Jan 18, 2021, 1:06 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Welcome to the archived 2021 "NEWBIE LOUNGE"Ask Your Consolidated / Combined AA Questions Here (flame free)
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST: (This post can only be edited by moderators.)
FOR THE 2022 THREAD, SEE HERE: link
Welcome to the Newbie Lounge!
Important links:
Link to American Airlines Conditions of Carriage
Link to AAdvantage Terms and Conditions
NOTE: See below for links to the archived older threads.
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
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
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"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.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)
NOTE: 2020 NEWBIE LOUNGE posts are here.
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!
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST: (This post can only be edited by moderators.)
FOR THE 2022 THREAD, SEE HERE: link
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.
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.)
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.)
Link to American Airlines Conditions of Carriage
Link to AAdvantage Terms and Conditions
NOTE: See below for links to the archived older threads.
Q. How can I find information more easily than reading through all the threads? Now that I'm here, what do I do next?
Check out the following resources:
- GUIDE: FT - AA Forum, LOUNGE DASHBOARD and OSO / IRROPS (Links to most important threads, "Help Desk" assistance threads, the thread with resources for off-schedule operations / irregular operations (including links to AA weather policy and tools), hub airport threads, AA lounge Dashboard for all lounges and lounge related issues.)
- FAQ: American Airlines and AAdvantage - Please check here first! (Our FAQ were originally written for the pre-merger AA forum, but there's still a lot of useful information there.)
- New and uncertain where to start here, and it's about American Airlines? Start in our "NEWBIE LOUNGE" thread, here: link.
- Do you have questions about other travel related issues that do not pertain to AA and are unsure where to start? Visit our Information Desk Forum here: U]link.
- Especially useful to new members: FAQs (How to post like a pro and more)
- The NEW FlyerTalk: Helpful Hints, Tips and Suggestions to Enhance Your Experience (Information Desk Forum)
- FlyerTalk Glossary (What is all this jargon?)
- Airport Code Guide (How do I decode an airport code / find one for a city?)
Searching can be key to finding important information and answers without waiting for someone to drop by and answer, and it helps prevent that information fragmentation. FlyerTalk Advanced Search can seem quirky to the infrequent user, but it's fairly powerful if one knows how to use it. There are several ways to search:
- Canarsie's Using the Search Feature on FlyerTalk: The Definitive Thread has relocated to the Information Desk Forum; it can be found there.
- One can search FlyerTalk with Google with this web form.
- Or, if you are used to Google search, use Google Advanced Search and insert www.flyertalk.com in the "site or domain" box.
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
Keep threads to specific topics: Prevent information fragmentation and loss by consolidating questions, answers and discussion of one topic contained in one thread. (This also honors those members who have already shared valuable information and experiences.)
"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.
FlyerTalk Rules (We all agree to abide by these, and are held accountable.)
NOTE: 2020 NEWBIE LOUNGE posts are here.
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!
NEWBIE LOUNGE 2021: Ask AA newbie questions here - flame-free thread
Sep 21, 2021, 11:00 am
#781
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
The wording on AA.com states that passengers on "Flights with seats ticketed as Flagship"
between LAX and MIA have Admirals Club access. Do passengers who upgrade to Flagship
First or Business using 500 mile upgrades get Admirals Club access on these flights or is the
word "ticketed" code for only those who purchased actual Flagship First or Business fares get
access?
between LAX and MIA have Admirals Club access. Do passengers who upgrade to Flagship
First or Business using 500 mile upgrades get Admirals Club access on these flights or is the
word "ticketed" code for only those who purchased actual Flagship First or Business fares get
access?
Sep 21, 2021, 11:06 am
#782
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Posts: 2,119
Thank you, JJeffrey.
Sep 21, 2021, 2:10 pm
#783
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS 75K, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 32
I will be travelling with two daughters (age 10 &13) next summer internationally, and will have OW Emerald or Sapphire status. Anyone want to handicap the odds of JFK Flagship lounge allowing me to bring both daughters in?
(Apologies if variations of this question have been asked several times.)
(Apologies if variations of this question have been asked several times.)
