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
Nov 19, 2021, 1:07 pm
#1066
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
Can someone clarify AA Lounge access for me for Mexico? If I fly AA to Puerto Vallarta from the US, no lounge access even if Platinum Pro, right? They have on their own website all this stuff that says lounge access when traveling to the following places with an asterisk, and Canada and Mexico are both on the list, but then ALL of Canada is blacklisted so what the heck? Why include it? I understand Mexico since Mexico city... but... ???
Nov 19, 2021, 1:33 pm
#1067
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,495
Is there an AA Vacations sub / thread / wiki? I wanted to look up the rules about hotels - primarily, if you do a two week trip, what is the minimum number of hotel nights you need to still get the trip coded with a star for the EQDs? And if you book a Hyatt room, will you still get your same Hyatt points and Globalist benefits? Or do you just book the absolute cheapest hotel and then never even check in to it?
And with most hotel chains if you book anywhere except directly through them you won't be earning any elite benefits or qualifying nights, etc.
A search of AA vacations brings up the master thread:
FAQ: aavacations.com / AA Vacations flight & vacation package questions, discussion
Nov 19, 2021, 1:38 pm
#1068
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,495
Can someone clarify AA Lounge access for me for Mexico? If I fly AA to Puerto Vallarta from the US, no lounge access even if Platinum Pro, right? They have on their own website all this stuff that says lounge access when traveling to the following places with an asterisk, and Canada and Mexico are both on the list, but then ALL of Canada is blacklisted so what the heck? Why include it? I understand Mexico since Mexico city... but... ???
Yes, as a PLT Pro you will get AC access flying to Mexico.
The aa.com site is indeed confusing, as they added the new temporary access rules but didn't bother to update the fine print (the asterick stuff).
Nov 19, 2021, 1:51 pm
#1069
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 number of hotel nights in your vacation package has no bearing on whether it will price out as a special fare or not (*). The minimum number of hotel nights for any package is 3, I've booked several packages with the minimum and they have all been special fares.
And with most hotel chains if you book anywhere except directly through them you won't be earning any elite benefits or qualifying nights, etc.
A search of AA vacations brings up the master thread:
FAQ: aavacations.com / AA Vacations flight & vacation package questions, discussion
And with most hotel chains if you book anywhere except directly through them you won't be earning any elite benefits or qualifying nights, etc.
A search of AA vacations brings up the master thread:
FAQ: aavacations.com / AA Vacations flight & vacation package questions, discussion
And Oh My LORD, I know AA is bad at marketing and such but to have added all of Canada and Mexico temporarily, while not updating the asterisk with, dates subject to change, is craziness. Standard rules then, or special Mexico/Canada rules, I can take one guest with me if they're flying with me?
Nov 19, 2021, 6:18 pm
#1070
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: UA MM, AA almost MM
Posts: 1,164
I booked a web saver award trip. I understand that I can not make changes to a web saver itinerary. Could I do a SDC? If yes, is it possible to change co-airports? for example, same day change to an earlier flight out of IAH instead of HOU?
Nov 21, 2021, 3:52 pm
#1071
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 4
Checked Bag Fee: "Charged each check-in location"
I have what I believe to be a simple questions, but have not yet found the answer.
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
Nov 21, 2021, 4:17 pm
#1072
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 228
Thank you JJeffrey. I searched for AA Vacations and I didn't see it, perhaps I should have taken out the space. Usually I am good with search terminology. Ah, that's the rule then, 3 nights, unless your flight/trip is less than 3 nights. Thanks!
And Oh My LORD, I know AA is bad at marketing and such but to have added all of Canada and Mexico temporarily, while not updating the asterisk with, dates subject to change, is craziness. Standard rules then, or special Mexico/Canada rules, I can take one guest with me if they're flying with me?
And Oh My LORD, I know AA is bad at marketing and such but to have added all of Canada and Mexico temporarily, while not updating the asterisk with, dates subject to change, is craziness. Standard rules then, or special Mexico/Canada rules, I can take one guest with me if they're flying with me?
Nov 21, 2021, 4:18 pm
#1073
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 228
I was due to fly LAX to SLC in January. AA has recently cancelled this flight and now wants to route me LAX-PHX-SLC, with the journey now totalling around six hours. Can I claim a full refund here with the cost of the flight refunded to my credit card, given the nature of the change, rather than simply cancelling it for flight credit?
Nov 21, 2021, 4:19 pm
#1074
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,605
I have what I believe to be a simple questions, but have not yet found the answer.
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
Nov 21, 2021, 4:20 pm
#1075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,743
I have what I believe to be a simple questions, but have not yet found the answer.
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
For checked bags with a connecting flight: Am I charged the bag fee once or twice? AA states "fee charged at each check-in location", but I don't know exactly what that means.
Thanks for the replies, even if they are just eye rolls. 😁
Nov 21, 2021, 4:38 pm
#1076
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,495
I was due to fly LAX to SLC in January. AA has recently cancelled this flight and now wants to route me LAX-PHX-SLC, with the journey now totalling around six hours. Can I claim a full refund here with the cost of the flight refunded to my credit card, given the nature of the change, rather than simply cancelling it for flight credit?
Nov 21, 2021, 6:11 pm
#1080
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2
I have a reservation booked on Finnair, with some AA segments. I have the AA Record Locator and can see the trip when I manually look it up on AA.com via the "search for another trip" feature. But I can't get the record to stick in my "upcoming trips" view. I have to manually search for it each time. Any tricks to make it appear automatically?
My AA number is the number on the itinerary.
My AA number is the number on the itinerary.