NEWBIE LOUNGE 2022-2023: Ask AA newbie questions here - flame-free thread
Jan 19, 2023, 6:14 am
#2041
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Using Miles to upgrade NYC-CDG
My sister and her family of 3 have over a million miles on AA and want to fly NYC-CDG in early June in business class.
She thinks I know a lot about strategy using miles but It has been years since I have traveled and played the miles game.
Any hints on the best way to get them into business class. My initial thinking from reading is buy 4 economy plus and use miles plus the surcharge to upgrade. But is that immediate or are they on some sort of wait list? Maybe use miles out right for two tickets and buy two tickets? Not sure any of the family has status ( maybe the husband as he flies to CAL frequently).
I know it is late to be searching ( I am one who use to look 331 days out) but any thoughts to guide her would be appreciated. Thanks.
She thinks I know a lot about strategy using miles but It has been years since I have traveled and played the miles game.
Any hints on the best way to get them into business class. My initial thinking from reading is buy 4 economy plus and use miles plus the surcharge to upgrade. But is that immediate or are they on some sort of wait list? Maybe use miles out right for two tickets and buy two tickets? Not sure any of the family has status ( maybe the husband as he flies to CAL frequently).
I know it is late to be searching ( I am one who use to look 331 days out) but any thoughts to guide her would be appreciated. Thanks.
Jan 19, 2023, 6:51 am
#2042
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
My sister and her family of 3 have over a million miles on AA and want to fly NYC-CDG in early June in business class.
She thinks I know a lot about strategy using miles but It has been years since I have traveled and played the miles game.
Any hints on the best way to get them into business class. My initial thinking from reading is buy 4 economy plus and use miles plus the surcharge to upgrade. But is that immediate or are they on some sort of wait list? Maybe use miles out right for two tickets and buy two tickets? Not sure any of the family has status ( maybe the husband as he flies to CAL frequently).
I know it is late to be searching ( I am one who use to look 331 days out) but any thoughts to guide her would be appreciated. Thanks.
She thinks I know a lot about strategy using miles but It has been years since I have traveled and played the miles game.
Any hints on the best way to get them into business class. My initial thinking from reading is buy 4 economy plus and use miles plus the surcharge to upgrade. But is that immediate or are they on some sort of wait list? Maybe use miles out right for two tickets and buy two tickets? Not sure any of the family has status ( maybe the husband as he flies to CAL frequently).
I know it is late to be searching ( I am one who use to look 331 days out) but any thoughts to guide her would be appreciated. Thanks.
They can buy economy and upgrade with 25k miles + $350 per person, each way. But there's basically a 0% chance that upgrade space will be available at booking, so they'll be put on the waitlist, and space won't open up until around 24-36 hours before the flight (if at all). And on the waitlist they'll be sorted below anyone with status.
Alternatively they can just book business class award tickets with miles, but AA's award rates will be astronomical (see above re: peak season). Spot checking a few dates for JFK-CDG show 200k-400k miles each way, so even with 1M miles they barely have enough to get the whole family there one-way.
Splitting up and doing some combo of awards and upgrades is an idea, but I would fully be prepared to have the family split up with some in economy, and even then you'd be spending a minimum of 800k for 2 roundtrips to Paris, which is a total ripoff.
Jan 19, 2023, 6:57 am
#2043
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Everybody and their brother wants to go to Paris in business class in June. It's peak peak season, there's no easy answer here, and trying for 4 seats makes thing exponentially harder.
They can buy economy and upgrade with 25k miles + $350 per person, each way. But there's basically a 0% chance that upgrade space will be available at booking, so they'll be put on the waitlist, and space won't open up until around 24-36 hours before the flight (if at all). And on the waitlist they'll be sorted below anyone with status.
Alternatively they can just book business class award tickets with miles, but AA's award rates will be astronomical (see above re: peak season). Spot checking a few dates for JFK-CDG show 200k-400k miles each way, so even with 1M miles they barely have enough to get the whole family there one-way.