Sep 21, 2021, 2:44 pm
#784
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Posts: 2,119
No apologies necessary. I feel the same way every time I post a question. There is such a huge volume of information here, posted across so many threads spanning so many years, coupled with the fact that the search engine is so clunky that it's often hard to find out if your question has already been answered.
Sep 21, 2021, 9:06 pm
#785
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX oriented World Digital Nomad
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt Globalist, MLife/Cosmo Identity Gold, Other Vegas too...
Posts: 1,317
Easy question and hard question:
- If I hit Plat Pro in October, choose the 1 upgrade as my choice award, and hit Ex Plat later this year, will I get 2, 3, or 4 more upgrades if I go that route? Is it better to not claim until the last few days of the eligible year? Or better to claim the Plat Pro ASAP before hitting Exp and then theoretically getting a 5th one...? My hunch says I would get 3 more, but their tech is not always... flexible.
- On AA but also OneWorld partners, what's the EASIEST way to choose or find economy fares that aren't the lowest bucket? Pain in the butt today sifting through Qatar finding a fare that wasn't the one that only earns 5 percent EQDs, i.e. an O fare, and I also have some business points I might would use that I therefore need the more full fare economy ticket for... I know United has some sort of "Advanced" mode but I don't fly them... =D
Sep 22, 2021, 4:54 am
#786
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
Easy question and hard question:
- If I hit Plat Pro in October, choose the 1 upgrade as my choice award, and hit Ex Plat later this year, will I get 2, 3, or 4 more upgrades if I go that route? Is it better to not claim until the last few days of the eligible year? Or better to claim the Plat Pro ASAP before hitting Exp and then theoretically getting a 5th one...? My hunch says I would get 3 more, but their tech is not always... flexible.
- On AA but also OneWorld partners, what's the EASIEST way to choose or find economy fares that aren't the lowest bucket? Pain in the butt today sifting through Qatar finding a fare that wasn't the one that only earns 5 percent EQDs, i.e. an O fare, and I also have some business points I might would use that I therefore need the more full fare economy ticket for... I know United has some sort of "Advanced" mode but I don't fly them... =D
For timing, for SWU's it makes no sense to choose them right away as they expire 1 year from when they're selected. Much better to wait until you have a trip booked and are ready to use the upgrades (or get on the waitlist). For any status earned in 2021 you have until Dec '22 to make your selections.
Elite choice rewards starts 2021 - new for Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro
As to booking specific fare codes, in most cases you just need to call AA or the partner carrier you're looking at booking with. Like AA, most partner carriers' websites typically have some form of letting you select cheapest vs. refundable, etc., but this never gets to the granularity of being able to select specific booking codes.
Sep 22, 2021, 4:12 pm
#787
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX oriented World Digital Nomad
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt Globalist, MLife/Cosmo Identity Gold, Other Vegas too...
Posts: 1,317
The elite choice rewards stack when you hit PLT Pro and then EXP. So for SWU's, you could select 1 when you hit PLT Pro, then another 2 + 2 when you hit EXP (for a total of 5 SWU's).
For timing, for SWU's it makes no sense to choose them right away as they expire 1 year from when they're selected. Much better to wait until you have a trip booked and are ready to use the upgrades (or get on the waitlist). For any status earned in 2021 you have until Dec '22 to make your selections.
For timing, for SWU's it makes no sense to choose them right away as they expire 1 year from when they're selected. Much better to wait until you have a trip booked and are ready to use the upgrades (or get on the waitlist). For any status earned in 2021 you have until Dec '22 to make your selections.
Sep 22, 2021, 5:46 pm
#788
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: BNA
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 52
Admiral’s Club Year Pass
Quick question, if I buy an annual pass for the admirals club is it good for 365 days or 365 days + through the end of the month.
ie if I buy a membership Oct 5 2021, will it expire October 6 2022 or November 1 2022?
GPF
ie if I buy a membership Oct 5 2021, will it expire October 6 2022 or November 1 2022?
GPF
Sep 22, 2021, 6:01 pm
#789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,399
I will be travelling with two daughters (age 10 &13) next summer internationally, and will have OW Emerald or Sapphire status. Anyone want to handicap the odds of JFK Flagship lounge allowing me to bring both daughters in?
