Using AA SAAver award miles from CPH to NYC (to merge)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
Using AA SAAver award miles from CPH to NYC (to merge)
I'm planning a trip to CPH to visit a friend in autumn 2019, and I'm trying to use my AA miles just for the return segment.
I'm hoping to use my UA miles to get a business class award going EWR-CPH on SAS, which is doable-but-difficult, and I'd like to position myself to fly non-stop HEL-JFK on Finnair, but there's never any availability shown on AY nonstops. I refuse to pay BA's outrageous fees, nor suffer their service. And I'd rather eat my own liver than connect at Heathrow. I don't mind AA metal, but would prefer AY.
Do they simply not allow reward redemptions on that route or is there some other top-secret method for unlocking this nonstop? I don't mind a cheap repositioning flight from CPH but I want the trans-Atlantic journey to be non-stop. Preferably to EWR, but I'll take Kennedy in a pinch.
We spent a wonderful week in Finland and Tallinn last year and I figured it's a short flight from CPH to HEL, so two nights in Helsinki after the visit then home would be ideal.
Maybe a broader question for the forum is where in Europe does actual AA metal fly from JFK or EWR, so I don't have to mess with BA, Iberia, or any other ghastly vestige of IAG.
I'm hoping to use my UA miles to get a business class award going EWR-CPH on SAS, which is doable-but-difficult, and I'd like to position myself to fly non-stop HEL-JFK on Finnair, but there's never any availability shown on AY nonstops. I refuse to pay BA's outrageous fees, nor suffer their service. And I'd rather eat my own liver than connect at Heathrow. I don't mind AA metal, but would prefer AY.
Do they simply not allow reward redemptions on that route or is there some other top-secret method for unlocking this nonstop? I don't mind a cheap repositioning flight from CPH but I want the trans-Atlantic journey to be non-stop. Preferably to EWR, but I'll take Kennedy in a pinch.
We spent a wonderful week in Finland and Tallinn last year and I figured it's a short flight from CPH to HEL, so two nights in Helsinki after the visit then home would be ideal.
Maybe a broader question for the forum is where in Europe does actual AA metal fly from JFK or EWR, so I don't have to mess with BA, Iberia, or any other ghastly vestige of IAG.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
I'm planning a trip to CPH to visit a friend in autumn 2019, and I'm trying to use my AA miles just for the return segment.
I'm hoping to use my UA miles to get a business class award going EWR-CPH on SAS, which is doable-but-difficult, and I'd like to position myself to fly non-stop HEL-JFK on Finnair, but there's never any availability shown on AY nonstops. I refuse to pay BA's outrageous fees, nor suffer their service. And I'd rather eat my own liver than connect at Heathrow. I don't mind AA metal, but would prefer AY.
Do they simply not allow reward redemptions on that route or is there some other top-secret method for unlocking this nonstop? I don't mind a cheap repositioning flight from CPH but I want the trans-Atlantic journey to be non-stop. Preferably to EWR, but I'll take Kennedy in a pinch.
We spent a wonderful week in Finland and Tallinn last year and I figured it's a short flight from CPH to HEL, so two nights in Helsinki after the visit then home would be ideal.
Maybe a broader question for the forum is where in Europe does actual AA metal fly from JFK or EWR, so I don't have to mess with BA, Iberia, or any other ghastly vestige of IAG.
I'm hoping to use my UA miles to get a business class award going EWR-CPH on SAS, which is doable-but-difficult, and I'd like to position myself to fly non-stop HEL-JFK on Finnair, but there's never any availability shown on AY nonstops. I refuse to pay BA's outrageous fees, nor suffer their service. And I'd rather eat my own liver than connect at Heathrow. I don't mind AA metal, but would prefer AY.
Do they simply not allow reward redemptions on that route or is there some other top-secret method for unlocking this nonstop? I don't mind a cheap repositioning flight from CPH but I want the trans-Atlantic journey to be non-stop. Preferably to EWR, but I'll take Kennedy in a pinch.
We spent a wonderful week in Finland and Tallinn last year and I figured it's a short flight from CPH to HEL, so two nights in Helsinki after the visit then home would be ideal.
Maybe a broader question for the forum is where in Europe does actual AA metal fly from JFK or EWR, so I don't have to mess with BA, Iberia, or any other ghastly vestige of IAG.
#3
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Can I gently point out that tens of thousands of people connect every day through LHR without the need to eat their livers (or any other body parts).
As to there AA flies to from EWR and JFK I recall there being a rather nice route map on the AA website or check the lists the respective wiki pages for each airport
As to there AA flies to from EWR and JFK I recall there being a rather nice route map on the AA website or check the lists the respective wiki pages for each airport
#4
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You're aware that AA awards don't allow stopovers, right? Stop more than 24 hours in HEL and it's going to price as two awards: CPH-HEL + HEL-NYC.
