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ARCHIVE: NEWBIE LOUNGE 2019: Ask "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Jan 1, 2019, 2:12 pm
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Welcome to the 2019 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"
Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
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Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
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NOTE: 2019 NEWBIE LOUNGE older posts are here.

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ARCHIVE: NEWBIE LOUNGE 2019: Ask "Newbie" AA Questions Here (flame free)

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Old Sep 1, 2019, 12:45 pm
  #1456  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Originally Posted by muji
Thank you JJeffrey for the help.

Selecting "partner airlines' from the search helped, eliminating BA results.

I could not find anything saying "Advanced Search"; but I did notice this: "Try our new award booking search". Choosing that, I ended up getting pretty much the same award options, but BA was now included.

Through the regular (non-advanced) search, I found only a few that would be good options:
EWR - CLT - MUC
LGA - PHL - ZRH
LGA - PHL - LHR

These options which came up would be too lengthy:
EWR - CLT - PHL - ZRH
EWR - CLT - PHL - AMS
EWR - ORD - PHL - AMS
EWR - ORD - DFW- FRA
EWR - CLT - DFW- FRA
LGA - STL - DFW- FRA
JFK - AUS - DFW- FRA

I appreciate your help.
In the end, I did not find as many good options as you did.
If you can, please send me any other tips you may have.
Yea, the "new" search at aa.com is complete crap. You were using the advanced (old) search as I suggested.

You found pretty much what I was able to find, a lot depends on exactly what date(s) you were looking at. One thing to keep in mind is that AA only serves FRA & MUC from DFW & CLT. So if say CLT-FRA is not available on any of your dates but DFW is, that is why you're seeing the backtracking to DFW and 2+ connections.

That said, the options you did find look pretty good. Looking for sAAver business space on AA metal to central Europe, they won't really get to look any better than that, so I would grab something while it's available. Or at least put it on hold (free for 5 days) while you finalize plans or check other options.
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Old Sep 2, 2019, 2:00 pm
  #1457  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, UA, DL, etc
Posts: 12
Thanks guv1976!
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Old Sep 2, 2019, 10:29 pm
  #1458  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 10
Please forgive the newbie question here. It's similar to Muji's above, but a little different. - I'm trying to get 2 business class tickets for June 2020 from SFO to [any European airport convenient to FRA - Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc]. We have a lot of flexibility on dates, and our ability to make a short domestic hop in coach in order to get business class across the Atlantic. We have about 200k AA miles (and 200k on AS, and an additional 84k on UA), but no status. Can anyone give me some tips on how to best search a wide variety of options? The straightforward SFO-FRA flights are not available. Thank you.
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Old Sep 2, 2019, 10:34 pm
  #1459  
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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Originally Posted by jus10g
Please forgive the newbie question here. It's similar to Muji's above, but a little different. - I'm trying to get 2 business class tickets for June 2020 from SFO to [any European airport convenient to FRA - Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc]. We have a lot of flexibility on dates, and our ability to make a short domestic hop in coach in order to get business class across the Atlantic. We have about 200k AA miles (and 200k on AS, and an additional 84k on UA), but no status. Can anyone give me some tips on how to best search a wide variety of options? The straightforward SFO-FRA flights are not available. Thank you.
Many people want business class awards USA - Eu/UK in peak season.
Wanting 2 award seats on the same flight makes it harder.


AS & AA have many common ff partners.
Good luck with the hunt ^
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Last edited by Mwenenzi; Sep 2, 2019 at 10:41 pm
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Old Sep 3, 2019, 9:16 am
  #1460  
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
Originally Posted by jus10g
Please forgive the newbie question here. It's similar to Muji's above, but a little different. - I'm trying to get 2 business class tickets for June 2020 from SFO to [any European airport convenient to FRA - Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc]. We have a lot of flexibility on dates, and our ability to make a short domestic hop in coach in order to get business class across the Atlantic. We have about 200k AA miles (and 200k on AS, and an additional 84k on UA), but no status. Can anyone give me some tips on how to best search a wide variety of options? The straightforward SFO-FRA flights are not available. Thank you.
Definitely check those threads. The SAAver Help Desk thread has a helpful Wikipost at the top of the page, and it opens other possibilities, e.g. Air Tahiti Nui LAX-CDG.
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Old Sep 3, 2019, 9:41 am
  #1461  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
I had an award flight the other week, MCO-JFK-HND in F (80k miles x2 people). The first leg ended up getting cancelled and I rebooked in J since that was the only thing available. Anyways miles posted which pushed me to Platinum Pro.