(Apologies if variations of this question have been asked several times.)
(Apologies if variations of this question have been asked several times.)
Sep 22, 2021, 9:35 pm
#790
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: ORD/LHR
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, 1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,302
Easy question and hard question:
- If I hit Plat Pro in October, choose the 1 upgrade as my choice award, and hit Ex Plat later this year, will I get 2, 3, or 4 more upgrades if I go that route? Is it better to not claim until the last few days of the eligible year? Or better to claim the Plat Pro ASAP before hitting Exp and then theoretically getting a 5th one...? My hunch says I would get 3 more, but their tech is not always... flexible.
Thank you for the info and advice, do they stack even if I don't take the PLT Pro reward right away? I like your idea of not redeeming until ready, but, at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, you get one free night when you hit a certain tier level, and then two more nights when you hit the next. If you haven't used the one night yet, you more or less lose it, you don't end up with three.
- On AA but also OneWorld partners, what's the EASIEST way to choose or find economy fares that aren't the lowest bucket? Pain in the butt today sifting through Qatar finding a fare that wasn't the one that only earns 5 percent EQDs, i.e. an O fare, and I also have some business points I might would use that I therefore need the more full fare economy ticket for... I know United has some sort of "Advanced" mode but I don't fly them... =D
Sep 23, 2021, 2:55 pm
#791
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Hello,
A couple of Y questions.... For domestic/non flagship intl widebody routes sold as 2 class :
1) 500 mile comp upg's for PP and EXP clears for INTL config J too?
2) For the MCE free seat selection for elites, can you choose PY seats for no charge first come first serve?
TY in advance
A couple of Y questions.... For domestic/non flagship intl widebody routes sold as 2 class :
1) 500 mile comp upg's for PP and EXP clears for INTL config J too?
2) For the MCE free seat selection for elites, can you choose PY seats for no charge first come first serve?
TY in advance
Sep 23, 2021, 2:57 pm
#792
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: ORD, sadly...
Programs: AA Exec Plat
Posts: 599
Hello,
A couple of Y questions.... For domestic/non flagship intl widebody routes sold as 2 class :
1) 500 mile comp upg's for PP and EXP clears for INTL config J too?
2) For the MCE free seat selection for elites, can you choose PY seats for no charge first come first serve?
TY in advance
A couple of Y questions.... For domestic/non flagship intl widebody routes sold as 2 class :
1) 500 mile comp upg's for PP and EXP clears for INTL config J too?
2) For the MCE free seat selection for elites, can you choose PY seats for no charge first come first serve?
TY in advance
Sep 23, 2021, 3:37 pm
#793
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Wow! Great to know... Makes routes like DFW-MIA-SJU on 777/787 worth it to just buy Y and select two free domestic "F" seats in PY, while waiting on the UG list for free lie-flats. AA as such good widebody 2 class coverage domestically compared to the rest... Fantastic value for some routes! Makes the push to EXP worth it for me.
Thanks for answering
Thanks for answering
Sep 23, 2021, 4:10 pm
#794
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: ORD/LHR
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, 1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,302
Wow! Great to know... Makes routes like DFW-MIA-SJU on 777/787 worth it to just buy Y and select two free domestic "F" seats in PY, while waiting on the UG list for free lie-flats. AA as such good widebody 2 class coverage domestically compared to the rest... Fantastic value for some routes! Makes the push to EXP worth it for me.
Thanks for answering
Thanks for answering
Sep 23, 2021, 5:07 pm
#795
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA BA CO DL UA US
Posts: 815
AWARD TICKET CANCELLATION
I have cancelled an award ticket before online and the miles when into my account automatically after a few minutes. Other times, when I cancel the award ticket, I have to call in to get the miles back. Both flights were using AA miles on AA flights. Why is that sometimes I have to call to get miles back, sometimes not?
I have cancelled an award ticket before online and the miles when into my account automatically after a few minutes. Other times, when I cancel the award ticket, I have to call in to get the miles back. Both flights were using AA miles on AA flights. Why is that sometimes I have to call to get miles back, sometimes not?