Jan 6, 2019, 2:14 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
ARCHIVE: 2017 HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion
The current thread can be read here.
The current thread can be read here.
Some of you might have found your thread merged into this "consolidated" thread. If your desire is to become thoroughly familiar with the knowledge that has been accumulated about the process for acquiring MileSAAver awards feel free to read this entire thread. If you only want the assistance from those who have the knowledge your request has been merged at the end. Feel free to wait for a forthcoming answer.
If you have reached this thread by using the search process you have the same choices as above. Read the thread and become knowledgeable or post at the end and wait for a forthcoming answer.
thanks
~magic111
If you have reached this thread by using the search process you have the same choices as above. Read the thread and become knowledgeable or post at the end and wait for a forthcoming answer.
thanks
~magic111
NOTE: for more detailed fare rules, see AA oneworld & Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (master thd)
Awards can generally be held for five days; five day extensions require continued availability of your flights and generating a new award booking and five day hold.
Though AA can start releasing awards 331 days from the desired flight date (even though some other airlines might make award seats available to their members 355 days out), it’s very likely award seats may be released a few days after that. If seats aren’t sold and Revenue Management algorithms signify slow sales, more seats might be released going forward.
Airlines that can be booked for award travel on aa.com
oneworld alliance airline partners other airline partners
oneworld alliance airline partners
- AA - American Airlines
- BA - British Airways (awards incur significant YQ surcharge)
- AY - Finnair
- IB - Iberia
- QF - Qantas
- QR - Qatar Airways
- RJ - Royal Jordanian Airlines
- S7 - S7 Airlines
- UL - Sri Lankan Airlines
- 9K - Cape Air (but only certain cities)
- TN - Air Tahiti Nui
- AS - Alaska Airlines
- EY - Etihad
- HA - Hawaiian Airlines
All others must be requested by telephone; see Note below.
NOTE: To search for partner awards, go to advanced search from the awards search or home page and select all airlines.
Full list of oneworld airline partners (and their affiliates)
- AA - American Airlines
- BA - British Airways (Cityflyer, Comair, OpenSkies, Sun-Air of Scandinavia)
- CX - Cathay Pacific (Dragonair)
- AY -Finnair (Flybe)
- IB - Iberia (Air Nostrum, Iberia Express)
- JL - Japan Airlines (JAL Express, J-Air, Japan Transocean Air)
- LA- LAN Airlines (LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador, LAN Express, LAN Colombia, LAN Peru only, merging with JJ to LATAM)
- MH - Malaysia Airlines
- QF - Qantas Airways (QantasLink, Jetconnect)
- QR - Qatar Airways
- RJ - Royal Jordanian Airlines
- S7 - S7 Airlines (Globus) (excludes Siberia / far eastern Russia awards)
- UL - SriLankan Airlines
- JJ - TAM Airlines (merging with LA to LATAM)
When you do call, you might want to search for award space on the flights you want and tell the agent about those flights; sometimes AA agents won't find award seats unless they search by segment.
When using other airline web sites or tools to search for award availability, it’s best to do so by segment rather than by trip. E. g. BA May show availability SAN-LHR and LHR-AMS, but not SAN-AMS. And in some instances (EY, FJ, etc.) AA US may not see availability that AA Australia or New Zealand might see.
Full list of additional airline partners offering award redemptions
- TN - Air Tahiti Nui
- AS - Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air
- 9K - Cape Air
- EY - Etihad Airways
- FJ - Fiji Airways
- GF - Gulf Air
- HA - Hawaiian Airlines
NOTE: Ticketing charge
Effective February 16, 2015, a Reservations Ticketing Service Charge of $30.00 for domestic itineraries and $40.00 for international itineraries will be applied by AA Reservations when ticketing award reservations that can be booked on aa.com. The charge is waived for award reservations that cannot be booked on aa.com including reduced mileage awards, and for Executive Platinums. N.B. Executive Platinums booking award for non-EP will pay the service charges.