Splitting up and doing some combo of awards and upgrades is an idea, but I would fully be prepared to have the family split up with some in economy, and even then you'd be spending a minimum of 800k for 2 roundtrips to Paris, which is a total ripoff.
They can buy economy and upgrade with 25k miles + $350 per person, each way. But there's basically a 0% chance that upgrade space will be available at booking, so they'll be put on the waitlist, and space won't open up until around 24-36 hours before the flight (if at all). And on the waitlist they'll be sorted below anyone with status.
Alternatively they can just book business class award tickets with miles, but AA's award rates will be astronomical (see above re: peak season). Spot checking a few dates for JFK-CDG show 200k-400k miles each way, so even with 1M miles they barely have enough to get the whole family there one-way.
Splitting up and doing some combo of awards and upgrades is an idea, but I would fully be prepared to have the family split up with some in economy, and even then you'd be spending a minimum of 800k for 2 roundtrips to Paris, which is a total ripoff.
Jan 19, 2023, 10:39 am
#2044
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Making reservations for 4 passengers. 3 will be award seats , one will be paid. Can they all be on the same reservation number? Thanks
Jan 19, 2023, 10:58 am
#2045
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Looking for advice and better understanding of pricing in terms of seat availability. I am looking to go RT CLT - LAX in Aug and, for instance, if I look at 08/15 - 08/22 there are various OB options for 1099 and only 1 red eye return for 1099. If I look at return 08/23, there are more favorable options for return to stay at 1099. I assume this is due to seat availability on these specific flights/days but am unable to check through cowtool since I do not have an account. Can anyone confirm if this is the right reasoning? Is there another tool that will allow me to see different seat numbers/classes available for specific routes/dates? I do not mind booking dates based on best price but just want to understand the reasoning behind the differences.
Jan 19, 2023, 11:11 am
#2046
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 53
I'm booked in JL J for Sept to Japan and will need to add a lap infant ticket. ITA Matrix says the lap infant ticket will be about $1k but we're not sure if we'll end up going on this trip yet. If we were to cancel the flight, will the $1k get refunded? Should I call AA or JL to add the lap infant and should I book now or do you think the ticket prices will drop a bit in the near future?
ETA: Ouch, it's actually $1.4k in J. Either way, if we go through with this, what seats do you recommend for flying with a lap infant who will be 1.5?
ETA: Ouch, it's actually $1.4k in J. Either way, if we go through with this, what seats do you recommend for flying with a lap infant who will be 1.5?
Jan 19, 2023, 11:22 am
#2047
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Jan 19, 2023, 11:22 am
#2048
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Plat
Posts: 122
Nope. The award and paid will have to be separate. Can call to have them "linked" after the fact, but that has minimal benefit - let's AA know these people are traveling together, and in the case of one of them having status, they would honor selecting seats for the 3 & 1 together, for example (if on AA metal).
Last edited by patriotPHL1; Jan 19, 2023 at 11:23 am Reason: grammar
Jan 20, 2023, 8:23 am
#2049
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
My sister and her family were able to get some decent award seats NYC-CDG on AA out ( Biz) and BA returning (Econ+) for June .
But the CSR split the itinerary into 2 reservations because of the number of miles in my sister's and her husband's accounts were only enough for 2 tickets in each. My sister and her husband are in one and her two children in the other. My sister's/ husband's reservation was ticketed immediately. ( seats assigned because her husband is an Emerald.) In trying to get seats for the kids BA kept saying their ticket has not been issued. When we looked this morning at the kids reservation it said something to the affect "to buy the additional miles needed to complete the ticket call CS" Yikes. They thought they did all that yesterday when making the reservation with the CSR. ( My sister needed just a few thousand miles)
Anyway.... both of them are aware of the issue but have yet to find the time to call in....how long will AA hold the kid's reservation before kicking it out of the system?
