Booking award travel for another person exp benefits?
Sep 6, 2022 | 7:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,831
Booking award travel for another person exp benefits?
Im booking a multi segment itinerary for my mom. The flight will be lhr- dtw, dtw-Dfw, and Dfw-lhr.
Will I be able to reserve her MCE seats gratis? Im booking main cabin with miles.
thank you.
Will I be able to reserve her MCE seats gratis? Im booking main cabin with miles.
thank you.
Sep 8, 2022 | 5:19 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,422
If you're booking it for her SOLO travel for whatever reason (vs her booking her own itinerary) by putting her AA number on the record, it'll allow her to log in and select MCE seats. Doesn't matter if it's a mileage ticket with your miles, her miles, or paid.
If you're traveling together, though, the only way you can BOTH get her seat benefits is too be on the same PNR
If you're traveling together, though, the only way you can BOTH get her seat benefits is too be on the same PNR
Sep 8, 2022 | 5:24 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 8,083
If you are on the same flights (even on a different PNR), you can eventually get you two together, but if she's traveling alone, no. Not at least when I was booking as a PPRO.
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:03 am
#5
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,831
She's traveling alone. I have never booked travel award for someone else using AA so I was curious. FWIW back in my 1K days UA would allow that traveling person to use my status benefits while traveling solo.
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:18 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 8,083
So I just tried a dummy booking for my son with his AAdvantage number (no status) but using my miles. It asked for $$$ copay for MCE and "preferred" seats.
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:22 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 11,728
The exception to the above is if the OP is also on the flight in the same cabin and then they PNRs are "linked" and benefits are extended.
As for why someone would book a flight for someone else, many reasons - the purchaser may have more miles than the recipient, the recipient may be living overseas And doesn't have AA miles and many others. I do this regularly with my family in the cases where the $ cost of tickets gets very high.
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:37 am
#8
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,831
My mom doesn't have an AAdvantage number but she does have a BA number. Does it even matter what number I plug in when I book the res on AA for her? I also told her she'll have to connect only once. She's very mobile and active but she still is 79. What airport would you recommend offers the most seamless and perhaps least walking? This is for lhr-dtw. ORD? Arrive T5 in Glencoe and get over to T3 in Chicago? lol forget that. PHL? possible.....
Sep 8, 2022 | 8:49 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 11,728
My mom doesn't have an AAdvantage number but she does have a BA number. Does it even matter what number I plug in when I book the res on AA for her? I also told her she'll have to connect only once. She's very mobile and active but she still is 79. What airport would you recommend offers the most seamless and perhaps least walking? This is for lhr-dtw. ORD? Arrive T5 in Glencoe and get over to T3 in Chicago? lol forget that. PHL? possible.....
As for the number in the booking, it doesn't matter. I would put her BA number just for the tiny chance of IROPS that rebooks her as full fare Y.
Sep 8, 2022 | 9:02 am
#10
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,831
I'd do JFK. T8-T8 and both flights are short. I would also check AF/KL with miles to book the LHR-DTW nonstop on DL. Sometimes there is a decent deal in Y with those miles. Also it is an a332, so 2-4-2 seating.
As for the number in the booking, it doesn't matter. I would put her BA number just for the tiny chance of IROPS that rebooks her as full fare Y.
As for the number in the booking, it doesn't matter. I would put her BA number just for the tiny chance of IROPS that rebooks her as full fare Y.
I'm using my AA miles so DL/KL won't help unless I just buy a 1 way.
Sep 8, 2022 | 9:09 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 11,728
If not, probably DFW and then CLT. ORD is a disaster, PHL is colonoscopy-equivalent.
If you have an Amex with MR or Chase Sapphire, you can transfer points to AF/KL or Virgin. Food for thought
Sep 8, 2022 | 1:41 pm
#13
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,831
Sep 8, 2022 | 1:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DTW
Programs: AA Exec Plt , Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 607
Sep 8, 2022 | 6:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: AA Exp, Hilton LT Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Wyndham & Caesars Diamond,
Posts: 28
A few tips:
DTW is on EST, Chicago is CST, so you lose an hour if she transits through ORD.
ORD customs has dragons that demand you carry your Global Entry Card to flash at them before you can enter the fast track lines (Don't know if your mum has one)
Lastly, as a person of *ahem* less than young years, I highly advocate taking the daytime/morning flights TATL from US. There is one ORD-LHR, two JFK-LHR (one is on BA) and one BOS-LHR also on BA. Using BA means less miles but significantly more fees.
Signed,
One Who Cannot Sleep on a Plane
DTW is on EST, Chicago is CST, so you lose an hour if she transits through ORD.
ORD customs has dragons that demand you carry your Global Entry Card to flash at them before you can enter the fast track lines (Don't know if your mum has one)
Lastly, as a person of *ahem* less than young years, I highly advocate taking the daytime/morning flights TATL from US. There is one ORD-LHR, two JFK-LHR (one is on BA) and one BOS-LHR also on BA. Using BA means less miles but significantly more fees.
Signed,
One Who Cannot Sleep on a Plane