Code:
oneworld Partners Award Fare Codes First-Business-Economy -------------------------------------------------------- AA - American Airlines Z U T -------------------------------------------------------- AY – Finnair U X -------------------------------------------------------- BA – British Airways Z U X -------------------------------------------------------- CX – Cathay Pacific Z U T KA - DragonAir -------------------------------------------------------- IB – Iberia U X -------------------------------------------------------- JL – Japan Airlines (Intl) Z U T JL – Japan Airlines (Dom) Z D S -------------------------------------------------------- LATAM Group JJ - TAM Airlines O I X LA – LAN Chile Z U T XL - LAN Ecuador LP - LAN Peru 4M - LAN Argentina -------------------------------------------------------- MH - Malaysia Airlines P U X -------------------------------------------------------- QF - QANTAS Airways P U X -------------------------------------------------------- QR - Qatar Airways Z U X -------------------------------------------------------- RJ – Royal Jordanian U X -------------------------------------------------------- S7 – S7 Airlines U E -------------------------------------------------------- UL - SriLankan Airlines -------------------------------------------------------- Other Partners First Business Economy -------------------------------------------------------- FJ – Fiji Airways U X -------------------------------------------------------- TN – Air Tahiti Nui F for Business U for Economy -------------------------------------------------------- AS – Alaska Airlines A W -------------------------------------------------------- LY – El Al Israel P X E -------------------------------------------------------- EY - Etihad O I N -------------------------------------------------------- HA – Hawaiian Airlines D T --------------------------------------------------------
Other rules that may affect your awards:
Award Rules
American Airlines Awards are valid for travel on flights that are marketed and operated by AA (no codeshares). These awards can be booked online at AA.com.
oneworld and Other Airline awards are valid for travel on AA and any of its partner airlines, and can include travel on multiple partners. Many of these awards must be booked over the phone, and will not incur a Ticketing Service Charge (waived for EXPs in any case) if they cannot be booked online.
Up to four one-way awards can be booked on a single PNR. Codeshares are not bookable as Awards.
MPM or Maximum Permitted Miles: A Fare or award may not exceed the most direct routing by more than 25% (unless the fare routing includes a ticketed point deduction (essentially a miles allowance that extends MPM). See MPM / Maximum Permitted Mileage & Ticketed Point Deductions (merged threads).
Stopovers and Connections
Stopovers are no longer allowed on AA awards. Stopovers will require multiple awards.
Connections are limited to two connections / three flight segments for domestic awards, and three connections / four flight segments for international awards as of Aug 2017. Link
Domestic Connections must be under 4 hours for domestic flights, with some exceptions: "LIFO" (Last In - First Out connections are generally allowed.
Hawaii itinerary: Effective on 14 Jul 2014 on an all-AA-metal award itinerary, you now have up to 18 hours to connect when traveling to/from Hawaii. NOTE: Hawaii interisland connections must be separate awards and can not be included as part of a mainland-island award.
International Connections must generally not exceed 23:59 hours. Some leeway has occasionally been granted when connecting flights are not daily. If the itinerary includes an international flight, the rules for international connections apply. Link to these courtesy of JonNYC.
If there is a non-stop flight that departs after the 4h / 23h59m windows and arrives at the destination earlier than a connecting flight within the 4h / 23h59m window, the passenger may be booked on the non-stop flight. It may be difficult getting some agents to book this.
"Most Significant Carrier" rule: To price as a single award, AAdvantage requires the most significant carrier to publish a cash fare (non-constructed) between the origin and destination. Airline MSC (e.g. DFW-SFO-HKG-BKK, CX SFO-HKG is the prevailing or most significant carrier) would have to have a published fare from XXX to YYY that allows travel on all included airlines, and routing that you want. If the MSC only offers constructed fares between your desired origin and destination, AA will price this as two awards.
