Are AA miles basically useless for US-Europe redemptions?
Feb 14, 2019, 8:37 am
#76
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,976
There was plenty of J saver availability AUS-DUB in early January. A very good use of miles, as it was for a one-way, which is prohibitively expensive if purchased with cash. The flexibility to change the dates and flights with no penalty with my EXP status was a bonus.
To be sure, early January is probably not peak travel time to Ireland.
To be sure, early January is probably not peak travel time to Ireland.
Feb 14, 2019, 10:05 am
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
I agree in general, but the free agent model is a lot less attractive when premium class fares are rising (especially relative to coach), which I see on many of my routes. I've been buying less domestic FC this past year vs. 1-2 years ago. So the elite status has become incrementally more important in not being treated like a peon. (Also, there's one elite benefit you can't buy - priority access in the reservation queue, especially during IRROPs).
Feb 14, 2019, 10:20 am
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,023
Feb 14, 2019, 10:33 am
#80
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EP, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 1,001
Yes TATL seats can be had but, as the OP said, using BA flights and fees. If you have status with AA I've found it more worthwhile to use my miles + cash to upgrade and with judicious booking, I'm successful most of the time. It certainly is less pricey than the horrendous taxes charged by BA.
Last edited by pdac1975; Feb 14, 2019 at 10:43 am
Feb 14, 2019, 10:43 am
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,186
Requesting a mileage upgrade award
Contact American Airlines Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center or an Airport Ticket Office for assistance with booking your mileage upgrade award.
You may request an upgrade when you make your initial reservation or at any time prior to check-in. If you have already purchased a ticket and you wish to use a mileage upgrade award, please have your reservation details available when you call.
If an upgrade isn’t available at the time of booking, we’ll waitlist your request.
Contact American Airlines Reservations or visit an American Airlines Travel Center or an Airport Ticket Office for assistance with booking your mileage upgrade award.
You may request an upgrade when you make your initial reservation or at any time prior to check-in. If you have already purchased a ticket and you wish to use a mileage upgrade award, please have your reservation details available when you call.
If an upgrade isn’t available at the time of booking, we’ll waitlist your request.
Feb 14, 2019, 12:18 pm
#83
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EP, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 1,001
Feb 14, 2019, 5:09 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
I'm trying to figure out how to spend some Alaska miles on American and out of curiosity, I tried a search for VPS-DUB from Alaska's web site, which I understand should pull up American Saver inventory in some way. Only available option involved coach for the transatlantic leg, and involved some routings like
VPS-CLT-FLL-PHL-DUB
VPS-DFW-JAX-PHL-DUB
And a return of:
DUB-PHL-TPA-CLT-VPS
Now some of those would actually be cool for a mileage run if it priced out cheap enough on a paid ticket but when that's not in play, all it can really be is amusing and not feasible.
VPS-CLT-FLL-PHL-DUB
VPS-DFW-JAX-PHL-DUB
And a return of:
DUB-PHL-TPA-CLT-VPS
Now some of those would actually be cool for a mileage run if it priced out cheap enough on a paid ticket but when that's not in play, all it can really be is amusing and not feasible.
Feb 14, 2019, 6:30 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
And it’s going to be a little bit harder to use AA miles going to Asia on JAL from April. There is a report on the JAL threads that JAL will be offering flights for sale/redemption 360 days out vs. the current 330 days out which closely aligns with the AA booking window.
I have a trip to SIN booked for September this year. I started looking in early October and saw decent CX award availability in both F and J for my dates, but as I was outside the AA 331 day window, I couldn’t book anything. As the days wore on, F availability disappeared and J inventory declined. By the time the AA booking window opened, there was just 1 J option available which wasn’t ideal, but luckily JAL awards were available and I was able to book my desired date and then there was another week to wait before I could book the return. Those JAL awards are going to be a lot harder to snag going forward.
I have a trip to SIN booked for September this year. I started looking in early October and saw decent CX award availability in both F and J for my dates, but as I was outside the AA 331 day window, I couldn’t book anything. As the days wore on, F availability disappeared and J inventory declined. By the time the AA booking window opened, there was just 1 J option available which wasn’t ideal, but luckily JAL awards were available and I was able to book my desired date and then there was another week to wait before I could book the return. Those JAL awards are going to be a lot harder to snag going forward.
Feb 14, 2019, 7:28 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
I’ve all but given up on trying to use AA or BA miles for international J or F award tickets.
It just doesn’t seem to work well anymore. (I live in PHX).
So, I use all my transferable currencies by transferring them to SQ, which ALWAYS has tons of J availability to Asia.
I now only use my AA and BA miles/Avios for J and F upgrades on international flights. That works in my favor significantly moreso than trying to book award flights.
It just doesn’t seem to work well anymore. (I live in PHX).
So, I use all my transferable currencies by transferring them to SQ, which ALWAYS has tons of J availability to Asia.
I now only use my AA and BA miles/Avios for J and F upgrades on international flights. That works in my favor significantly moreso than trying to book award flights.
Feb 14, 2019, 9:18 pm
#88
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
There was plenty of J saver availability AUS-DUB in early January. A very good use of miles, as it was for a one-way, which is prohibitively expensive if purchased with cash. The flexibility to change the dates and flights with no penalty with my EXP status was a bonus.
To be sure, early January is probably not peak travel time to Ireland.
To be sure, early January is probably not peak travel time to Ireland.
Feb 14, 2019, 11:38 pm
#89
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,879
Hello!
I hate to start such a negative thread but for the first time since moving over from DL, I'm trying to use AA miles to travel from WAS to Europe and am having no luck. I've looked at NAP, VCE, DUB, and LHR so far and all flights are coming back with BA segments which of course carry huge fees ($1,000+ per ticket). To be fair, I am looking for a May redemption so it may be too late/high season but I've been looking for months now. I think it's really the fact that AA doesn't seem to open up any award availability on their own metal that's frustrating. DL get's a bad rap for reward redeeming miles but I never had issues like this. I'm hoping that I'm just going about it wrong?
Thanks!
I hate to start such a negative thread but for the first time since moving over from DL, I'm trying to use AA miles to travel from WAS to Europe and am having no luck. I've looked at NAP, VCE, DUB, and LHR so far and all flights are coming back with BA segments which of course carry huge fees ($1,000+ per ticket). To be fair, I am looking for a May redemption so it may be too late/high season but I've been looking for months now. I think it's really the fact that AA doesn't seem to open up any award availability on their own metal that's frustrating. DL get's a bad rap for reward redeeming miles but I never had issues like this. I'm hoping that I'm just going about it wrong?
Thanks!
Feb 20, 2019, 12:49 pm
#90
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 466
Phantom availability?
I am sure this has been asked and answered before, but I have not been able to find succinct answer. I'm trying to book a flight from East Coast ( MIA preferred) ... Biz Award...to Madrid (and then on to Morocco). Thinking of flying Iberia to Madrid.
Question: if award flights seem to be available on BA.com or Iberia.com ......but not available at AA.com, does that mean the space available on BA and Iberia are actually phantom availability? And therefore NOT bookable on AA.com? thanks
Question: if award flights seem to be available on BA.com or Iberia.com ......but not available at AA.com, does that mean the space available on BA and Iberia are actually phantom availability? And therefore NOT bookable on AA.com? thanks