AA Mileage Awards Doubled In Price(?!)
Jun 18, 2022, 1:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,123
Please help the OP out and suggest a bookable reward redemption at a good price in July or pre August 15 for Rio, Boston, or NYC.
No, you don't get to choose October for the trip.
Jun 18, 2022, 1:50 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
The problem is not that the miles are worthless, the problem is that the request is unreasonable.
Jun 18, 2022, 2:01 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 67
I have had some success finding reasonably priced (i.e., consistent with what used to be normal pricing) fares using AA miles, but only if planning far ahead (e.g., Thanksgiving) or if waiting until 0-2 days before traveling. Probably not that easy for a family to go on vacation with 3 hours notice, but that seems to be the only way to fly someplace without selling an organ this summer.
Jun 18, 2022, 2:15 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I have had some success finding reasonably priced (i.e., consistent with what used to be normal pricing) fares using AA miles, but only if planning far ahead (e.g., Thanksgiving) or if waiting until 0-2 days before traveling. Probably not that easy for a family to go on vacation with 3 hours notice, but that seems to be the only way to fly someplace without selling an organ this summer.
It's summer. It is now too late to be booking summer travel using miles. It's probably too late to be booking using cash too. The time to book this was February or March, maybe April. That's not exactly "far ahead", especially for award travel.
Jun 18, 2022, 2:27 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SNA
Posts: 928
1. OP opens rant thread.
2. OP gets informed advice/explanations relevant to their issue.
3. OP ignores said advice/explanations and continues the "woe-is-me" tack.
4. As they are wont to do, FTers begin to ignore the OPs original complaint and delve tangentially into the metaphysics of award availability.
That's entertainment!
2. OP gets informed advice/explanations relevant to their issue.
3. OP ignores said advice/explanations and continues the "woe-is-me" tack.
4. As they are wont to do, FTers begin to ignore the OPs original complaint and delve tangentially into the metaphysics of award availability.
That's entertainment!
Jun 18, 2022, 3:44 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 39
I've been traveling to Brazil annually for 10 years. Never had a problem locking down reasonable Biz class redemptions(57K +/-) before dynamic pricing began. I begin looking around 8 months in advance because I typically visit during Feb. The last 2 years have been brutal. I was lucky enough to find an outbound flight for 71K but that 'Web Special" rate on return flights(DCA) has dried up. Nothing for less than 115K now, deep into next year. Alaska, BA and JAL partner awards are NON existent. The good old days are def gone....
Last edited by Oprime; Jun 18, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Jun 18, 2022, 4:29 pm
#22
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Jun 18, 2022, 5:14 pm
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
Jun 18, 2022, 5:33 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Sure glad I was able to use my worthless miles to book non-existent space...
Jun 18, 2022, 7:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 228
The most annoying situation was the other day, however, when my wife and I between us had just enough miles for an award booking, I bit the bullet and paid to transfer just enough from my account to hers, only to find once I'd booked my ticket the price went up by 1,000 miles.
Jun 18, 2022, 7:55 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 641
To me this is as annoying as the increasing cost of flights booked with AA miles, although I appreciate many people won't have BA or AC miles to spend (and I only do because of previously canceled flights that I'd booked with those currencies). I will occasionally find a UA flight available via AC (PVR-LAX in Y last November being the most recent...) but I can't remember the last time I saw an AA flight bookable with points via BA.
The most annoying situation was the other day, however, when my wife and I between us had just enough miles for an award booking, I bit the bullet and paid to transfer just enough from my account to hers, only to find once I'd booked my ticket the price went up by 1,000 miles.
The most annoying situation was the other day, however, when my wife and I between us had just enough miles for an award booking, I bit the bullet and paid to transfer just enough from my account to hers, only to find once I'd booked my ticket the price went up by 1,000 miles.
get on the shopping portal And get to buying lol
Jun 18, 2022, 7:56 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC, SEA
Programs: Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP, DL PM, AS 100k (fake), B6 M3 (fake), BA Gold (fake), UA FO.
Posts: 738
Dropping in to be that annoying guy that says everyone in this thread is right: AA awards are being devalued overall in recent months/years, and are particularly brutal right now even factoring in seasonality, etc.; and at the same time, it's also true that there are awards out there for those of us obsessive enough to find them (which takes more OCD than it used to). Now that I've hopefully peeved everyone off... have a great evening all, and enjoy the holiday weekend!
Jun 18, 2022, 11:12 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
To me this is as annoying as the increasing cost of flights booked with AA miles, although I appreciate many people won't have BA or AC miles to spend (and I only do because of previously canceled flights that I'd booked with those currencies). I will occasionally find a UA flight available via AC (PVR-LAX in Y last November being the most recent...) but I can't remember the last time I saw an AA flight bookable with points via BA.
The most annoying situation was the other day, however, when my wife and I between us had just enough miles for an award booking, I bit the bullet and paid to transfer just enough from my account to hers, only to find once I'd booked my ticket the price went up by 1,000 miles.
The most annoying situation was the other day, however, when my wife and I between us had just enough miles for an award booking, I bit the bullet and paid to transfer just enough from my account to hers, only to find once I'd booked my ticket the price went up by 1,000 miles.
I also noticed (when the price was 8500) that booking for 2 was 18k (9000 each). So they don't charge the higher cost for both; they average them.
If you want to see if the price of a web special will go up after booking a ticket, check the price of 2.