dee the next post for a pay lounge), the Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are nearby on the airport grounds, and iirc very close to the rail station for the Leonardo Express train non-stop service between FCO and Rome Termini (the main station).
While there are no arrivals lounges at FCO (but dee the next post for a pay lounge), the Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are nearby on the airport grounds, and iirc very close to the rail station for the Leonardo Express train non-stop service between FCO and Rome Termini (the main station).
There's a similar question on the FCO thread on the Italy board, and there's the HelloSky lounge landside by the entrance to the car rental area.
HelloSky Services Lounge (fee based, departures or arrivals)
Location: Via Generale Felice Santini, 1023, 00054 Fiumicino RM, Italia - juncture of covered walkways to Terminals 1 and 3, landside . Walkway to Leonardo Express train to Roma (Termini).
Hours: 7 am - 9 pm
Link to website
Contact: HelloSky Roma Air Rooms & Lounge
+39 0697150200; [email protected]
Location: Via Generale Felice Santini, 1023, 00054 Fiumicino RM, Italia - juncture of covered walkways to Terminals 1 and 3, landside . Walkway to Leonardo Express train to Roma (Termini).
Hours: 7 am - 9 pm
Amenities:
Access fees: *8€ HelloSky basic access, 20€ HelloSky Plus (includes food buffet, beverages - breakfast available)- WiFi (included in access fee)
- Business center with internet access
- Bar and buffet* (extra cost)
- Concierge
- Showers (€20 includes towels, amenities)
- Air Room day rooms (from 55€)
- Airport lounge*
- Meeting rooms (from 100€)
- Meet and greet service (fees upon request)
Link to website
Contact: HelloSky Roma Air Rooms & Lounge
+39 0697150200; [email protected]
May 11, 2019, 6:50 am
#742
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DSM
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 110
What is the best way to intentionally book a longer layover? I want to fly from DSM to ONT via PHX and spend a few hours in PHX meeting with some local coworkers. When searching flights on aa.com there are two options via PHX: leave DSM in the morning and arrive in ONT late morning, or leave DSM in the afternoon and arrive in ONT early evening. There is one more PHX - ONT late evening flight that doesn’t even show up in the DSM-ONT search. I don’t see an option to force a longer layover online, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I won’t be checking a bag. The way I see it, here are my options:
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
May 11, 2019, 6:54 am
#743
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,742
What is the best way to intentionally book a longer layover? I want to fly from DSM to ONT via PHX and spend a few hours in PHX meeting with some local coworkers. When searching flights on aa.com there are two options via PHX: leave DSM in the morning and arrive in ONT late morning, or leave DSM in the afternoon and arrive in ONT early evening. There is one more PHX - ONT late evening flight that doesn’t even show up in the DSM-ONT search. I don’t see an option to force a longer layover online, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I won’t be checking a bag. The way I see it, here are my options:
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
May 11, 2019, 6:56 am
#744
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
What is the best way to intentionally book a longer layover? I want to fly from DSM to ONT via PHX and spend a few hours in PHX meeting with some local coworkers. When searching flights on aa.com there are two options via PHX: leave DSM in the morning and arrive in ONT late morning, or leave DSM in the afternoon and arrive in ONT early evening. There is one more PHX - ONT late evening flight that doesn’t even show up in the DSM-ONT search. I don’t see an option to force a longer layover online, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I won’t be checking a bag. The way I see it, here are my options:
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
1) Call AA for the initial booking. I can’t find this online, but I believe there is a fee associated with booking tickets over the phone? I am Gold status if that makes a difference.
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
3) Book multi-city: DSM to PHX in the morning, PHX to ONT in the evening, and ONT to DSM at the end of the week. This looks like it will cost around $75-$100 more than a single round-trip ticket, so comparable to the $75 same day change but with the security of a confirmed flight in advance.
Do I have these options right, or is there a better way? I’m leaning toward #3, multi-city. I don’t mind paying a little more, but it seems like there should be some way to book the longer layover for free as long as I plan it in advance.
May 11, 2019, 7:35 am
#745
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DSM
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 110
Just give AA a call, there's no fee for booking something over the phone that can't be booked online. Just tell the agent that you couldn't book the flights online if they try to charge you the phone fee. Or when you call you could just put the lights on hold, then go back online and book them.
If that doesn't work I will just go mult-city. Thanks both of you!
May 11, 2019, 8:09 am
#746
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
Since you can book multi-city, which is what you want, on line I wouldn't get your hopes up on a fee rebate. The only exception to the four hour rule is if there isn't a pair of connecting flights that fall in that period.
May 11, 2019, 8:14 am
#747
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: DSM
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 110
May 11, 2019, 8:14 am
#748
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: 14,518
2) Book the morning flight DSM-PHX-ONT and SDFC to the later flight for the second leg. Drawbacks are, I can only make the change at T-24, and there is a $75 fee for a confirmed change, or free (as Gold) to standby, but I run the risk of not getting on a later flight (and not getting a decent seat).
May 12, 2019, 1:52 am
#749
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Programs: DL, HH, Bonvoy
Posts: 204
Is there any way to convert an award flight to a paid booking?
I had to book a flight that was showing up as stupid expensive for what it was, and now it's literally a quarter of the original price. It's been more than 24 hours, but I understand it's possible to change award tickets in some situations (different date for example) without penalty. I can't find anything about whether AA offers the option to convert an award ticket to a paid ticket though. I'd be willing to upgrade class of service to make it happen, too.
Canceling the booking is an option but if there's a way to save the $150, even better!
I had to book a flight that was showing up as stupid expensive for what it was, and now it's literally a quarter of the original price. It's been more than 24 hours, but I understand it's possible to change award tickets in some situations (different date for example) without penalty. I can't find anything about whether AA offers the option to convert an award ticket to a paid ticket though. I'd be willing to upgrade class of service to make it happen, too.
Canceling the booking is an option but if there's a way to save the $150, even better!
May 12, 2019, 7:08 am
#750
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Is there any way to convert an award flight to a paid booking?
I had to book a flight that was showing up as stupid expensive for what it was, and now it's literally a quarter of the original price. It's been more than 24 hours, but I understand it's possible to change award tickets in some situations (different date for example) without penalty. I can't find anything about whether AA offers the option to convert an award ticket to a paid ticket though. I'd be willing to upgrade class of service to make it happen, too.
Canceling the booking is an option but if there's a way to save the $150, even better!
I had to book a flight that was showing up as stupid expensive for what it was, and now it's literally a quarter of the original price. It's been more than 24 hours, but I understand it's possible to change award tickets in some situations (different date for example) without penalty. I can't find anything about whether AA offers the option to convert an award ticket to a paid ticket though. I'd be willing to upgrade class of service to make it happen, too.
Canceling the booking is an option but if there's a way to save the $150, even better!
If you don't need the miles immediately for anything else, one option is to change your award flights to a date way off in the future (AA offers free date/time changes on awards). Then wait for the inevitable schedule change, and then call AA to cancel as they will usually waive the redeposit fee for schedule changes.