Constructed fares: Another rule disallows awards where the fare must be constructed (also referred to as "YY"): Using a partner, the trip will require two awards if the governing carrier (e,g. airline operating on the major route, such as transpacific carrier) doesn't publish a through fare that includes the award's proposed origin and destination that allows the carriers proposed.
See this thread about examples using TN.
Married Segment Logic - a prospective trip may be available when searching segment by segment, yet not be bookable through from origin to destination. When selling seats for through flights and the desired inventory is not available, you cannot opt to sell the flight point-to-point. If sold point-to-point, the error response MULTIPLE SEGMENTS FOR SAME FLIGHT - SELL AS ONE SEGMENT will be received, indicating this booking is not allowed. Overriding the error check by ending the PNR twice is not acceptable.
See Award with available segments not bookable? (Married Segment issues)
Award Rules
American Airlines Awards are valid for travel on flights that are marketed and operated by AA (no codeshares). These awards can be booked online at AA.com.
oneworld and Other Airline awards are valid for travel on AA and any of its partner airlines, and can include travel on multiple partners. Many of these awards must be booked over the phone, and will not incur a Ticketing Service Charge (waived for EXPs in any case) if they cannot be booked online.
Up to four one-way awards can be booked on a single PNR. Codeshares are not bookable as Awards.
MPM or Maximum Permitted Miles: A Fare or award may not exceed the most direct routing by more than 25% (unless the fare routing includes a ticketed point deduction (essentially a miles allowance that extends MPM). See MPM / Maximum Permitted Mileage & Ticketed Point Deductions (merged threads).
Stopovers and Connections
Stopovers are no longer allowed on AA awards. Stopovers will require multiple awards.
Connections are limited to two connections / three flight segments for domestic awards, and three connections / four flight segments for international awards as of Aug 2017. Link
Domestic Connections must be under 4 hours for domestic flights, with some exceptions: "LIFO" (Last In - First Out connections are generally allowed.
Hawaii itinerary: Effective on 14 Jul 2014 on an all-AA-metal award itinerary, you now have up to 18 hours to connect when traveling to/from Hawaii. NOTE: Hawaii interisland connections must be separate awards and can not be included as part of a mainland-island award.
International Connections must generally not exceed 23:59 hours. Some leeway has occasionally been granted when connecting flights are not daily. If the itinerary includes an international flight, the rules for international connections apply. Link to these courtesy of JonNYC.
If there is a non-stop flight that departs after the 4h / 23h59m windows and arrives at the destination earlier than a connecting flight within the 4h / 23h59m window, the passenger may be booked on the non-stop flight. It may be difficult getting some agents to book this.
"Most Significant Carrier" rule: To price as a single award, AAdvantage requires the most significant carrier to publish a cash fare (non-constructed) between the origin and destination. Airline MSC (e.g. DFW-SFO-HKG-BKK, CX SFO-HKG is the prevailing or most significant carrier) would have to have a published fare from XXX to YYY that allows travel on all included airlines, and routing that you want. If the MSC only offers constructed fares between your desired origin and destination, AA will price this as two awards.
Constructed fares: Another rule disallows awards where the fare must be constructed (also referred to as "YY"): Using a partner, the trip will require two awards if the governing carrier (e,g. airline operating on the major route, such as transpacific carrier) doesn't publish a through fare that includes the award's proposed origin and destination that allows the carriers proposed.
See this thread about examples using TN.
Married Segment Logic - a prospective trip may be available when searching segment by segment, yet not be bookable through from origin to destination. When selling seats for through flights and the desired inventory is not available, you cannot opt to sell the flight point-to-point. If sold point-to-point, the error response MULTIPLE SEGMENTS FOR SAME FLIGHT - SELL AS ONE SEGMENT will be received, indicating this booking is not allowed. Overriding the error check by ending the PNR twice is not acceptable.
