BA miles for AA/QF service?
 

Hi all,

I live in Toronto and would like to travel YYZ/LAX/SYD with AA & QF. However, my miles are all with BA.

When I check the Executive Club website, the mileage cost (Business) is prohibitive.

Does anyone have any suggestions how else I might go about this trip? It's only (only!) 128,000 miles on the QF site. How do I get down this low with BA?
---
Steve

So sorry, but you just can't. There are downsides to every FF program. BA has more downsides than most.

It may make you feel better to know that there are virtually no J award seats on QF from North America to Australia. Practically speaking that award does not exist. As a result, having QF or AA miles would still be useless for this trip.

Exchange points?
 

That's too bad... BA quoted me 200,000 miles in C!

Is there a service that will let me convert some BA miles to QF?
---
Steve

Do be aware that the 128,000 from QF is one way and that a r/t is 256,000 miles

Dave

Wow! I didn't realise that!! That's the most ridiculous price (points) I've ever seen.

Suddenly the old Star Alliance award (100,000 in J) doesn't seem so bad. Maybe I need to collect points there instead!!
---
Steve

Again, collecting points for a trip to SYD is not the problem - being able to USE them on ANY airline flying to SYD is the problem.

Yes I read that the first time; my experience has been different.

The most troublesome segment on my last trip (YYZ/ORD/LAX/AKL) resulted in a waitlist for F enroute ORD (confirmed Y). Otherwise, availability was not an issue (travelled in high season).

AC hasn't been too bad either (YYZ/HNL/SYD). Perhaps it's because I planned my trips well in advance.
---
Steve

There is no way of doing this. But QF has one of the worst redemption rates on the planet so you better leave them with BA.

Even though Qantas Frequent Flyer redemption is much more expensive in points/miles than AA, there is one small advantage.

Qantas release seats for Qantas Freqent Flyer Redemption 353 days before the flight whereas AAdvantage member get access 23 days later at 330.

For example, at this point in time I can book a seat in J SYD-LAX for Friday 18th July.

AAdvantage member can't access these until August 23rd, by which time the seats will probably be already taken.

Two caveats here:

1. There is no award inventory for that date available from AAdvantage for QFF members to book. (e.g. Getting from YYV to LAX) &
2. The QF cost is indeed 256K, as well there will be over $400 in +++.

True, its easier to get QF J/F awards to NA using QF miles but still quite difficult overall.