February 9, 2011
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. 
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
January 29, 2011
Acorrding to this FT thread, you can earn miles on all S7 flights and redeem AA miles on S7 flights, but for now, you can only use AA miles ALL partner award for S7 flights in West Russia, why? because AA has not figure out how many miles should charge you for flight within Russia, primarily flights across Russia from west to east.
* Destinations in Eastern Russia (east of the Ural Mountains) include Barnaul, Bratsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Kurgan, Nizhnevartovsk, Novokuznetsk, Novy Urengoy, Nadym, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Surgut, Tomsk, Ulan-ude, Blagoveshchensk, Magadan, Khabarovsk, Norilsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok, Yakutsk
However, all destinations can be redeemed using one world award, which is distance based
This is not first time AA separate a country for award redemption, they separate Easter Island from Chile as part of south Pacific award, but remember few days ago I talked about British Airways miles?I think they will not separate Russian for award redemption, just like Easter Island is part of Chile. At least for now.
BTW, British airways website now suppose award search S7
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, British Airways |
January 27, 2011
View from the wing talked about award from US to OZ/NZ, Tahiti and Maldive, I want to add a little bit my own advice.
The easiest program to go to OZ/NZ are CO/US because both programs allow routing via Asia and Thai airways have plenty of seats to these areas.
AA is a little bit limited because of routing on Qantas or Air Tahiti or Air Pacific via Nadi, seats are limited。 however, if you want to pay some extra miles, you can use AA one world redemption, which can be route via Asia, but award are distance based
Delta also permits routing via Asia, have you thought about using China Southern, china Eastern, China Airline, Malaysia airline, also Air Tahiti routing via NRT to PPT, Tahiti? let’s ignore Korean Air because you can not find 2 seats in business class across Pacific at same time, Delta blocks the seat(like *net blocking)
As for Maldive, Male, the easiest way to get there is to Sri Lanka, Colombo, then buy a cheap ticket to Male, Colombo is partner Central Asia for most programs. Personally, I don’t think Male is worth a trip all the way from US.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, United Airlines, US airways |
January 17, 2011
Many people have mentioned one of the best mileage redemption of using BA miles is with BOGO redemption certificate, which you can redeem miles required for one person, but fly 2. However, you need to have BA US or UK credit card and spending certain amount in order to get this certificate and pay high fuel surcharges and fees(more than $ 1000 per ticket(if stopover in UK to EU beyond). I know, 2 first class for $1000*2 is a great deal, but I think there are some other good ways to use BA miles too
British airways have 4 different kinds of redemption, BA only, BA+1 partner, 1 partner only and oneworld distance award. what I will talk about is 1 partner only award.
BA awards allow UNLIMITED en route stopovers, when I say unlimited, it’s truly unlimited, although the T&C mentioned most direct routing applies, well, the actual outcome depends on your luck with booking agent on the phone.
All award lists below are one way amount, R/T just double, First class on 3 cabin X3
1 Using on Lan for North America to South America or within South America or South America domestic， North to South America one way Economy is 20000 , business is 40000, within South America one way is 12500, business is 25000, South America domestic economy is 10000, business 20000.
2 From Europe to USA/Europe to Hawaii or Central America/USA domestic, if you want to tour USA using BA miles on AA. From EU zone 1 to USA Economy one way 25000, Business one way 50000. include Hawaii or Central America? Same amount. Just want USA domestic+Canada? Economy one way is 12500, business is 25000. welcome to America!
3 India domestic. Kingfisher Airways will join Oneworld soon, they have the best India domestic network, never been to India, no problem, Economy one way is 10000, business is 20000
4 Russia domestic, please check here
5 Japan domestic, Japan Airline. You can travel all the way from Sapporo to Naba. One way economy 7500, Business 15000.
6 Australia domestic on Qantas. Same thing, enjoy your tour in Australia, Economy one way 15000, Business 30000.
7 North America to Far East on CX, AA or JAL, 25K in Y, 50K in business one way. touring America to China/Japan or touring Japan from US or JFK-YYZ-HKG-xxx in Far East on CX
When planing your trip, try to plan with one direction, I am not saying you can’t get it done in one award with backtracking(there are people have done with serious backtracking), but it will be a lot easier to convince a agent to issue the ticket. Also, since award can be booked in one way, you can stop diff cities on your way back.
