Combing points AA + Amex (BA)
Dec 13, 2019, 8:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
Combing points AA + Amex (BA)
Hello,
I have 120k points on AA, and 120k on Amex.
Looking to do a trip to Japan next year in Business class.
How possible is it to book the flight through BA if I bring my Amex points to them.
edit: Flying out of NYC.
I have 120k points on AA, and 120k on Amex.
Looking to do a trip to Japan next year in Business class.
How possible is it to book the flight through BA if I bring my Amex points to them.
edit: Flying out of NYC.
Last edited by Cowz; Dec 14, 2019 at 10:37 am
Dec 13, 2019, 9:29 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
You could pay one way with BA avios and the other way with AA ff miles, subject to having enough in each ff account
Amex MR Transfer Membership Rewards points to which airline or hotel program?
You may have difficultly getting a business class award USA<---> Japan on AA or JL
BA forum thread:-- Your guide to spending Avios | 2019 edition
AA forum
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
JL---> AAdvantage Award using JL / JAL / Japan Airlines (master thd)
Dec 14, 2019, 5:20 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
You can't pool miles from different programmes. What you can do is book two one-ways, using AA miles for a BA or AA flight, and similarly using your BA Avios for a BA or AA flight in the other direction. You don't say where you are starting from, so I have no idea if you have enough miles/points or not.
Dec 14, 2019, 8:41 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
In addition to the helpful information provided in the previous two responses, you should take into consideration that award flights flown on BA are subject to prohibitively hefty surcharges imposed by that airline.
Last edited by JPG3392; Dec 14, 2019 at 8:41 am Reason: Corrected typo.
Dec 14, 2019, 10:20 am
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
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And both AA miles and BA Avios can be redeemed for travel on JL.
Dec 14, 2019, 10:34 am
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Not to be a pedant, but if they were prohibitively high, no one would redeem, but plenty of people do, and there is some value to be had.
Dec 14, 2019, 10:37 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
You can't pool miles from different programmes. What you can do is book two one-ways, using AA miles for a BA or AA flight, and similarly using your BA Avios for a BA or AA flight in the other direction. You don't say where you are starting from, so I have no idea if you have enough miles/points or not.
Dec 14, 2019, 10:47 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Just search aa.com for MileSAAver award availability. You are most likely to find such availability on JL flights -- at least for the TPAC portion if you cannot find availability on JL nonstops out of JFK.
A Business Class roundtrip from NYC to Japan will cost just 120K AA miles -- with zero carrier surcharges. I would just use the AA miles for this trip, assuming that you can find SAAver award availability. If the JL nonstops from JFK are not available at time of booking, try to find an AA/JL connection out of JFK, not LGA or EWR; that way, if the JL nonstops should subsequently become available, you can switch to it without paying the $150 fee applicable to changing your origination or destination airport.
A Business Class roundtrip from NYC to Japan will cost just 120K AA miles -- with zero carrier surcharges. I would just use the AA miles for this trip, assuming that you can find SAAver award availability. If the JL nonstops from JFK are not available at time of booking, try to find an AA/JL connection out of JFK, not LGA or EWR; that way, if the JL nonstops should subsequently become available, you can switch to it without paying the $150 fee applicable to changing your origination or destination airport.
Dec 14, 2019, 10:56 am
#9
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
BA uses a distance based system for awards. AA use a zone system for awards.
BA and AA (saver) award availability may be different
Main airports in Tokyo are NRT & HND. Check both
From USA east coast JL also fly from BOS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
A very general guide. Check the details with each ffp.
For some strange reason BA does not show, but BA avios can be used on JL, AA & CX flights
https://www.awardhacker.com/#f=JFK&t...=0&c=j&s=1&p=1
BA and AA (saver) award availability may be different
Main airports in Tokyo are NRT & HND. Check both
From USA east coast JL also fly from BOS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations
A very general guide. Check the details with each ffp.
For some strange reason BA does not show, but BA avios can be used on JL, AA & CX flights
https://www.awardhacker.com/#f=JFK&t...=0&c=j&s=1&p=1
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Dec 14, 2019 at 11:28 am
Dec 14, 2019, 1:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: JFK, LGA
Programs: AA PRO, BA S
Posts: 185
Didn’t catch when you wanted to go, but In the winter it’s pretty easy to find Japan Airlines business space for 1-2 seats from jfk, Boston, Chicago. JL is also good about opening up biz space 10-11 months in advance when the schedule opens.