How would you fly RDU-CAI-DXB-RDU in business class?
Jun 15, 2009 | 10:13 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,172
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To save the rest, you have to not return to your starting point (that is the end of your ticket). But you can come back someplace where you can book a cheap paid ticket back home (Charlotte?). You can't change your routing without a fee, so you have to pick where you go next, but not when. Let's say you would like to go to Costa Rica, but don't know when. You book your original trip routing and dates (for example, RDU-JFK-LHR-CAI-AMM-DXB-LHR-JFK-CLT) and tack on the end CLT-MIA-SJO-MIA-RDU as far in the future as you can (330 days). To AA, it looks like a long stopover in CLT on your way from DXB to SJO. You buy a cheap one-way CLT-RDU to get you home. Then when you have dates that work for you and have award availability in First/Business to Costa Rica, you change the dates for free, buy a cheap one-way to CLT, and off you go. Total for the Oneworld award = 18,623 miles and 12 segments.
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To save the rest, you have to not return to your starting point (that is the end of your ticket). But you can come back someplace where you can book a cheap paid ticket back home (Charlotte?). You can't change your routing without a fee, so you have to pick where you go next, but not when. Let's say you would like to go to Costa Rica, but don't know when. You book your original trip routing and dates (for example, RDU-JFK-LHR-CAI-AMM-DXB-LHR-JFK-CLT) and tack on the end CLT-MIA-SJO-MIA-RDU as far in the future as you can (330 days). To AA, it looks like a long stopover in CLT on your way from DXB to SJO. You buy a cheap one-way CLT-RDU to get you home. Then when you have dates that work for you and have award availability in First/Business to Costa Rica, you change the dates for free, buy a cheap one-way to CLT, and off you go. Total for the Oneworld award = 18,623 miles and 12 segments.
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Jun 15, 2009 | 10:35 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Not true. It's a business decision by AA/BA. We always suspected it, and it's been confirmed in one of the filings for this round of ATI applications; this restriction will go away if the ATI is approved by the US DOT and the equivalent European agency.
Jun 15, 2009 | 10:44 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY, BJX, QRO; previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM
Posts: 18,324
While it may be a business decision, it's still true that the anti-trust immunity does not extend to U.S.-London flights. And of course all that really matters is, irrespective of the reason, one can not use AA miles to fly on BA from the U.S. to London.
Jun 15, 2009 | 12:08 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
You can check AA availability on AA.com. You can check BA availability on BA.com, but you have to get a BA FF# to do so (just apply on the site is the only requirement). I have not tried to get IB info, but I'm sure there are ways. Expertflyer may also have availability info. I prefer to choose my carrier/flight and get my itinerary all laid out before calling, then just read off the flight numbers and dates and have the AAgent book it for me. YMMV.
Jun 16, 2009 | 2:18 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: I'm Geographically Unstable.
Programs: AA, US, SPG, Hilton, Avis
Posts: 223
Yes, all of them. It doesn't make sense to plan routing until you call AA and figure out what might be available. When exploring a complicated international award itinerary, it is essential that you work with a good AA agent; if you lack confidence in the agent you are dealing with, politely end the call and call back til you get an agent who seems on the ball. Make sure to explore with the agent both regular partner awards and OneWorld awards.
Jun 16, 2009 | 4:04 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,123
You can see IB award availability on the QF tool, just have to sign up for an online account in the same way you do with BA as gemac mentioned above.
The QF tool shows you QF, BA, AA, AY, IB, MA...
The QF tool shows you QF, BA, AA, AY, IB, MA...