For this reason, I would try to redeem both awards with BA miles and get them merged. Since CX usually has two night flights in addition to the day flight, this strategy is pretty safe IMO.

BTW, the AS nonstop departs from DCA and has an admirable performance record.

My problem is that I won't have much more than 100k miles. I'd rather earn AA miles for credit card use.

how do you search for available flights? for partner airlines its every week search only and they have next 7 days and so.. its so difficult to find an open spot . They don't have a calendar that shows that there is available.

You need to click on lots of links, but it's not that hard if you have a decent search strategy. Do you have any particular trips in mind?

You should call BAEC to ask if it is allowed to go to Europe 1 via Europe 2 as a connection, provided you do NOT make a stopover at Europe 2.

If that is feasible, then IB's MAD would be a good choice.

I know for us East Coast dwellers we would NOT redeem BA miles for Europe. Asia is such a no brainer especially even if you have to buy a position ticket to West Coast, the transcon is so cheap often $250 or below AI, and you earn 5K+ miles on whatever airline you choose to fly. We routinely PAY to fly transcon instead of using our various FF miles for this precisely reason - dirt cheap fares, not worth to use miles.

thanks for the response moondog. I live in salt lake. (SLC) and was thinking of going to MNL ( manila ). I guess as you suggested, i can book 2 flights one here in US going to a hub to use in CX or other airlines that fly to MNL.

just trying to price it out right now.. any suggestions would be great. but we will probably try to redeem on Nov.

thanks!

Your case is almost identical to the TPE example above. If you can find CX seats to HKG (from LAX, SFO, or YVR), you should be in good shape because HKG-MNL isn't a very tough redemption, and you could always fly in Y on those short legs any way. Just be careful not to let AA segments sneak into your main itinerary, as these kill the deal (SLC-gateway is a separate animal).

Was excited about booking a BA flight to Europe with the Chase bonus miles, but with the high taxes, I think I'll just fly domestic on AA.

I think folks are being a little paranoid about BA's tax/fee surcharge. I am flying BA round-trip Seattle to Geneva, with two stopovers in London, for $288 in taxes/fees. What's not to like about that? :confused:

Probably not everyone is going to GVA.

It works for you, that is great. Others may not even want to stopover in London or dont like to connect at LHR. I know I dont but alas I still use AA miles to fly YYZ-LHR because Flatbed in ClubWorld beats AA's Lieflat seat. ;)

I like that idea as I will have enough on both programs. :)

Though I gather that won't work for mileage upgrades. :(

The only problem is that I will need a stopover flying AA from SFO - probably ORD, DFW or JFK. This adds another 3 hours minimum with additional flying time, customs and the connection - I gather ORD is best?

The other option would be to use AA miles to fly BA via YVR (Vancouver), though I'm not sure how I get to YVR (maybe AS?) and I gather I still pay the surcharge if flying BA metal.

If you are using AA miles, you dont pay BA fuel surcharge at all. You do pay the hideous LHR airport taxes (double on premium cabin) but no fuel surcharge from AA. And yes, you can use AS to YVR then take BA to LHR - all on AA's All Airlines award - you could even make a stopover at YVR as that is North America gateway.

well for about twice that you could fly on a revenue fare during a sale probably, earning miles and status. Not on BA probably, but maybe on UA or CO.

I'm surprised the out of pocket expense is not more, frankly, with two stopovers in LON. The APD alone should be 122 GBP for your itinerary (after November, it will be even more - 174 GBP), then add the YQs and US taxes - 288 USD seems low.

I haven't stayed in London (or any other part of the UK) for more than 24 hours in a few years on any personal trip, but I have had many, many sub-24 hour stays in London. Easy way to avoid the APD.

May be there is a flaw in the system when you have another city as destination after LHR, the system automatically treats LHR as connection even though a stopover is made?

Otherwise I agree that the APD itself for 2 stopovers would account for the bulk of the $288 already, before YQs and US security and immigration taxes.