See Award with available segments not bookable? (Married Segment issues)
Resources
Some airlines or areas have different, extra or special characteristics for securing awards. See
aa.com Basic (front page) vs Advanced Award Search Results (abbreviated results for front page search vs. Advanced award search)
AAdvantage awards to / from Australia, New Zealand link
AAdvantage awards to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador link
AAdvantage awards on Air Tahiti Nui link
AAdvantage awards using British Airways incurring (avoiding) high fees link
AAdvantage award on Cathay Pacific (and Cathay Dragon) link
AAdvantage awards using Etihad Airways link
AAdvantage awards using Fiji Airways link
AAdvantage awards using Japan Airlines link
AAdvantage awards using Qantas Airways link
AAdvantage awards on S7 (Siberian) Airlines link
aa.com Basic (front page) vs Advanced Award Search Results (abbreviated results for front page search vs. Advanced award search)
AAdvantage awards to / from Australia, New Zealand link
AAdvantage awards to the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador link
AAdvantage awards on Air Tahiti Nui link
AAdvantage awards using British Airways incurring (avoiding) high fees link
AAdvantage award on Cathay Pacific (and Cathay Dragon) link
AAdvantage awards using Etihad Airways link
AAdvantage awards using Fiji Airways link
AAdvantage awards using Japan Airlines link
AAdvantage awards using Qantas Airways link
AAdvantage awards on S7 (Siberian) Airlines link
Awards assistance tools: Use at your own risk; may not be up to date. These are not recommendations.
- Check this oneworld interactive map and timetable by Innosked to see potential routes.
- British Airways Executive Club: You can sign up for British Airways Executive Club, Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank or Qantas Frequent Flyer to use their sites to find awards (look for the lowest level awards) you can't see on aa.com. BA in particular is prone to show "phantom" availability.
- Award booking services - list and reviews (FT thread)
- Award Nexus: It's easy to do your experiments for some free browsing (click "more signup options" under the green Purchase button to sign up with your FlyerTalk login info). You might want to run each segment rather than origin to destination.
...Award Nexus is free (up to a point) for FlyerTalk users. Click "more signup options" under the green Purchase button to sign up for free as a FlyerTalk member.
What I like about Award Nexus is it has a much nicer user interface than BA and lets you choose whether to search through BA and/or QF, and as you can see each of those may give somewhat different results.
The "cost" to do all these searches once was a total of 12 points, and you get 200 points free when you signup, and then every 90 days you can reload 100 more points for free (once you're below 10 points). So that gives an idea of how many searches could do free...
- AwardAce: Compare Award Redemptions Across Airlines In Seconds
- AwardHacker: "a tool we build to tell you how to travel with the least miles"
- Award Nexus: which can search availability but can't determine cost, with FT member free limited use
- Economical Excursionist's Tools: compare Frequent Flyer Mile Redemptions
- ExpertFlyer is a common tool used on FT. There is a $99.99 annual fee, monthly fee and five day trial
- Great Circle Mapper is useful for calculating distance and MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage)
- You can try PEX+ (currently in beta), which will even tell you how many miles you'll need, though it draws data from aa.com and S7 so it can't reveal awards that can not be seen on those sites.
- Travel Codex Award Maximiser commercial blog
Also see:
aa.com Basic (front page) vs Advanced Award Search Results
Phantom / false AA award availability with AA partners (consolidated)
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on
Help with British Airways / BA surcharge / YQ (AA award on BA, consolidated) (Awards using BA incur significant "YQ" surcharges.)
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures[/quote] (Flights originating in the UK other than INV or BFS - or connections 24:00 or over - incur UK Air Passenger Duty excise taxes.)
MileSAAver / SAAver award reduction / scarcity >= Aug 2011 onward (consolidated)
Older posts from 2017 have been archived to: this archive thread
Older posts from 2016 have been archived to: this archive thread
Older posts through 2015 have been archived to: this archive thread
ARCHIVE: 2017 HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
Aug 23, 2017, 12:03 pm
#811
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,120
Help booking award tickets to Peru
Looking for some advice on how to book award tickets to Peru. Looking to travel Summer 2018. Am I too early? Cant find any award availability this far out.
