no experience with AA/British
May 27, 2014, 6:04 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
no experience with AA/British
I have family members trying to go from SFO-Hanoi Dec. 2015, pretty good lead time, but my somewhat extensive experience on United has me spoiled-how do I see/book Cathay with AA or British or a combo of both?
Trying for 8 seats dont laugh, will take as many as possible and they will pay cash for the rest.
They have @120kAA and 200k British right now.
Thanks for the expert help.
Trying for 8 seats dont laugh, will take as many as possible and they will pay cash for the rest.
They have @120kAA and 200k British right now.
Thanks for the expert help.
May 27, 2014, 6:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
BA and Qantas will both show Cathay availability. IMO, Qantas has the better search interface. Anything found can be booked by calling AA. Will be MilesAAver rate.
May 28, 2014, 4:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
May 28, 2014, 4:37 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,015
In my veiw you have no hope in getting 8 award seats together, in any class, at a peak time. Do you have airline status? Have you looked at schedules and routes?
Anyway 120,000 AA miles and 200,000 BA avois for SFO-HAN will not get many awards seats for many people. Best if you plan on using cash.
May 28, 2014, 5:07 pm
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
Just looking at Dec. 14 for a feel for what is there. It sucks compared to United. But Chase has killed me so looking other places.
But 300k is a good start with 18 months lead, no problem generating another 300k or so, but using Qantas is a real pita.
But 300k is a good start with 18 months lead, no problem generating another 300k or so, but using Qantas is a real pita.
May 29, 2014, 12:22 pm
#8
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
You first have to assure the aircraft / flight in question has First cabin. E.g. JL out of SFO no longer offers First class, at least the last time I sent someone on JL SFO-HND using award miles.
You are, IMO, unlikely to find eight seats at one time, and doubly so if award seats. CX 747 offers nine seats in F, total; those 777-300s that have First offer six seats in the F cabin. But also look at AA, using the Hong Kong flight out of DFW (they use a new 777-323ER with a very nice First cabin - but it has a total of eight seats). BA - well, that will require considerable "YQ" fees and using two awards.
You may want to look at Business, which is quite comfortable with lie-flat seats and "mini-suites" on CX and AA's 77W, for instance, as well as JL.
You can book one way (only) awards with AAdvantage miles; I am not sure how BAEC awards work (other than using Avios for upgrades on BA).
You are, IMO, unlikely to find eight seats at one time, and doubly so if award seats. CX 747 offers nine seats in F, total; those 777-300s that have First offer six seats in the F cabin. But also look at AA, using the Hong Kong flight out of DFW (they use a new 777-323ER with a very nice First cabin - but it has a total of eight seats). BA - well, that will require considerable "YQ" fees and using two awards.
You may want to look at Business, which is quite comfortable with lie-flat seats and "mini-suites" on CX and AA's 77W, for instance, as well as JL.
You can book one way (only) awards with AAdvantage miles; I am not sure how BAEC awards work (other than using Avios for upgrades on BA).
Last edited by JDiver; May 31, 2014 at 3:44 pm
May 29, 2014, 12:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
Afaik the only way to fly SFO to HND on Cathay is with a connection in HKG, making it two zones, and requiring a second award.
If you want to use AA or BA miles you'll want to fly AA or JL.
If you want to use AA or BA miles you'll want to fly AA or JL.
May 31, 2014, 12:56 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA GLD, AC, HH Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 185
I can say with virtual certainty there will not be 8 F awards on any single CX flight, anywhere, anytime.
Cheers,
Cameron
May 31, 2014, 9:05 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
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May 31, 2014, 9:15 am
#12
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Using BA and AA miles, or anyone else's for that matter, will not get you 8 seats in a premium cabin, full stop. And you don't appear to have anywhere near enough if they did. I doubt very much you'll find 8 economy seats together, but I could be wrong. That would be a terrible use of points. I suspect you may have to fork over some cash, but there is no point worrying about this for at least another seven months.