AA.com shows Business award availability for one passenger at saver level on the HEL-JFK non-stop on 18 of 31 days in October.
Last edited by 3Cforme; Dec 12, 2018 at 5:18 am
#5
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Can I gently point out that tens of thousands of people connect every day through LHR without the need to eat their livers (or any other body parts).
As to there AA flies to from EWR and JFK I recall there being a rather nice route map on the AA website or check the lists the respective wiki pages for each airport
As to there AA flies to from EWR and JFK I recall there being a rather nice route map on the AA website or check the lists the respective wiki pages for each airport
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
Finnair's sole HEL-NYC flight goes to JFK, so forget the EWR thing.
You're aware that AA awards don't allow stopovers, right? Stop more than 24 hours in HEL and it's going to price as two awards: CPH-HEL + HEL-NYC.
AA.com shows Business award availability for one passenger at saver level on the HEL-JFK non-stop on 18 of 31 days in October.
You're aware that AA awards don't allow stopovers, right? Stop more than 24 hours in HEL and it's going to price as two awards: CPH-HEL + HEL-NYC.
AA.com shows Business award availability for one passenger at saver level on the HEL-JFK non-stop on 18 of 31 days in October.
But I think you might have missed the part about the outbound (NYC-CPH) being on SAS, using my United miles. This request is strictly for the return, and I'm not looking for a J reward on the way back, so long as I can get a premium economy or "more legroom" seat I'm fine for a day flight back. I am looking for space for both my wife and myself, so two seats, not one. Don't mind paying cash for the upgrade from steerage to econ+ or whatever it's called on the carrier I'll ultimately use.
I have about 225k AA miles at the moment, mostly saved from when we lived in Queens and LGA was our closest airport. Now I live in NJ, close to EWR, so using those AA miles is more problematic. I only fly NA<>Europe now, and my UA balance is low, so I'm trying to figure out how to use AA miles without being funneled to IAG's products. I keep running into a wall trying to find AA's own-metal destinations between NYC and Europe (preferably northern Europe, since that's where I generally need to fly).
Flying should not be an ordeal. Connecting between T3 and T5 in LHR: lots of walking, taking over-crowded connection busses (which lately are not punctual), going through LHR security (TSA is nice compared to them), some European connections require more bussing to get to the plane a distance from the terminal--except for all of this connecting in LHR is a breeze.
#7
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Let’s try to keep this thread focused on securing two award seats NYC-CPH, and providing the necessary information - e.g. two seats are sought. Thousands of members have connected in LHR, and survived quite well. There are threads on LHR and connecting there as well.
Moderator
I’d look at AA flights via PHL to AMS, etc. (see Innosked link below) as well as AY via HEL. (23:59 is the maximum connecting time allowed on international awards, so a leisurely two day trip to Tallin is out of the question for a single award; more rules in HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, where this will ultimately be merged.)
Innosked oneworld interactive route map and schedule here.
Moderator
I’d look at AA flights via PHL to AMS, etc. (see Innosked link below) as well as AY via HEL. (23:59 is the maximum connecting time allowed on international awards, so a leisurely two day trip to Tallin is out of the question for a single award; more rules in HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, where this will ultimately be merged.)
Innosked oneworld interactive route map and schedule here.
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,002
Flying should not be an ordeal. Connecting between T3 and T5 in LHR: lots of walking, taking over-crowded connection busses (which lately are not punctual), going through LHR security (TSA is nice compared to them), some European connections require more bussing to get to the plane a distance from the terminal--except for all of this connecting in LHR is a breeze.
Last edited by enviroian; Dec 12, 2018 at 9:29 am Reason: after I posted a comment about LHR and how bad it is to connect I read JDiver's post above and deleted accordingly
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
Let’s try to keep this thread focused on securing two award seats NYC-CPH, and providing the necessary information - e.g. two seats are sought. Thousands of members have connected in LHR, and survived quite well. There are threads on LHR and connecting there as well. I’d look at AA flights via PHL to AMS, etc. (see Innosked link below) as well as AY via HEL. (23:59 is the maximum connecting time allowed on international awards, so a leisurely two day trip to Tallin is out of the question for a single award; more rules in HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance, where this will ultimately be merged.)
Non-stop is preferred, from Helsinki to NYC as my first choice, using AY metal. There just doesn't seem to be any availability for that flight from Sept. 15th through Oct. 15th (the range I'm looking at at the moment). Failing that, the least-painful non-LHR connection from either CPH, ARN, HEL or other close-in airport, using AA miles for an economy-plus or premium economy seat (gladly paying the differential in cash between main cabin and premium).