Leaving from ELP, but can connect in LAX, DFW and even MIA if I have to.
Need two seats only. Any advice?
Leaving from ELP, but can connect in LAX, DFW and even MIA if I have to.
Need two seats only. Any advice?
Aug 23, 2017, 1:07 pm
#812
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,465
When in summer are you looking to travel? AA can only book you on flights 331 days out, so mid-July 2018 or so. If you're looking to travel after then, you'll have to wait.
AA.com does not show availability on LAN, which is arguably more useful for getting to Peru than AA given AA's abysmal award availability (especially in J). From the US, LAN flies to LIM from the following cities:
- LAX 2x daily (your best bet if originating in ELP, even if going backwards, as every other city will require two domestic flights to connect)
- MIA 2-3x daily
- JFK 1-2x daily (can connect between LGA/EWR and JFK)
- IAD 3x weekly (can connect between DCA/BWI and IAD)
- MCO 1x daily (on a narrowbody Airbus without J class)
I don't know much about LAN's availability trends--I've only ever looked for one traveler and flying 3-6 months out, and have usually been able to piece together something. One thing I have noticed is that IAD-LIM seems to be reliably the most wide open flight in both J and Y (up to 7 seats available in most cases, even 3 months out). That said, that route involves a double connection (ELP-DFW-DCA/IAD-LIM) and might put you over the MPM for ELP-LIM, in which case you'd have to claim two awards.
To search LAN availability, your best bet would be through BA.com using a BAEC account. If you don't have one, it's free to sign up and allows you to search for award availability on most, if not all, OW airlines. Note that BA allows its members to book award flights 355 days out, so the last 25 days or so of its award calendar will be viewable but not bookable for you as an AA member.
AA.com does not show availability on LAN, which is arguably more useful for getting to Peru than AA given AA's abysmal award availability (especially in J). From the US, LAN flies to LIM from the following cities:
- LAX 2x daily (your best bet if originating in ELP, even if going backwards, as every other city will require two domestic flights to connect)
- MIA 2-3x daily
- JFK 1-2x daily (can connect between LGA/EWR and JFK)
- IAD 3x weekly (can connect between DCA/BWI and IAD)
- MCO 1x daily (on a narrowbody Airbus without J class)
I don't know much about LAN's availability trends--I've only ever looked for one traveler and flying 3-6 months out, and have usually been able to piece together something. One thing I have noticed is that IAD-LIM seems to be reliably the most wide open flight in both J and Y (up to 7 seats available in most cases, even 3 months out). That said, that route involves a double connection (ELP-DFW-DCA/IAD-LIM) and might put you over the MPM for ELP-LIM, in which case you'd have to claim two awards.
To search LAN availability, your best bet would be through BA.com using a BAEC account. If you don't have one, it's free to sign up and allows you to search for award availability on most, if not all, OW airlines. Note that BA allows its members to book award flights 355 days out, so the last 25 days or so of its award calendar will be viewable but not bookable for you as an AA member.
Aug 23, 2017, 1:07 pm
#813
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,465
When in summer are you looking to travel? AA can only book you on flights 331 days out, so mid-July 2018 or so. If you're looking to travel after then, you'll have to wait.
AA.com does not show availability on LAN, which is arguably more useful for getting to Peru than AA given AA's abysmal award availability (especially in J). From the US, LAN flies to LIM from the following cities:
- LAX 2x daily (your best bet if originating in ELP, even if going backwards, as every other city will require two domestic flights to connect)
- MIA 2-3x daily
- JFK 1-2x daily (can connect between LGA/EWR and JFK)
- IAD 3x weekly (can connect between DCA/BWI and IAD)
- MCO 1x daily (on a narrowbody Airbus without J class)
I don't know much about LAN's availability trends--I've only ever looked for one traveler and flying 3-6 months out, and have usually been able to piece together something. One thing I have noticed is that IAD-LIM seems to be reliably the most wide open flight in both J and Y (up to 7 seats available in most cases, even 3 months out). That said, that route involves a double connection (ELP-DFW-DCA/IAD-LIM) and might put you over the MPM for ELP-LIM, in which case you'd have to claim two awards.
