I've been planning on using my TWA Aviators miles for a first-class ticket from CMH to SEA in April. Should I cash in my miles and get my ticket now, or wait? I'm afraid what will happen to my miles (they could just poof away); on the other hand, would AA honor a TWA Aviators award ticket?

What do you think?

Bet you can't get through to TWA today! IF it were possible, I would get a ticket on a partner, not on TWA. Or ditch to Hilton if I had few miles. Nice trip to Siberia on Alaska this summer...

I'm concerned too, but the consensus of posters on this board as of now is that TWA Aviator miles will be absorbed into the American AAdvantage program. If so, this is great news for Aviator members because American has a huge network of partners with which to use miles.

I wonder if TWA will have any award promotions to try and burn up some of those FF miles before the possible merger?

I would use my Aviators (and am) as quickly as you can. It does appear Aviators will be brought into AAdvantage in the future, but keep in mind that every AAdvantage award comparable to an Aviators award requires more miles, usually 5-10K for the same reward.

I've used up mine last year, so I could not advise anyone otherwise. The partner idea is a pretty decent one too, but more miles will likely be required!

This whole situation is one reason why I never would fly TWA. For years now we knew they were going to go belly up. It seems reasonable that AA will convert the TWA miles into AA miles. If I were a AA flyer, I would not like it at all. More people to compete with for seats. TWA is bankrupt..maybe the shareholders should get those miles building in TWA fliers accounts as compensation. After all, doesn't the airlines consider the miles to be THEIR property, not actually yours?

At least this is what I seem to remember Randy Petersen said is contained in the 'fine print.'

MHO: Book now.

- If the merger goes through, it will likely not be approved by April. (UA is still waiting for OKs to purchase USAirways.)

- If it does not go through, you are out of luck. If the merger fails, TWA will likely fold, which will make your miles useless. If you book before TWA folds, I doubt other airlines would respect a non-rev ticket.

- Aside from the buyout/Chapter 11: Due to capacity controls, there may not be availability for your desired first-class seat. The earlier you book, the better.

Best option would be to ticket today through a partner, if the itinerary works.

I have ~3000 TWA miles. If it does that appear that AA will abosorb them at a decent Aviators/AAdvantage ratio, then I'm off to milepoint for free magazines.

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He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.

[This message has been edited by ontheroad (edited 01-10-2001).]

Over at the TWA Q&A on the website about this at
http://www.twa.com/announce/q_a.html

They say that American will seek approval to protect the mileage balance of Aviators members. In any case, I seriously any of it will be resolved by April.

TWA's health has been in guarded condition for a long time, especially the last few years. I seriously doubt that American is going to have to absorb a huge amount of Avaitor miles because most members will have cashed them in before this.

Paul,

One person posted on the Yahoo boards that he has 1.5 million TWA miles! I have accumulated that many TWA miles in my lifetime, but have strived to use most of them. However if he (she?) can transfer them to AA, he/she will be 3/4s of the way to lifetime Platinum on AA! He may have the last laugh after all.

Wow, I guess he will have the last laugh.

There will be a few people like him, but overall, most people will have less than 20K in their accounts.

Even in his case, American knows they will have a customer for life. He will most certainly fly American until he gets to the 2 million mark, and he will continue to fly them to take advantage of his lifetime platinum status. American wins even with absorbing all those miles!