Another one of those "Silly" questions. But please Help.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, CO
Posts: 402
So I am about to get 100K miles from BA and 150K miles from AADvantage card.
Question .... as these 2 are under the same ... OneWorld alliance. When I want to get a flight. Who do I call??? AA? or BA? How does this thing work? I will have 2 FF#s. I give them both and get a deal? Who do I book with?
Thanks for all the help.
P.S. I noticed that when for example you accumulate Continental miles, you simply go to continental airlines website and search for flights there. Those guys show you their partner flights as well. Not the same case with AA from what I've seen.
Question .... as these 2 are under the same ... OneWorld alliance. When I want to get a flight. Who do I call??? AA? or BA? How does this thing work? I will have 2 FF#s. I give them both and get a deal? Who do I book with?
Thanks for all the help.
P.S. I noticed that when for example you accumulate Continental miles, you simply go to continental airlines website and search for flights there. Those guys show you their partner flights as well. Not the same case with AA from what I've seen.
#2

Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
Flights
I have both accounts also but I am not an expert.
I wanted to book JFK-LAX business or first class and I first looked at the AA website as AA does fly this route but BA does not. I saw availability for first in one direction and business in the other. I also looked at the miles needed if I booked on AA using AA miles.
I then looked at the BA website and they do allow you to search for award flights on partner airlines. They showed the exact same flight availability as AA with similar mileage requirements. Their cost per ticket was also $5, the same as on AA. I booked on the BA website as I have miles on BA that I may not be using for anything else. I did this booking two days ago.
I don't think you can combine the miles you have to book one ticket. You can use AA miles for one direction and BA for the other but I don't think that if you needed 240k miles for one flight you can in any way combine the miles.
I wanted to book JFK-LAX business or first class and I first looked at the AA website as AA does fly this route but BA does not. I saw availability for first in one direction and business in the other. I also looked at the miles needed if I booked on AA using AA miles.
I then looked at the BA website and they do allow you to search for award flights on partner airlines. They showed the exact same flight availability as AA with similar mileage requirements. Their cost per ticket was also $5, the same as on AA. I booked on the BA website as I have miles on BA that I may not be using for anything else. I did this booking two days ago.
I don't think you can combine the miles you have to book one ticket. You can use AA miles for one direction and BA for the other but I don't think that if you needed 240k miles for one flight you can in any way combine the miles.
#3




Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,872
If you want to use BA miles, you call BA. If you use AA miles, call AA. You cannot combine the miles. You can make 2 one-way bookings, one from each FF account. It does not matter what partner airline you fly, you always have to call the airline that issued the miles.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, CO
Posts: 402
So if I want to book a let's say BA flight (because AA doesn't fly to that destination) .... now, I only have AA miles ... I call AA and ask for the flight. Since BA is in the same alliance, I can get that BA flight with AA miles. Only problem is that AA may not have the same rate as if I went direct to BA with BA miles???
#5
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
So if I want to book a let's say BA flight (because AA doesn't fly to that destination) .... now, I only have AA miles ... I call AA and ask for the flight. Since BA is in the same alliance, I can get that BA flight with AA miles. Only problem is that AA may not have the same rate as if I went direct to BA with BA miles???
if you have a ? re the problem & want help/advice, post the details.
good luck...
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,998
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
That's correct. When you redeem AA miles on any carrier, you pay AA's rates; when you redeem BA miles on any carrier, you pay BA's rates. If you use either carrier's miles to fly on BA, you will also be charged BA's high fuel surcharges.
Also, each program's rules relating to stopovers, booking fees, date changes, etc., govern all redemptions made with that program's miles, even when redeeming for partner flights.
Originally Posted by Igor718
So if I want to book a let's say BA flight (because AA doesn't fly to that destination) .... now, I only have AA miles ... I call AA and ask for the flight. Since BA is in the same alliance, I can get that BA flight with AA miles. Only problem is that AA may not have the same rate as if I went direct to BA with BA miles???
Also, each program's rules relating to stopovers, booking fees, date changes, etc., govern all redemptions made with that program's miles, even when redeeming for partner flights.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York
Programs: AA, BA, CO
Posts: 402
Seems to me like the easiest card / airline is Continental. Just booked with the boss a business class JFK to Ukraine for just 100K miles to and from. Flying Lufthansa and LOT.
I don;t think that if we were to go direct to Lufthansa and LOT with their own miles that we would have to use less miles.
Now I am really eying the CO 50K miles card. Too bad they don't offer multiples like what you can get with AA (personal visa, amex and then business card)
I don;t think that if we were to go direct to Lufthansa and LOT with their own miles that we would have to use less miles.
Now I am really eying the CO 50K miles card. Too bad they don't offer multiples like what you can get with AA (personal visa, amex and then business card)