To search LAN availability, your best bet would be through BA.com using a BAEC account. If you don't have one, it's free to sign up and allows you to search for award availability on most, if not all, OW airlines. Note that BA allows its members to book award flights 355 days out, so the last 25 days or so of its award calendar will be viewable but not bookable for you as an AA member.
AA.com does not show availability on LAN, which is arguably more useful for getting to Peru than AA given AA's abysmal award availability (especially in J). From the US, LAN flies to LIM from the following cities:
- LAX 2x daily (your best bet if originating in ELP, even if going backwards, as every other city will require two domestic flights to connect)
- MIA 2-3x daily
- JFK 1-2x daily (can connect between LGA/EWR and JFK)
- IAD 3x weekly (can connect between DCA/BWI and IAD)
- MCO 1x daily (on a narrowbody Airbus without J class)
I don't know much about LAN's availability trends--I've only ever looked for one traveler and flying 3-6 months out, and have usually been able to piece together something. One thing I have noticed is that IAD-LIM seems to be reliably the most wide open flight in both J and Y (up to 7 seats available in most cases, even 3 months out). That said, that route involves a double connection (ELP-DFW-DCA/IAD-LIM) and might put you over the MPM for ELP-LIM, in which case you'd have to claim two awards.
To search LAN availability, your best bet would be through BA.com using a BAEC account. If you don't have one, it's free to sign up and allows you to search for award availability on most, if not all, OW airlines. Note that BA allows its members to book award flights 355 days out, so the last 25 days or so of its award calendar will be viewable but not bookable for you as an AA member.
Aug 23, 2017, 4:43 pm
#814
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Our summer (southern hemisphere winter) is always a busy travel time to and from Peru, especially late June (Inti Raymi/summer solstice), late July (Peru's independence day), and late August (Santa Rosa de Lima holiday). Award availability could be snapped up quickly.
Aug 23, 2017, 4:43 pm
#815
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Our summer (southern hemisphere winter) is always a busy travel time to and from Peru, especially late June (Inti Raymi/summer solstice), late July (Peru's independence day), and late August (Santa Rosa de Lima holiday). Award availability could be snapped up quickly.
Aug 25, 2017, 9:46 am
#816
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 557
I posted this elsewhere, but I believe it may be better suited for this thread:
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Aug 25, 2017, 9:46 am
#817
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 557
I posted this elsewhere, but I believe it may be better suited for this thread:
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Aug 25, 2017, 10:29 am
#818
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
I posted this elsewhere, but I believe it may be better suited for this thread:
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
Last edited by scnzzz; Aug 25, 2017 at 10:41 am
Aug 25, 2017, 10:29 am
#819
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
I posted this elsewhere, but I believe it may be better suited for this thread:
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'd like some advice on booking next summer's flights to Maui (2 adults, 1 child), as this is the first time that we'll be going outside of February and September. Here are the details:
Departure: 6/13/18
PHL-LAX: 2315
LAX-OGG: 205
Return: 6/23/18
OGG-LAX: 254
LAX-PHL: 2061
I'm struggling with whether or not I should buy the tickets in economy right now and put all three of us on the 1st class upgrade list using award miles, or simply booking the entire trip using miles. The flights I want are available in AAnytime right now, but not MileSAAver, and they're actually considerably more miles than they were a few weeks ago when I checked. In fact, I'd likely have to spend $1500 to buy the miles required to go through with it.
