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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"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.
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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 20, 2019, 11:26 am
#796
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Did AA increase award redemption fees?
I put on HOLD this itinerary: SFO-DFW-KEF (layover in DFW) on an award booking for 2 pax.
The total fees were $22.40, plus the miles required.
I thought it should be $5.60 per pax, that makes $11.20 for 2 pax.
Did AA charge me correctly? TIA.
The total fees were $22.40, plus the miles required.
I thought it should be $5.60 per pax, that makes $11.20 for 2 pax.
Did AA charge me correctly? TIA.
May 20, 2019, 11:32 am
#797
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
If there is a layover that is long (over 3.5 hrs I think) the security fee gets doubled by the TSA. Seems plausible based on some of the recent trips I have seen. How long is your DFW layover?
May 20, 2019, 12:06 pm
#798
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Yes, my layover will be much longer than 3.5 hours by design. Thanks for the info.
May 20, 2019, 1:48 pm
#799
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
See Guide to KEF / Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport, Iceland)
Also
Iceland restaurant suggestions?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nord...ns-please.html
and possibly the older but useful Reykjavik Dining Thread
May 20, 2019, 9:34 pm
#800
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 58
Is there any better redemption on a partner airline using 30k AA (saver fare economy) miles each way for SFO-VCE and then FCO-SFO? Would like to check in with the experts before I go ahead and book the ticket on AA. My only concern is having to avoid BA/LHR for the obvious reasons of taxes and fees
May 20, 2019, 9:59 pm
#801
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Is there any better redemption on a partner airline using 30k AA (saver fare economy) miles each way for SFO-VCE and then FCO-SFO? Would like to check in with the experts before I go ahead and book the ticket on AA. My only concern is having to avoid BA/LHR for the obvious reasons of taxes and fees
May 20, 2019, 10:04 pm
#802
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
Is there any better redemption on a partner airline using 30k AA (saver fare economy) miles each way for SFO-VCE and then FCO-SFO? Would like to check in with the experts before I go ahead and book the ticket on AA. My only concern is having to avoid BA/LHR for the obvious reasons of taxes and fees
Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very high
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
May 20, 2019, 10:28 pm
#803
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Sigh. Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)
Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very highfuel surcharges “carrier imposed surcharge”; using BA from LHR or LGW to VCE incurs lesser fees.
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very high
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
May 20, 2019, 10:47 pm
#804
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 58
Sigh. Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)
Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very highfuel surcharges “carrier imposed surcharge”; using BA from LHR or LGW to VCE incurs lesser fees.
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very high
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
Yes, connecting through LHR, as long as the transatlantic sector is on AA and not BA, does not incur the carrier imposed surcharge, but it does incur LHR's passenger facility charge (around $20 I think). Finnair would also incur some extra charges for the connection through HEL (around $5 I think), in addition to the $5.60. So AA all the way is still the best option, since it's only $5.60 in taxes and fees.
Perhaps I am doing it wrong. When I select BA flights landing in LHR before continuing to Italy, I see $626 in taxes and fees/fuel surcharge (not to mention the 60k points).
This is the departing flight:
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.
And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
May 20, 2019, 10:55 pm
#805
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Perhaps I am doing it wrong. When I select BA flights landing in LHR before continuing to Italy, I see $626 in taxes and fees/fuel surcharge (not to mention the 60k points).
This is the departing flight:
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.
And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
This is the departing flight:
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.
And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
May 21, 2019, 4:42 am
#806
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
For example, SFO-DFW-LHR-VCE, using AA for SFO-DFW-LHR & BA for LHR-VCE, is only 30k miles + $29 in taxes/fees.
May 21, 2019, 9:56 am
#807
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
Perhaps I am doing it wrong. When I select BA flights landing in LHR before continuing to Italy, I see $626 in taxes and fees/fuel surcharge (not to mention the 60k points).
This is the departing flight:
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.
And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
This is the departing flight:
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.
And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
Sigh. Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)
Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very highfuel surcharges “carrier imposed surcharge”; using BA from LHR or LGW to VCE incurs lesser fees.
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very high
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.
May 21, 2019, 4:49 pm
#808
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
DFW-KEF best seat in MCE and J on B757
According to EF, seat map shows no Economy Premium, but has MCE.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
May 21, 2019, 5:08 pm
#809
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
According to EF, seat map shows no Economy Premium, but has MCE.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
The lav is right in front of Row 9 (on the left side), which might be annoying on an overnight flight. You will also likely encounter the person seated in 10A or 10F crossing over in front of you to get out of their seat. (10A and 10F, by the way, are the best seats in economy, especially if traveling alone; you have pretty much unrestricted legroom.)
Can't help you with your window seat question for J, although it's an overnight transatlantic flight, so not sure you'd have much of a view for most of the flight.
May 21, 2019, 6:54 pm
#810
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
According to EF, seat map shows no Economy Premium, but has MCE.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?
If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.
Thank you in advance.
For further seat information, please see LAA 75L / 757-200 Best MCE / Main Cabin Extra seats (consolidated)
and https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...aster-thd.html.
This thread is really better for “newbie” questions than in depth questions about specific aircraft seating.