If I call to get refunded the 40k miles due to the F to J change, do you think they'll also see the MQD and MQM posting and remove it? I'm debating whether Plat Pro would be worth 40k miles or not. But if someone can say they will just refund the miles and not even look at any potential earnings I'll just go ahead and call.
sethMCOflyer is offline  
Old Sep 3, 2019, 12:15 pm
  #1462  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: A3*G,BA Silver
Posts: 2,012
Flying with AA London-Miami-Medellin in November and also in February Casablanca-Dallas-Honolulu. in both caes the transit time is 2 hours. is it enough to go via immigration and check in my luggage again or too ris k y? Shall i go HBO?
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Old Sep 3, 2019, 12:39 pm
  #1463  
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Originally Posted by sethMCOflyer
I had an award flight the other week, MCO-JFK-HND in F (80k miles x2 people). The first leg ended up getting cancelled and I rebooked in J since that was the only thing available. Anyways miles posted which pushed me to Platinum Pro.

If I call to get refunded the 40k miles due to the F to J change, do you think they'll also see the MQD and MQM posting and remove it? I'm debating whether Plat Pro would be worth 40k miles or not. But if someone can say they will just refund the miles and not even look at any potential earnings I'll just go ahead and call.
No one here will be able to say definitively, completely YMMV depending on the agent and whatever processes AA has in place for this type thing.

That said, when you pull up your account, is this listed as 2 separate items, i.e. one for the award (-80k miles) and a completely separate entry for the flights (+ whatever miles earned)?

If it's separate, I'd be inclined to think that the mileage posting would stay regardless. An agent is not likely to start poking around and changing things that are somewhat separate from the issue/item you're calling about. Without a lot of research they would have no idea why that flight (erroneously) posted the way it did. For all they know the award flight could have been for someone else with you buying a paid ticket on the same flight, etc.
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Old Sep 3, 2019, 2:51 pm
  #1464  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
No one here will be able to say definitively, completely YMMV depending on the agent and whatever processes AA has in place for this type thing.

That said, when you pull up your account, is this listed as 2 separate items, i.e. one for the award (-80k miles) and a completely separate entry for the flights (+ whatever miles earned)?

If it's separate, I'd be inclined to think that the mileage posting would stay regardless. An agent is not likely to start poking around and changing things that are somewhat separate from the issue/item you're calling about. Without a lot of research they would have no idea why that flight (erroneously) posted the way it did. For all they know the award flight could have been for someone else with you buying a paid ticket on the same flight, etc.
Thats a good point, they’re separate postings but I was thinking they might look at the flight to see that I did indeed fly J instead of F. I think I might give it a shot and see what happens, I’m thinking the 40k miles will get me further than the status.
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Old Sep 3, 2019, 4:26 pm
  #1465  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
Originally Posted by ermis177
Flying with AA London-Miami-Medellin in November and also in February Casablanca-Dallas-Honolulu. in both caes the transit time is 2 hours. is it enough to go via immigration and check in my luggage again or too ris k y? Shall i go HBO?
As I understand it, the I-I process is somewhat expedited at those airports for some origins -- I would assume London qualifies but not Casablanca. And the answers probably also depend on whether you have Global Entry and what class you're flying in.

Best to check the relevant fora:

AA Guide: MIA / Miami International Airport, MCT / Connection, etc.

AA Guide: DFW / Dallas - Fort Worth International Airport - MCT, Connection, etc

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Old Sep 4, 2019, 8:54 am
  #1466  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
Originally Posted by sethMCOflyer
I had an award flight the other week, MCO-JFK-HND in F (80k miles x2 people). The first leg ended up getting cancelled and I rebooked in J since that was the only thing available. Anyways miles posted which pushed me to Platinum Pro.