Please note: all above redemption collects fuel surcharge with exception of LAN, but I think the actul pay off are much more better than YQ, even in Economy class.
reader a1l613 reporst, BA doesn’t charge YQ for s7 redemption
Also, it’s still unclear whether BA charges YQ on AA or not. I know they don’t charge them before, but now AA charges BA, BA should also charge AA. online redemption still showing no YQ, unclear about phone booking
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, British Airways, Oneworld, Other Airline Reward Programs |
January 14, 2011
As you may already know, unlike other frequent flyer programs in other countries, most programs of North American airlines don’t charge fuel surcharge when you redeem miles for awards, but there are few exceptions, they don’t pay these fuel charge to the operating airlines, they keep in their pocket as their own revenue.
1 United, Continental, US airways don’t charge fuel surchage on any airlines to anywhere
2 Air Canada collects fuel surcharge only on their own metal
3 American airlines collects fuel surcharge on British Airways redemption, but they made public announcement about it.
4 Delta is a “special” one, they try to figure out way to make money in every possible way and they do collect fuel for many airlines, here are list at my knowledge
- Delta, Alaska, Airfrance, Aitalia, KLM and Korean Airline, aeromexico, air Europa, kingfisher and jet airways no fuel charge
- Aeroflot, China Eastern, China Southern, V Australia Airlines, China airlines, Tarom Airlines, Vietnam airlines, Air Tahiti, Malaysia airlines all collects fuel charges, so that make economy class redemption on those flights using delta miles no longer worth it.(except China domestic, fuel very low)
- Avianca, Czech airlines, Kenya Airways and Hawaii airlines, no experience, but I think they don’t collect for Kenya and Czech because they were old member of Skyteam
The most interesting part about Air Tahiti was, I have an award on 2 of their flights from NRT-PPT-AKL, then return with Korean air, total taxes was $100 USD, but the ticket was issued back in September of last year. Back in December and this month, I also issued several Air Tahiti flight from CDG-LAX, but fuel was collected, I thought the charge was by route. Today, I called in to modify my tickets issued in September by 1 day and was told to pay $330 per person in taxes. they check for me, YQ was showed, which means DL just added YQ for Air Tahiti not too long ago.
The good thing for me was I can change my flight after I flew all Air Tahiti segments, but for any new reservations with airlines charge fuel, economy class redemption are not really worth it.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Award redemption, Continental Airline, Delta, United Airlines, US airways |
January 3, 2011
This promotion has become yearly one now, you will earn 150 miles for watching the video online, 250 more miles for in store demo. Offer valid until Jan 17th,2011
the best part is, these 150 miles will extend your AA miles for another 18 months.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
November 30, 2010
Register today and fly between November 29, 2010, and February 28, 2011.
Only Non stop flight btw DFW-SFO/LAX will be counted, Registration prior to travel is required.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
November 14, 2010
From Nov 12th-Jan 31st, earn double AA miles for all published fare on AA/IB to selected Europe cities.
routes include JFK-BCN/MAD/BRU and ORD-CDG
registration prior to travel required
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
October 30, 2010
We all know there are some people addict to miles world, some enjoy flying experience. I have two friends, what they have done make me want to LOL every time.
Friend #1 lives in a small town in Montana, where only served by UA and DL. He likes to fly, so he flies almost every week, his flight memory gives me headache. so what does he do when he goes out every week? He is not just Mileage running, he is doing grocery shopping. There is no Chinese supermarket in his town, so he is basically taking air taxi to do grocery shopping. One time, he arrived home Helena(HLN) without checked luggage because the bag went to Honolulu(HNL), two days later when he got his bags, everything inside were threw away by Honolulu agricultural inspection-meat, fresh seafood, vegetable……
Friend #2 is a student in Chicago, he doesn’t have car, but he still likes to do Mattress Run/Mileage Run. When Hyatt had stay 2 get 1 free promotion, he took his bike with him on the train, then get off at nearby station, ride bike to Hyatt place. The next day, he ride from one Hyatt place to another. There is not many good Mattress Run promotion going on right now, but there is AA STL double EQM promotion, so he is taking “Red eye Megabus” from Chicago to STL to do Mileage run.
I just couldn’t stop laughing.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Delta, Hyatt Gold Passport, Uncategorized, United Airlines |
October 21, 2010
From now to Dec 15th, get up to $50 Mastercard Gift card for doing following, registration is required
- Purchase a flight, receive a $10 MasterCard gift card
- Purchase a flight and one other travel need such as car or hotel, receive a $25 MasterCard gift card
- Purchase a flight and two other travel needs, receive a $50 MasterCard gift card
Posted by Troy under American Airlines |