But the CSR split the itinerary into 2 reservations because of the number of miles in my sister's and her husband's accounts were only enough for 2 tickets in each. My sister and her husband are in one and her two children in the other. My sister's/ husband's reservation was ticketed immediately. ( seats assigned because her husband is an Emerald.) In trying to get seats for the kids BA kept saying their ticket has not been issued. When we looked this morning at the kids reservation it said something to the affect "to buy the additional miles needed to complete the ticket call CS" Yikes. They thought they did all that yesterday when making the reservation with the CSR. ( My sister needed just a few thousand miles)
Anyway.... both of them are aware of the issue but have yet to find the time to call in....how long will AA hold the kid's reservation before kicking it out of the system?
Jan 20, 2023, 10:49 am
#2050
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,595
My sister and her family were able to get some decent award seats NYC-CDG on AA out ( Biz) and BA returning (Econ+) for June .
But the CSR split the itinerary into 2 reservations because of the number of miles in my sister's and her husband's accounts were only enough for 2 tickets in each. My sister and her husband are in one and her two children in the other. My sister's/ husband's reservation was ticketed immediately. ( seats assigned because her husband is an Emerald.) In trying to get seats for the kids BA kept saying their ticket has not been issued. When we looked this morning at the kids reservation it said something to the affect "to buy the additional miles needed to complete the ticket call CS" Yikes. They thought they did all that yesterday when making the reservation with the CSR. ( My sister needed just a few thousand miles)
Anyway.... both of them are aware of the issue but have yet to find the time to call in....how long will AA hold the kid's reservation before kicking it out of the system?
But the CSR split the itinerary into 2 reservations because of the number of miles in my sister's and her husband's accounts were only enough for 2 tickets in each. My sister and her husband are in one and her two children in the other. My sister's/ husband's reservation was ticketed immediately. ( seats assigned because her husband is an Emerald.) In trying to get seats for the kids BA kept saying their ticket has not been issued. When we looked this morning at the kids reservation it said something to the affect "to buy the additional miles needed to complete the ticket call CS" Yikes. They thought they did all that yesterday when making the reservation with the CSR. ( My sister needed just a few thousand miles)
Anyway.... both of them are aware of the issue but have yet to find the time to call in....how long will AA hold the kid's reservation before kicking it out of the system?
Jan 20, 2023, 12:19 pm
#2051
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,702
Yes u missed something. Awards have to be chosen by the end of the qualifying year now.
Did I miss something, my Platinum Pro benefit I just earned (working towards EXP again before end of February) says I must choose by end of March? Last year I had a whole year to pick, by end of December. I don't want to pick an SWU this early, I have quite a few. When did this happen?
Jan 20, 2023, 12:33 pm
#2052
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,965
Jan 20, 2023, 3:07 pm
#2053
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 387
Early next year, I am flying RT DFW-SYD. I want to fly DFW-LAX on AA and then LAX-SYD on Qantas (because I want to fly first on a 380). Also, I'd like to pay for my ticket and use miles for my wife's ticket. When I search for a paid ticket, the flights I want are there, but when I search using Redeem Miles, it shows only AA flights. How do I price in miles the LAX-SYD Qantas flight? I'm guessing call??
Jan 20, 2023, 3:15 pm
#2054
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,595
Early next year, I am flying RT DFW-SYD. I want to fly DFW-LAX on AA and then LAX-SYD on Qantas (because I want to fly first on a 380). Also, I'd like to pay for my ticket and use miles for my wife's ticket. When I search for a paid ticket, the flights I want are there, but when I search using Redeem Miles, it shows only AA flights. How do I price in miles the LAX-SYD Qantas flight? I'm guessing call??
Jan 20, 2023, 4:11 pm
#2055
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
Early next year, I am flying RT DFW-SYD. I want to fly DFW-LAX on AA and then LAX-SYD on Qantas (because I want to fly first on a 380). Also, I'd like to pay for my ticket and use miles for my wife's ticket. When I search for a paid ticket, the flights I want are there, but when I search using Redeem Miles, it shows only AA flights. How do I price in miles the LAX-SYD Qantas flight? I'm guessing call??
Unlike award flights on AA metal, award flights on partner metal are only available at the MileSAAver level, which means only when Qantas chooses to make such seats available to partners. In order for DFW-LAX-SYD to be available as a single award, both segments would have to be available at the MileSAAver award level.