Is this something that Expert Flyer could help me out with (when to book economy tickets with cash and then when upgrades become available)? Prices are a little high right now based on my tracking, though I'd still be comfortable buying them now if it meant there was a much greater chance at being upgraded using miles later on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
Aug 25, 2017, 11:16 am
#820
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 557
A few thoughts (most of which are not particularly cheerful I'm afraid)
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
Last edited by NTP9766; Aug 25, 2017 at 11:22 am Reason: Corrected the prices
Aug 25, 2017, 11:16 am
#821
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 557
A few thoughts (most of which are not particularly cheerful I'm afraid)
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
1. For a flight that long, I'd really want to be up front. That said, have you looked at options via DFW? Shorter flight in a domestic F configuration, and longer flight with international J seats (potentially angled, but still way better than a recliner IMO).
2. The use of an AAnytime award really depends on how certain you want to be of sitting up front. Finding sAAver F on these flights is going to be very difficult, if at all possible.
3. The likelihood of clearing an award with miles now is low. A quick glance at EF on your outbound dates shows C0U0 - meaning no upgrade or award space up front. Given AA's recent performance in making awards or instrument upgrades available before the day-of-flight, I'd not hold my breath that a mileage award with an economy fare will clear.
4. If I can assume your status is PPRO or lower (given that you asked about mileage upgrades rather than systemwides) then the likelihood that you'll clear three pax on the day of travel is also not great on these routes; I've had almost no luck as an EXP, even midweek as you're currently doing.
Sorry to be the bearer of such depressing thoughts, but I'd say if you want to sit up front, you'll need to cough up either cash or the miles for AAnytime awards. Given that you're looking at $1,500 to buy the miles for that, have you considered looking at what the incremental cost would be to just buy F over what you would be looking to pay in economy?
Edited to add: AA now has Premium Economy for a modest upfare on the DFW-OGG sector, beats Y and Y+ hands-down. That may be worth considering as well
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
Aug 25, 2017, 12:22 pm
#822
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
We've been doing these flights for years, and quite honestly, if economy is the solution in the end, we're fine with it. Probably wouldn't say that if the destination were anywhere but Hawai'i, though.
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
Aug 25, 2017, 12:22 pm
#823
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
We've been doing these flights for years, and quite honestly, if economy is the solution in the end, we're fine with it. Probably wouldn't say that if the destination were anywhere but Hawai'i, though.
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
When you say the likelihood of clearing an award upgrade now is low, do you mean that I really should have booked economy immediately and put in for an upgrade? I ask because I've spoken with American weekly since these flights became available, and nothing seems to have changed. I figured I'd still be in okay shape this far out, but was prepare to hear that isn't the case.
I have looked at the difference in price between buying miles and first class, and there's a considerable difference, even when including Main Cabin Extra in the comparison:
$1500 (buying miles to get to 645k miles)
$3764 (buying economy)
$4677 (buying economy + MCE)
$7987 (buying F)
And yes, I've got no status on AA, as I don't fly nearly enough. I'd honestly probably go for Premium Economy if I could, but if I told my wife that 5:29 and 7am were the two options, I may not survive to see the trip. You can see why I am incredibly jealous of those who live on the West Coast.
I certainly appreciate the feedback and assistance.
Aug 25, 2017, 12:25 pm
#824
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
We LOVE Hawaii - particularly the Kona side of the Big Island - primarily because nonstop ~5 hour flights are readily available. If we lived east of the Miss, in driving distance to a major hub, we would spend MUCH more time in the Caribbean or Mexico, do not believe Hawaii is worth the extra travel time.
Aug 25, 2017, 12:25 pm
#825
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
We LOVE Hawaii - particularly the Kona side of the Big Island - primarily because nonstop ~5 hour flights are readily available. If we lived east of the Miss, in driving distance to a major hub, we would spend MUCH more time in the Caribbean or Mexico, do not believe Hawaii is worth the extra travel time.