Any way for AA to waive my award flights LAX MCT? I can make it!
Aug 5, 2019, 4:55 pm
#16
Join Date: May 1998
Location: australia
Posts: 5,762
Even if that time is spent in the QF F lounge? You and I have very different priorities. I actively try to maximise my connection time in LAX when arriving from Australia. But then I don't have a life.
Aug 5, 2019, 6:31 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,584
7 hiurs in a waiting room at LAX sounds awful - regardless of how nice a lounge is
Aug 5, 2019, 8:25 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
It's a situation of me wanting to have it all.
I was booked on an award in QF F MEL-LAX / QF J LAX-JFK / AA F JFK-DCA.
Due to the MAX situation AA cancelled their JFK-DCA flight.
I'm willing to forgo QF LAX-JFK but QF MEL-LAX arrives 6:25am and AA to DCA deaprts 8:16am or 1:21pm. The only IAD option is 10:06pm. They use to have a day flight but it's gone. I guess because of the MAX problem.
Part of the reason I was interested in keeping this award is I wanted to try QF F on the A380.
And yes, travel agents can override the MCT. I've worked as one on SABRE, Worldspan and Apollo. I don't recall the first two - it's been a while - but with Apollo you try and end the transaction. You'll receive a warning about the minimum connection time and then you just end it again. Transaction goes right through.
I was booked on an award in QF F MEL-LAX / QF J LAX-JFK / AA F JFK-DCA.
Due to the MAX situation AA cancelled their JFK-DCA flight.
I'm willing to forgo QF LAX-JFK but QF MEL-LAX arrives 6:25am and AA to DCA deaprts 8:16am or 1:21pm. The only IAD option is 10:06pm. They use to have a day flight but it's gone. I guess because of the MAX problem.
Part of the reason I was interested in keeping this award is I wanted to try QF F on the A380.
And yes, travel agents can override the MCT. I've worked as one on SABRE, Worldspan and Apollo. I don't recall the first two - it's been a while - but with Apollo you try and end the transaction. You'll receive a warning about the minimum connection time and then you just end it again. Transaction goes right through.
Aug 5, 2019, 9:04 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,159
[if booking separate tickets that violate MCT]
Do we have solid info on how MCT factors into AA's separate-ticket protection? Various views have been stated here ("MCTs on separate tickets are meaningless", agreeing with JJeffrey) and here ("AA does protect across separate tickets where what would have been the MCT is met", disagreeing with JJeffrey).
Do we have solid info on how MCT factors into AA's separate-ticket protection? Various views have been stated here ("MCTs on separate tickets are meaningless", agreeing with JJeffrey) and here ("AA does protect across separate tickets where what would have been the MCT is met", disagreeing with JJeffrey).
Aug 5, 2019, 9:05 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
I know it's not what you asked but there are a lot of PP lounges at Lax (besides the very excellent QF first class lounge) so if you wanted to do a lounge tour you could get a bit of exercise walking and experience a few different (some nice some not so great) lounges 
Oh and I've been in similar conditions about MCT and sometimes it's REALLY frustrating I totally agree.
Oh and I've been in similar conditions about MCT and sometimes it's REALLY frustrating I totally agree.
It's a situation of me wanting to have it all.
I was booked on an award in QF F MEL-LAX / QF J LAX-JFK / AA F JFK-DCA.
Due to the MAX situation AA cancelled their JFK-DCA flight.
I'm willing to forgo QF LAX-JFK but QF MEL-LAX arrives 6:25am and AA to DCA deaprts 8:16am or 1:21pm. The only IAD option is 10:06pm. They use to have a day flight but it's gone. I guess because of the MAX problem.
Part of the reason I was interested in keeping this award is I wanted to try QF F on the A380.
And yes, travel agents can override the MCT. I've worked as one on SABRE, Worldspan and Apollo. I don't recall the first two - it's been a while - but with Apollo you try and end the transaction. You'll receive a warning about the minimum connection time and then you just end it again. Transaction goes right through.
I was booked on an award in QF F MEL-LAX / QF J LAX-JFK / AA F JFK-DCA.
Due to the MAX situation AA cancelled their JFK-DCA flight.
I'm willing to forgo QF LAX-JFK but QF MEL-LAX arrives 6:25am and AA to DCA deaprts 8:16am or 1:21pm. The only IAD option is 10:06pm. They use to have a day flight but it's gone. I guess because of the MAX problem.
Part of the reason I was interested in keeping this award is I wanted to try QF F on the A380.
And yes, travel agents can override the MCT. I've worked as one on SABRE, Worldspan and Apollo. I don't recall the first two - it's been a while - but with Apollo you try and end the transaction. You'll receive a warning about the minimum connection time and then you just end it again. Transaction goes right through.
Aug 6, 2019, 4:38 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
Adding that even if I could get an agent to allow it, these partner awards have to go through a queue review and approved by a reservations/AAD Award Supervisor so it won't get past them.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
Aug 6, 2019, 5:50 am
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,584
Adding that even if I could get an agent to allow it, these partner awards have to go through a queue review and approved by a reservations/AAD Award Supervisor so it won't get past them.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
Aug 6, 2019, 5:59 am
#23
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,799
I once had an Asia Miles redemption award where my CTS-HND/NRT-HKG connection fell 5 minutes below the required 210 minutes. AM tried to rebook me on an earlier CTS-HND but that meant leaving CTS one day early at the time and I told agent to keep the ticket as-is. Ticket was still valid for travel.
Aug 6, 2019, 6:40 am
#24
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 562
Adding that even if I could get an agent to allow it, these partner awards have to go through a queue review and approved by a reservations/AAD Award Supervisor so it won't get past them.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
On a side note, I've wondered how it works if it's the middle of the night and you need an partner award issued for immediate travel - like standing at the counter immediate - and that desk is closed.
Aug 6, 2019, 6:41 am
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,032
Even that isn't necessary. Was at LHR during the meltdown a couple weeks ago where BA left me high and dry and I needed to get out of there. Found Etihad F award space for last minute travel -- as in, I found space at 7AM BST for a flight at 9:30 AM BST that same day. Called the usual 1-800 EXP line and they were able to issue the ticket immediately even though it was 1AM in Dallas and the "normal" partner award desk was closed.
Aug 6, 2019, 12:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
What about MEL-SYD-DFW-DCA? You would still be on QF F on the A380, and since SYD-DFW is longer than MEL-LAX you get more time to enjoy QF F.
Last edited by Austin787; Aug 6, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Aug 6, 2019, 1:13 pm
#27
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Aug 6, 2019, 1:35 pm
#28
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
Haha, yeah. AA made the schedule change, almost no way QF is going to open up space on a different flight. But OP has lots of alternatives on AA metal once he gets to LAX.
Aug 6, 2019, 7:17 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
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Aug 6, 2019, 8:00 pm
#30
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,584
Well, if you plan it right, it could be made more than tolerable. In OPs scenario one could get to QF F lounge, have a glass or two of bubbly, take a few hour nap to get back to east coast time, have some lunch and fly on. I certainly wouldn't complain ( and I know this because I've done this, albeit to the central time zone) .
.Take the QF flight to New York and spend the night there seems significantly more appealing - or just get a cab to LGA and take a flight from there to Washington