If I call to get refunded the 40k miles due to the F to J change, do you think they'll also see the MQD and MQM posting and remove it? I'm debating whether Plat Pro would be worth 40k miles or not. But if someone can say they will just refund the miles and not even look at any potential earnings I'll just go ahead and call.
I ended up calling and they were only able to redeposit 17,251 miles per person because I flew domestic F to ORD, I kept saying domestic F would be included in a standard J award ticket but eventually gave up on pressing the issue. They did give an extra 2,500 goodwill bonus too so it was only an overall 3k mile difference not including the 7k miles I had gotten in error from the rebooked portion.
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Old Sep 4, 2019, 10:46 am
  #1467  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I'm so confused about seat choices

We almost never fly AA anymore (usually AS), but we had some old miles we've used for an upcoming F flight.

We just had a schedule change and now the new flight has me so confused...it is the one where there are basically 2 first class sections...(it is AA 1297 LAX/MIA, aircraft is 772). We are traveling as a couple, so got 2 seats in the center section. However, I just saw some pictures and am I correct that these seats are "separated " from each other? sort of a wall in between?

We like to play cards, talk, rest on each other's shoulders...will we be isolated from each other?

Also, since there are 2 of these sections, is there a dedicated FA for each one?

I'm now wondering if I should have selected a different flight that has the seats right next to each other (which aircraft type would that be?). Or would it be too late to switch since I already accepted this schedule change? Any advice?
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Old Sep 4, 2019, 10:49 am
  #1468  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Originally Posted by Eujeanie
We almost never fly AA anymore (usually AS), but we had some old miles we've used for an upcoming F flight.

We just had a schedule change and now the new flight has me so confused...it is the one where there are basically 2 first class sections...(it is AA 1297 LAX/MIA, aircraft is 772). We are traveling as a couple, so got 2 seats in the center section. However, I just saw some pictures and am I correct that these seats are "separated " from each other? sort of a wall in between?

We like to play cards, talk, rest on each other's shoulders...will we be isolated from each other?

Also, since there are 2 of these sections, is there a dedicated FA for each one?

I'm now wondering if I should have selected a different flight that has the seats right next to each other (which aircraft type would that be?). Or would it be too late to switch since I already accepted this schedule change? Any advice?
you won’t be able to lean on each other shoulders but it’s internatinally configured business class seat. You can still see each other in some of the seats in the middle section but you won’t be close as if you would fly on 737 or 321
gateH15 is offline  
Old Sep 4, 2019, 10:54 am
  #1469  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 805
Originally Posted by Eujeanie
We almost never fly AA anymore (usually AS), but we had some old miles we've used for an upcoming F flight.

We just had a schedule change and now the new flight has me so confused...it is the one where there are basically 2 first class sections...(it is AA 1297 LAX/MIA, aircraft is 772). We are traveling as a couple, so got 2 seats in the center section. However, I just saw some pictures and am I correct that these seats are "separated " from each other? sort of a wall in between?

We like to play cards, talk, rest on each other's shoulders...will we be isolated from each other?

Also, since there are 2 of these sections, is there a dedicated FA for each one?

I'm now wondering if I should have selected a different flight that has the seats right next to each other (which aircraft type would that be?). Or would it be too late to switch since I already accepted this schedule change? Any advice?
If it's the 1-2-1 section then it's the international business layout, super comfortable, but not great if you're trying to interact with whoever is next to you. Just lookup AA 772 business on google and you'll see what it looks like.

If it's the 2-4-2 section then it's the international premium economy section which is made up of what are first class seats on the narrow body airplanes and what you're used to on AS in F.

I'd just try to move to the premium economy section which is likely sold as business class on domestic routes.
sethMCOflyer is offline  
Old Sep 4, 2019, 12:28 pm
  #1470  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Actually it looks kind of cool. And since we 99% fly Alaska we might never get the opportunity to try it out. I think we'll just keep what we have.

But what about my question about how many FA's are in F on those flights?
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