February 9, 2011

Does American Airline have similar award pricing system like Delta?

We all know that Delta award pricing are fully computerized, computer will automatically calculate number of miles required based on origin, destination and routing. How about other airlines?

Based on my experience, American Airline is another airline using similar system. Last year, I tried to book award PVG-NRT-PPT, which was the most direct routing and it’s published routing. However the AA system calculated as 2 awards Asia 2-Asia 1+Asia 1+South Pacific. I guess it’s because I routed via higher zone. Then,  I tried PVG-HKG-AKL-PPT, this time it calculated as Asia 2-South Pacific, then within South Pacific.

After some disscusion on FT, I tried PVG-HKG-SYD-AKL-PPT, this time was told only 1 award Asia 2-South Pacific.

I also tried above trip by adding PPT-IPC, now it counted as 2 award again.Every time,  I was trying to argue with agent, rate desk, supervisor, all they told was “sorry, computer does the job, we only put flight together”

Just yesterday, I saw a post on FT, someone redeemed LAX-PPT-AKL on TN with no stopovers, the computer counted as two awards again. So Delta is not the only one, AA does the same except much better domestic award availability  than Delta.

How about US, UA and CO?

Again, based on my experience, their system doesn’t calculate amount of miles automatically based on city or routing. There should be a place for agent to put in region, then computer calculating required miles based the agents’ input. That’s why we all heard many crazy routing when using US or CO miles, even UA.

update: Gary confirmed that CO is fully computerized, I am surprised to see they did not program the routing restrictions. :P

Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways | 5 Comments to Read

  1. Damaxer said,

    Same issue with PER-SYD-JNB. AA counts it as 2 awards even though it is the most direct routing

  2. Gary said,

    AA you cannot connect US-Asia 2-Asia 1 without doing two awards (so no JFK-HKG-ICN).

    CO is fully computerized. And it has pricing glitches, though I’ve identified some of them and CO Insider has put them in the queue to actually get fixed. They mostly involve UA domestic flights that sell 3 cabins, and those flights even booking in Y will cause a C award to price in F.

  3. Phil said,

    AA also limits the choice of carriers when booking award tickets. For example, BOS-JFK-NRT-HKG-CTU, you can not use Japan Airlines (except you want to pay more miles) on either JFK-NRT or NRT-HKG segment, because AA claims that CTU is not a city JL serves thus it will cost extra if JL segment is involved; however, for BOS-JFK-NRT-HKG-PVG(PEK, XMN……), you can use Japan Airlines for JFK-NRT or NRT-HKG, because JL serves the final destination city.

  4. Gary said,

    @Phil Really?

  5. Troy said,

    @Gary, really, he was very frustrated because that’s where he lives

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