I'm planning an OWE and want to maximise the points and miles for the AONE. Is there any easy way of finding out which AA flights have First seating so I can plan the schedule? The US segments are very much a mileage run, although being able to see family (SNA) or friends (SEA, BWI, YYZ) would be a benefit.

Thanks

David

You really don't need a reference, it is pretty straight forward:

All AA U.S. domestic flights not operated by American Eagle or American Connection (if it still exists) will have First Class, this includes Hawaii flights.

All AA flights to Canada, Mexico and the Carribbean have the premium cabin branded as Business Class.

All AA flights to London Heathrow and Tokyo will have first class.

All AA flights from RDU to London Gatwick have First Class, as do most DFW-LGW flights. Some DFW-LGW are operated by 767-300s and only offer Business Class.

All AA flights to Paris, Rome, Madrid, Brussels, Zurich and Glasgow only offer Business Class.

AA's flight from DFW to Frankfurt offers First Class. The flight from Chicago only offers Business Class.

AA's flight from Chicago to Manchester will have Business Class. AA's flight from Boston to Manchester only offers Economy Class.

In South America, flights to/from Brazil and Buenos Aires are the most likely to have First Class, but not all do.

You can look at it by plane type:

1. On a domestic flight:
- 777 and 767-200 have three-class cabins, so they have a 'real' first class;
- 767-300s have a two-class cabin, the front cabin (60" pitch) is considered first class; and
- 757s, 737s, A300s, and MD80s have two-class cabins, the front class is considered first class, but the seat is inferior (37-39" pitch).

The front class of the two-class cabins can be booked with a DONE as well as an AONE.

2. On an international flight:
- If you're going to anyplace else in North America, including the Carribean and parts of Central America, the "first" class cabin in a two-class configuration is now called "business" class.
- 757 flights to Manchester are considered all-coach
- 777 front cabins are true "first class"
- 757 front cabins to South America, those I'm not sure about.

Thanks. If there are only two cabins on domestic flights, do you get the "A" points & miles (preferably BA, but have AA too) or do you have to settle for "D" points and miles?

Yes, it is A class. Unlike the rest of the world where the front cabin of a 2 cabin plane is business class the front cabin on US domestic 2 cabin plane is first class, accruing 50% mileage first class bonus instead of 25% business class. For example if I book a flight from DCA via MIA to SJO in Business or First, the domestic sebment from DCA to MIA I earn 50% FC bonus and the international segment from MIA to SJO I earn 25% BC bonus. Now, I am not sure about the DONE fares since AA says you earn points for the fare you purchased, so in that case you might only earn 25% bonus for the A service recieved on domestic US flights.

AsiaMiles has the same wording for getting miles according to the class purchased rather than that travelled, but you certainly get it credited as First Class if you travel in A on AA domestic using a DONEx. I think since the rules specify explicitly that you book into A on these flights then that is considered as the Fare Purchased for those segments.

On the other hand, if you use an AONEn on an AA route that doesn't offer First then you only get business mileage credited.

DONEx fares earn miles and bonuses exactly the same way as described by aaupgrade

For BA EC members based in UK...

On an A class ticket, you will get the cabin actually travelled in so:

If it is 3 class domestic, and you get an A seat, then you get F points.
If it is a 3 class domestic and there is no A availability, you might get D, in which case you get J points.
If there is no A class and no D class availability, you get L class (oops, I think and not Y here, will check soon) and, in which case, you get nothing.

If it is international across the Atlantic, no matter what class, you get nothing.

If it is 3 class transpacific or to South America, see the domestic 3 class rules.

For 2 class domestic, if there is A class you get F points. Otherwise, you travel down the back and get zilch, subject to the rule being L and not Y.

For Central America, if there is D class you get J. Otherwise, you go down the back of the bus....

What have we learnt? Well if you are on a DONEx then you might get the bargin F points domestically. If you are on an AONEx then you might get J points for Central America, Carib etc. B

ear in mind it will be critical to you to get the A class seat booking class, otherwise nothing. No compensation, no tier points, no mileage points.

I hope that this helps you. If you need more, come back. There are the threads with the 2001+ miles listed on the 1W forum so you can work out the best longhaul 180 status point runs. If you go transcontinental it will be more than 2000 but if you change at DFW or ORD in the lower 48 then it will not be 2000 miles, as a general rule.