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 28, 2021, 8:52 pm
#1111
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 3
With the 2022 loyalty points via CC spend could I just slap ~200k in taxes at a 2% fee to the IRS and get EXP for $4000? Minus the 200k in miles from an AA CC and well, it shouldn’t be super hard to requalify each year.
Nov 29, 2021, 11:29 am
#1112
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BOS & SFO
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 675
I'm flying AA382 LAX-BOS in F (A321T) on December 11 and would like to preorder a meal since I'm vegetarian, but I don't see any option to. Is meal preorder not available for premium transcon routes? I ask because I had family fly BOS-LHR in AA J a few months ago and were able to successfully reserve a meal in advance.
Nov 29, 2021, 11:36 am
#1113
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I'm flying AA382 LAX-BOS in F (A321T) on December 11 and would like to preorder a meal since I'm vegetarian, but I don't see any option to. Is meal preorder not available for premium transcon routes? I ask because I had family fly BOS-LHR in AA J a few months ago and were able to successfully reserve a meal in advance.
Nov 29, 2021, 11:41 am
#1114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
I'm flying AA382 LAX-BOS in F (A321T) on December 11 and would like to preorder a meal since I'm vegetarian, but I don't see any option to. Is meal preorder not available for premium transcon routes? I ask because I had family fly BOS-LHR in AA J a few months ago and were able to successfully reserve a meal in advance.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...-allergies.jsp
It appears that AA does not offer special meals on domestic routes.
You should, however, be able to pre-order one of the available meal choices offered on your flight:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...p?locale=en_JP
Nov 29, 2021, 11:50 am
#1115
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I Googled "AA special meals" and found this:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...-allergies.jsp
It appears that AA does not offer special meals on domestic routes.
You should, however, be able to pre-order one of the available meal choices offered on your flight:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...p?locale=en_JP
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...-allergies.jsp
It appears that AA does not offer special meals on domestic routes.
You should, however, be able to pre-order one of the available meal choices offered on your flight:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...p?locale=en_JP
Nov 29, 2021, 12:08 pm
#1116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
It's also possible that one of the available entrees on the flight will be vegetarian, even if the full meal is not.
Nov 29, 2021, 3:38 pm
#1117
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 85
Hi all - I'm a new AA EP and Admiral's Club card holder, couple questions:
1) Do I need to show anything to get access to the Clubs or just scan my boarding pass? United Clubs would just have to scan my boarding pass, but it sounds like I'd have to show my credit card every time with AA? Is that correct?
2) wondering what everyone's experience is as an EP flying internationally in economy/main cabin? Anything special EPs get in economy on long-haul flights? Also - it seems I'd have to use a Systemwide Upgrade in order to potentially get upgraded to business, right? What about Premium Economy? Any upgrades to that?
Thanks!
1) Do I need to show anything to get access to the Clubs or just scan my boarding pass? United Clubs would just have to scan my boarding pass, but it sounds like I'd have to show my credit card every time with AA? Is that correct?
2) wondering what everyone's experience is as an EP flying internationally in economy/main cabin? Anything special EPs get in economy on long-haul flights? Also - it seems I'd have to use a Systemwide Upgrade in order to potentially get upgraded to business, right? What about Premium Economy? Any upgrades to that?
Thanks!
Nov 29, 2021, 5:26 pm
#1118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Hi all - I'm a new AA EP and Admiral's Club card holder, couple questions:
1) Do I need to show anything to get access to the Clubs or just scan my boarding pass? United Clubs would just have to scan my boarding pass, but it sounds like I'd have to show my credit card every time with AA? Is that correct?
2) wondering what everyone's experience is as an EP flying internationally in economy/main cabin? Anything special EPs get in economy on long-haul flights? Also - it seems I'd have to use a Systemwide Upgrade in order to potentially get upgraded to business, right? What about Premium Economy? Any upgrades to that?
Thanks!
1) Do I need to show anything to get access to the Clubs or just scan my boarding pass? United Clubs would just have to scan my boarding pass, but it sounds like I'd have to show my credit card every time with AA? Is that correct?
2) wondering what everyone's experience is as an EP flying internationally in economy/main cabin? Anything special EPs get in economy on long-haul flights? Also - it seems I'd have to use a Systemwide Upgrade in order to potentially get upgraded to business, right? What about Premium Economy? Any upgrades to that?
Thanks!
2) Nothing special as an EXP in long haul economy other than ability to select MCE or preferred seats for no charge (same as any flight). If you want to upgrade you need to use SWUs (or miles/co-pay). As of right now upgrades go from economy to business (skipping premium economy).
Nov 29, 2021, 5:53 pm
#1119
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 237
Just got an upgrade to MIA to LAX on Thursday. Anyone know if this upgrade to business allows access to the flagship lounge, or do I need to be on a paid ticket?
Nov 29, 2021, 7:53 pm
#1120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,388
Nov 29, 2021, 8:05 pm
#1121
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 44
Hello,
Delta PM here with little experience on AA. Trying to keep up with all the recent changes.
Looking at a 77W flight from JFK-MIA. Am I correct that paying the "Plus" fare gets me free MCE seats if they are available (which on this flight will be premium select)? I see plenty of PS seats as well as MCE seats, both in orange
Thanks!
Delta PM here with little experience on AA. Trying to keep up with all the recent changes.
Looking at a 77W flight from JFK-MIA. Am I correct that paying the "Plus" fare gets me free MCE seats if they are available (which on this flight will be premium select)? I see plenty of PS seats as well as MCE seats, both in orange
Thanks!
Nov 29, 2021, 8:45 pm
#1122
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LAX/PHL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 292
I'll be Platinum Pro as I'll be flying 4x times and qualify by my last flight near the end of February 2022. My family (2 adults + 3 kids) is planning a trip to Hawaii in July 2022 so I don't know if there's any benefit in wait until I'm PlatPro to book the tickets? I also have 100k miles which I don't mind using. Anyone recommend me how to maximize the flying portion of this trip besides using my AAdvantage card to book (after I hit PlatPro?)?
Nov 30, 2021, 10:29 am
#1123
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I'll be Platinum Pro as I'll be flying 4x times and qualify by my last flight near the end of February 2022. My family (2 adults + 3 kids) is planning a trip to Hawaii in July 2022 so I don't know if there's any benefit in wait until I'm PlatPro to book the tickets? I also have 100k miles which I don't mind using. Anyone recommend me how to maximize the flying portion of this trip besides using my AAdvantage card to book (after I hit PlatPro?)?
2) You could use a portion of those 100k miles for a one-way, and pay for the other OW with $ if it's more cost effective. You would just have different record locators, and if anything happens between now and next July (highly likely) such as a schedule change, you may have to fiddle around to get on the same flight with your family should you get separated.
Nov 30, 2021, 7:13 pm
#1124
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 393
Will I be allowed in the Flagship lounge if:
I arrive into Miami from EZE on one ticket but out going flight on AA is a separate ticket on a non flagship route in economy? I’ll have to pick up my bags and re check in.
What about if it’s on a non AA ticket?
I arrive into Miami from EZE on one ticket but out going flight on AA is a separate ticket on a non flagship route in economy? I’ll have to pick up my bags and re check in.
What about if it’s on a non AA ticket?
Dec 1, 2021, 4:05 am
#1125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Yes, separate tickets don't matter for lounge access purposes but your onward connecting flight must also be on a oneworld carrier. Just hang on to your EZE-MIA BP to show for entry.