My hoped-for itinerary is EWR->CPH (again, using my UA miles on SAS metal), visit our friend for 4 nights, catch a one hour puddle jumper (cash-fare) CPH to HEL, one night in Helsinki, ferry across to Tallinn for an overnight, ferry back, train to Vantaa, then back to JFK. It's the last part that's giving me fits at the moment.
Thanks again.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Gents and ladies, while I do appreciate the replies, I'd respectfully request you re-read my question. My outbound leg from NYC to CPH is covered using miles from a different program. This will be two separate award flights; one using United Miles flying SAS metal, which I'm not having a problem with at the moment, and the other using American miles which is why I'm posting in this forum. I'm having problems finding a way home using AA miles.
Non-stop is preferred, from Helsinki to NYC as my first choice, using AY metal. There just doesn't seem to be any availability for that flight from Sept. 15th through Oct. 15th (the range I'm looking at at the moment). Failing that, the least-painful non-LHR connection from either CPH, ARN, HEL or other close-in airport, using AA miles for an economy-plus or premium economy seat (gladly paying the differential in cash between main cabin and premium).
My hoped-for itinerary is EWR->CPH (again, using my UA miles on SAS metal), visit our friend for 4 nights, catch a one hour puddle jumper (cash-fare) CPH to HEL, one night in Helsinki, ferry across to Tallinn for an overnight, ferry back, train to Vantaa, then back to JFK. It's the last part that's giving me fits at the moment.
Thanks again.
Non-stop is preferred, from Helsinki to NYC as my first choice, using AY metal. There just doesn't seem to be any availability for that flight from Sept. 15th through Oct. 15th (the range I'm looking at at the moment). Failing that, the least-painful non-LHR connection from either CPH, ARN, HEL or other close-in airport, using AA miles for an economy-plus or premium economy seat (gladly paying the differential in cash between main cabin and premium).
My hoped-for itinerary is EWR->CPH (again, using my UA miles on SAS metal), visit our friend for 4 nights, catch a one hour puddle jumper (cash-fare) CPH to HEL, one night in Helsinki, ferry across to Tallinn for an overnight, ferry back, train to Vantaa, then back to JFK. It's the last part that's giving me fits at the moment.
Thanks again.
If it must be AA miles then Id look into AY to a city AA flys into (besides LHR) in Europe and connect on AA back to JFK or PHL
#11
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Unfortunately, AA doesn’t allow Premium Economy awards at this time. Though there’s speculation they might after all widebodies (other than the soon to be retired 767-300ER and A330-300), at this time only economy (“Main Cabin”), Business and First are possible (and true First internationally is only available on the few 777-300ER / 77W).
Using the Innosked tool canreveal routes that might be available to you. Flexibility is key in securing the recently more restricted MileSAAver awards.
Using the Innosked tool canreveal routes that might be available to you. Flexibility is key in securing the recently more restricted MileSAAver awards.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
Unfortunately, AA doesn’t allow Premium Economy awards at this time. Though there’s speculation they might after all widebodies (other than the soon to be retired 767-300ER and A330-300), at this time only economy (“Main Cabin”), Business and First are possible (and true First internationally is only available on the few 777-300ER / 77W).
Using the Innosked tool canreveal routes that might be available to you. Flexibility is key in securing the recently more restricted MileSAAver awards.
Using the Innosked tool canreveal routes that might be available to you. Flexibility is key in securing the recently more restricted MileSAAver awards.
It seems as if the big market that everybody is concerned about is from the USA to Asia, which I have no intention of ever flying -- my interests are purely European destinations. I have a few miles on UA left after this trip, and a bunch of Chase Unlimited Rewards points (living near EWR means that's my preferred airport and points ecosystem). The problem is I have a ton of AA miles left over from years past with seemingly no way to use them now. Whenever I look for any sort of trans-Atlantic trip out of NYC, unless I'm flying to London I just can't find any availability on AA metal. And like I said earlier, I simply refuse to pay the extortionate awards fees and fuel surcharges for BA. I guess the big question is, what use are AAdvantage miles for the NYC-Europe market, and should I just use them for domestic business-first trips instead? I find short haul a waste of miles, quite frankly.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
As for PHL, that's a hard no. I live in northern NJ, about a half hour from NYC and less to EWR. I'd be looking at a ridiculous ground transportation option coming home at the end. Going in to Kennedy isn't too bad--take AirTrain and the LIRR, then NJT train and Uber home. Either way works well. PHL would be considerably longer and more expensive. Not going to do it after having been up for hours and coming off a long flight. Looking at Google Maps, it's about 4 hours total travel time across 3 trains and 2 buses. Yeah, no thanks
Yes, flying on United or their codeshare partners is my ideal way to/from Europe, however my points balance is just enough for a single one-way flight in Business on a codeshare partner (70k). I'm pretty well empty after that, so I have to resort to AA or pay cash.
