I wanted to discuss the specific impacts on RTW tickets of the AAdvantage changes, and in particular, the calculations as to how to optimize RTW tickets for AAdvantage members.

The two major changes that affect RTW tickets are: elite qualification changes, which starts 1/1/2016; and redeemable mileage award changes, which starts in late 2016 (date to be announced).

My understanding is that when booking in first or business, selecting AA codes results in earning 2 EQM per flight mile, while selecting a partner code results in earning 1.5 EQM per flight mile. So, selecting AA codes earns elite status faster and easier. Further, with the switch in how SWUs are awarded, earning more EQM means earning more SWUs (to a maximum of 8 SWUs for earning 200k EQM).

The details on the revenue-based redeemable mileage earning are not yet fully published, but a senior AAdvantage Customer Service agent told me that AA coded flights would earn miles based on revenue, while partner coded flights would earn using flight miles and a multiplier based on the booking code. So, it would seem that for flights after this change, booking a partner code may result in earning more miles, while booking an AA code results in more EQM.

How would they do this, as if I remember correctly, an RTW fare is not broken down by segment?
Furthermore, if you book (and/or start) an RTW before the changes, but continue flying after the changes, will the whole trip come under the old rules, or will it somehow switch part way through?
A lot of unanswered questions re xONEx products.
Perhaps somebody could call the very helpful, and usually knowledgeable, folks at the AA RTW office to see if they have been issued any guidelines yet?
(I am in Sri Lanka at the moment with limited phone service and wrong timing for the opening hours of RTW office.)

Moderator comment:

While the recent changes to AAdvantage earning, status and redemption rules are of great interest to many members who use this board, please limit discussion of those changes to issues directly related to Oneworld products such as RTW or circle fares. These threads on the AA board - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ov-2015-a.html and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...tion-poll.html - are the principal fora for facts and opinions pertaining to these changes.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Gardyloo
Oneworld moderator

My travel pattern consists mainly of rtw in D or A, starting at JNB. I also use a few GIG/JFK/GIG flights on the side per year on AA or JJ, usually in discount economy with upgrade. I fly very few US domestic legs on AA, but if I do it’s usually discount economy. It has been reported on FT that the AA agent in South Africa (Mindpearl) will no longer issue rtw’s for non-residents of SA but that BA will do so. Given the new AAdvantage program, especially the restriction of 75,000 miles per ticket, would it be more advantageous in the future to issue my tickets with BA, but still credit the miles to my AAdvantage account? Would that get around the reduced mileage earning on the new AAdvantage, while preserving the SWUs and domestic upgrades on American? I suppose the carrier-imposed fees on a BA-issued ticket would be much higher than for AA. Are AA SWUs only valid with AA-issued tickets, or can they be used for AA flights without regard to ticket stock? Would there be any other disadvantages? Or advantages?