It's a great trick you can also use with Hawaii on peak tickets--which are 22.5k. However, if you go to Europe (always choose LHR to avoid fees) its only 20K off peak.

For example, HNL-LAX-BOS (stop)-LHR $7.50 and 20K (anytime from October-May)
vs HNL-LAX-BOS $5.00 and 22.5K

Thanks for the clarification.^

Please explain. On returning from Europe (on an all-AA itinerary), the fees at LHR are the highest, because of the high UK air departure tax. (They're particularly high on above-coach awards or upgrades, since the UK departure tax doubles in all cabins above coach, even in premium economy if it's a separate cabin.)

Are you saying LHR is lower fees on incomingmany ? Why?

(Or are you just saying to make it an all-AA-metal trip to avoid YQ fees on partners? But if so, there are many more all-AA-metal destinations that just LHR, so I'm still confused.)

UA used to enable a DEN stopover with 10k mileage plus miles for domestic itineraries. I wonder if it's coming back or if the idea will even get expanded to other options.
I don't know if it's a rule, but in my observations, stopover options have always been at hubs. All of my stopover experiences have been overseas flights like an SFO stopover going MKE-ORD-SFO-SYD on UA. The Asian airlines seem to make stopovers easy to arrange with both FF 1-way awards and revenue flights. I've done it with CX, CI, QR and SQ. The European airlines...I've tried many times and have succeeded only once with a stopover at AMS with KL going from LHR-AMS-JRO, with CO award travel...that was a few years ago.

I booked an all HA partner itinerary SJC-HNL-SYD using AA miles. No YQ fees.

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There are no UK fees for flights into the UK.

Outbound flights are a very different story.

I am curious as well - does that mean other European destinations have fees for inbound flights also? therefore LHR becomes the choice? But then, unless one intends that to be a thrown away otherwise one would need to bridge the segment between LHR and other European destination one wants to ultimately go (and return from). The saving on the fee may be less than the ticket one has to buy on that European segment? Inquiring mind wants to know!

I'm not saying you recommended it, but since you mentioned it in passing, I'd like to ask us all not to book a bogus extra leg (one you don't actually plan to use) to South America to save 2500 miles. That's the kind of abuse that will lead American to kill for everyone this nice feature in their award program. First, from their point of view, it takes a seat out of inventory that could have been used to satisfy another customer with reward or paid travel. Second, from the point of view of that other passenger (which could be me, or could be you yourself next time), it will deprive him or her of the opportunity to get the seat. Third, this does amount to a change in destination if you don't fly that leg, and AA would have every right to come after you for an itinerary change fee plus those miles you thought you saved.

I understand we all work the system, but I think when the benefits are quite minor and the potential harms to both yourself and others are significant, it's best not to always try to get the last drop of blood out of an opportunity.

We have already seen the effect - the Saaver coach seat between MIA and LIM pretty much disappear - for months on end since beginning of the year. Right now between June and November, a 5 months period! - there is only ONE date has Saaver coach out of a 5 months period - even worse than in the Spring when there were 7 or 8 seats out of a 3 months period Feb to May. Also it is not until November you see 3 days have Saaver Biz - the Mon, Tue and Thur after Thanksgiving weekend. Then it would be 12/30 and 01/01 to 03 you see Biz Saaver again. Still no Coach Saaver. While earlier this year the Saaver Biz was still reasonably available if you can book a couple months in advance.

AA is responding by zero out the Saaver award on AA metal. Damage has already been done.

For what it's worth, there are no 15K off-peak awards to LIM in the current AA chart. There are 17.5K awards to Northern South America and 20K off-peak awards to Southern South America (Chile, Argentina, Brazil, etc.). Still can be used for the peak awards to Hawaii, but any additional airport fees would bite into the mileage savings.

Also, imo, AA has the right to take away additional miles if you abuse this feature and show that you never meant to take the additional flight.

AS allows a stop on a OW IIRC

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I think you're looking at the wrong chart:

http://www.aa.com/pubcontent/en_US/d...ward-chart.jsp

Thanks for the heads up. I hadn't even thought of this before. What an awesome way to tag on a trip to South America!

Just booked a one-way F ticket JFK->YVR->HKG->HGH with AA miles on CX. What stop over can I do? is YVR considered NA gateway? Thx.

Ahh, yes, I was looking at the partner chart. I forgot AAdvantage miles for international flights on just AA

In that case, YVR is your gateway.

Are you on CX 889 the whole way to HKG? Reason I ask is because CX 889 is JFK-HKG with a stopover in YVR. I don't know if it's possible to book that and have JFK as your stopover since 889 is technically flight to HKG.