Last edited by JDiver; Dec 12, 2018 at 7:38 pm Reason: Repair quote
#14
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Earlier this year I booked a coach/main cabin ticket on AA from LHR to JFK, paid for the seat upgrade to a better seat and was pleasantly surprised by their new premium economy cabin. To be honest, for 7 or 8 hours during a daylight hours trip, I'm fine in a coach seat with extra legroom. True PE would be great but not essential, and i would rather use business class for NYC to Europe overnight.
It seems as if the big market that everybody is concerned about is from the USA to Asia, which I have no intention of ever flying -- my interests are purely European destinations. I have a few miles on UA left after this trip, and a bunch of Chase Unlimited Rewards points (living near EWR means that's my preferred airport and points ecosystem). The problem is I have a ton of AA miles left over from years past with seemingly no way to use them now. Whenever I look for any sort of trans-Atlantic trip out of NYC, unless I'm flying to London I just can't find any availability on AA metal. And like I said earlier, I simply refuse to pay the extortionate awards fees and fuel surcharges for BA. I guess the big question is, what use are AAdvantage miles for the NYC-Europe market, and should I just use them for domestic business-first trips instead? I find short haul a waste of miles, quite frankly.
It seems as if the big market that everybody is concerned about is from the USA to Asia, which I have no intention of ever flying -- my interests are purely European destinations. I have a few miles on UA left after this trip, and a bunch of Chase Unlimited Rewards points (living near EWR means that's my preferred airport and points ecosystem). The problem is I have a ton of AA miles left over from years past with seemingly no way to use them now. Whenever I look for any sort of trans-Atlantic trip out of NYC, unless I'm flying to London I just can't find any availability on AA metal. And like I said earlier, I simply refuse to pay the extortionate awards fees and fuel surcharges for BA. I guess the big question is, what use are AAdvantage miles for the NYC-Europe market, and should I just use them for domestic business-first trips instead? I find short haul a waste of miles, quite frankly.
Two coach seats from Europe to NYC will be an absolute cinch to find at pretty much anytime of the year outside of May-Aug, and even then there can be lots of availability depending on how flexible. But refusing to connect in LHR will severely limit your options. Award space on the AY HEL-JFK nonstop is typically easy to find, just give it time, you're barely inside the 331 day booking window for a lot of next fall.
And just to be clear, using BA for only the shorthaul LHR-Europe segment, your taxes and fees will be MUCH less than when you use BA for the longhaul portion. Searching CPH-NYC, on the first random date I clicked on in Oct. 2019 there was a great BA/AA routing CPH-LHR-JFK, 2 seats readily available in economy for 30k miles + $80 each in taxes/fees. I would jump all over that.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
If you're simply not willing to connect at LHR then your options on AA and partners to Europe become very, very limited, especially to the secondary cities. This is the same coming from anywhere in the US, not just NYC.
Two coach seats from Europe to NYC will be an absolute cinch to find at pretty much anytime of the year outside of May-Aug, and even then there can be lots of availability depending on how flexible. But refusing to connect in LHR will severely limit your options. Award space on the AY HEL-JFK nonstop is typically easy to find, just give it time, you're barely inside the 331 day booking window for a lot of next fall.
And just to be clear, using BA for only the shorthaul LHR-Europe segment, your taxes and fees will be MUCH less than when you use BA for the longhaul portion. Searching CPH-NYC, on the first random date I clicked on in Oct. 2019 there was a great BA/AA routing CPH-LHR-JFK, 2 seats readily available in economy for 30k miles + $80 each in taxes/fees. I would jump all over that.
Two coach seats from Europe to NYC will be an absolute cinch to find at pretty much anytime of the year outside of May-Aug, and even then there can be lots of availability depending on how flexible. But refusing to connect in LHR will severely limit your options. Award space on the AY HEL-JFK nonstop is typically easy to find, just give it time, you're barely inside the 331 day booking window for a lot of next fall.
And just to be clear, using BA for only the shorthaul LHR-Europe segment, your taxes and fees will be MUCH less than when you use BA for the longhaul portion. Searching CPH-NYC, on the first random date I clicked on in Oct. 2019 there was a great BA/AA routing CPH-LHR-JFK, 2 seats readily available in economy for 30k miles + $80 each in taxes/fees. I would jump all over that.
As for being just barely inside the 331 day period, I assumed (possibly incorrectly??) that that's the only way to book award space on a route like this. I figured that it would be snapped up at 5am the morning it opened. So what is the typical window to find award space on that AY non-stop to Kennedy? I don't want to leave it too late and have to push the trip back a year.