AA Vacations New Miles-Earning
Aug 29, 23, 2:50 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,135
We took an AA Vacations package (flight+hotel) back in June of this year. I can confirm the Base Mile earnings was 5X the package price. Note that the total Base Miles is then divided by the number of people in your vacation package. No additional flight earnings.
I also had the 30% LP bonus applied to my portion of the base miles.
I also had the 30% LP bonus applied to my portion of the base miles.
Ugh, RIP AA Vacations. So all the asterisk/no asterisk/special fare stuff is totally irrelevant now... In exchange for earning a little on the non-flight cost, we now are punished for booking flights with AA Vacations versus AA. For non-elites: 1x versus 5x. For elites: 5x versus 7-11x.
What is still confusing is: On a vacation booking, one has a valid AA ticket, so if AA does not credit it as a flight after travel, could one submit it to another OW FFP? 🤔 Would they also deny it since AA, when contacted, would say "customer received partner credit for package price, which takes the place of any other earning"?
Aug 29, 23, 3:03 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2023
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 10
Aug 29, 23, 11:36 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PLT, Mariott Gold Elite, UA Silver, Lowly kettle across DL, Hyatt, ATK, IHG.
Posts: 768
So our July trip originally posted as I* and R*. It's now showing as I and R. Under method, it says "Ineligible". I got the miles and LP for the trip, split with DW, and a Hyatt accrual bonus, but nothing for the flights. Still saved money, but was looking forward to the miles/LP. Should've taken a screen shot with the asterisks.
Aug 29, 23, 11:57 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,816
So our July trip originally posted as I* and R*. It's now showing as I and R. Under method, it says "Ineligible". I got the miles and LP for the trip, split with DW, and a Hyatt accrual bonus, but nothing for the flights. Still saved money, but was looking forward to the miles/LP. Should've taken a screen shot with the asterisks.
My understanding is that you get 5 base miles per dollar spent (assuming that you have status) and that's it. Am I missing something?
Last edited by VegasGambler; Aug 30, 23 at 10:11 am
Aug 30, 23, 7:30 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 11,674
So our July trip originally posted as I* and R*. It's now showing as I and R. Under method, it says "Ineligible". I got the miles and LP for the trip, split with DW, and a Hyatt accrual bonus, but nothing for the flights. Still saved money, but was looking forward to the miles/LP. Should've taken a screen shot with the asterisks.
Aug 30, 23, 12:12 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,381
So our July trip originally posted as I* and R*. It's now showing as I and R. Under method, it says "Ineligible". I got the miles and LP for the trip, split with DW, and a Hyatt accrual bonus, but nothing for the flights. Still saved money, but was looking forward to the miles/LP. Should've taken a screen shot with the asterisks.
Aug 31, 23, 11:57 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Programs: AA PLT, Mariott Gold Elite, UA Silver, Lowly kettle across DL, Hyatt, ATK, IHG.
Posts: 768
I dont fly enough for status to make any difference. Being gold here means you're at the bottom of the upgrade list with a snowball's chance in late spring of getting one. Usually just buy F/J to save my knees and back.
Sep 11, 23, 4:03 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,382
Maybe this page is an orphan and not linked from anywhere within AA and, thus, no longer in force? Otherwise, this seems at odds with the above.
Edit: OK, that's not it. I can still find this page in a search from AA's main page and not just the link I have,
Cheers.
Sep 11, 23, 4:05 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,816
So I'm confused by this. Even today I can access the special Fares page (https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...cial-fares.jsp) and it shows distance-based earning post 1 March, 2023.
Maybe this page is an orphan and not linked from anywhere within AA and, thus, no longer in force? Otherwise, this seems at odds with the above.
Cheers.
Maybe this page is an orphan and not linked from anywhere within AA and, thus, no longer in force? Otherwise, this seems at odds with the above.
Cheers.
For example, you can book a bulk fare through a TA.
ETA: I see that they still list AAV as an example; that is most likely an oversight.
Sep 11, 23, 4:08 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,382
So, yes, they have documented that AAV packages with asterisk are distance-based. I was not able to find information for any other method on the AA pages, although I don't doubt what was posted above.
As this is (still) documented, I assume that one would have some justification for claiming this earning?
But, as others have said, this is now dead for value. As EXP, I can get 11 LP/$ (generally works out to about 9.9-10.1 of total spend, IME) versus just 5 for this. WOuld need to be a hell of a savings to make this work. And it's really not anymore.
Cheers.
Sep 11, 23, 4:18 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,816
Just came to post before your ETA
So, yes, they have documented that AAV packages with asterisk are distance-based. I was not able to find information for any other method on the AA pages, although I don't doubt what was posted above.
As this is (still) documented, I assume that one would have some justification for claiming this earning?
Is there a link to the new scheme that was posted above?
Cheers.
So, yes, they have documented that AAV packages with asterisk are distance-based. I was not able to find information for any other method on the AA pages, although I don't doubt what was posted above.
As this is (still) documented, I assume that one would have some justification for claiming this earning?
Is there a link to the new scheme that was posted above?
Cheers.
Do they still show the astrisks on the AAV page? If not, the question is moot.
Sep 11, 23, 4:23 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,382
You can certainly ask but I don't like your chances. The AAV page says that you earn miles for the package price only (though admittedly the "only" part is not explicit). I'm pretty sure that those flights are just ineligible to earn miles. AA is not going to give you miles because of a mistake on their website.
Do they still show the astrisks on the AAV page? If not, the question is moot.
Do they still show the astrisks on the AAV page? If not, the question is moot.
Cheers.
Sep 11, 23, 4:35 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,816
I just check one and yes, the do. Glad I found this was I was looking at an AAV package for next year. One of the sweet spots, even now, was booking in P (which had the same earnings as I) and using SWU to upgrade, if available. Now I'm better of just buying J. sigh...another loophole closed.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 12, 23, 12:35 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,111
