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Posted on 1/20/16 at 4:22 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
cmlsu, Teddy Ruxpin, LSUAfro :
What are yall's travel habits usually like? What is a typical year? Do you usually redeem on premium cabins for long hauls or domestic? Always fly on awards or $$ too? Just curious.
I don't travel as much as I'd like...three small kids. Basically, I use SW and companion pass for a disney trips out of new orleans.
I'm a Hilton Diamond and use those points and certificates for free nights at the san destin resort in summer. Wife has a united card that we plan to take a weekend trip domestically and get a new hyatt card for the free nights. Hyatt matched my hilton status. (I'm thinking united out of BR and park hyatt in chicago for a couple of days)
I use cashback cards to just get supplemental income here and there to make me not feel as guilty for eating out so much.
Posted on 1/20/16 at 6:12 pm to cmlsu
For anyone knowledgeable on American Airline Points, I was hoping to get some advice on how to get the most out of my points...
I have 65K American Airline points and I'm looking at booking a round trip flight to Europe for two weeks in mid May.
I'm ignorant on my options here. Other than simply booking with AA, is there a better option to transfer to other partners/airlines etc?
Below is my current Itenrary I am thinking of booking
1. Saturday May 14th - Dallas>London 20K AA points - 15 hours travel time (2 separate flights, 1-AA leg, 1- British Airway)
I am ultimately trying to get to Amsterdam but the flights available to Amsterdam were 50K+ points, so i figured I would fly to London and catch a cheap 1 way flight to Amsterdam.
2. Sunday, May 29th - Rome > Dallas 45K AA points - 15 hours travel time (2 separate flights, Both legs AA)
Appreciate any advice or tips!
I have 65K American Airline points and I'm looking at booking a round trip flight to Europe for two weeks in mid May.
I'm ignorant on my options here. Other than simply booking with AA, is there a better option to transfer to other partners/airlines etc?
Below is my current Itenrary I am thinking of booking
1. Saturday May 14th - Dallas>London 20K AA points - 15 hours travel time (2 separate flights, 1-AA leg, 1- British Airway)
I am ultimately trying to get to Amsterdam but the flights available to Amsterdam were 50K+ points, so i figured I would fly to London and catch a cheap 1 way flight to Amsterdam.
2. Sunday, May 29th - Rome > Dallas 45K AA points - 15 hours travel time (2 separate flights, Both legs AA)
Appreciate any advice or tips!
Posted on 1/20/16 at 6:21 pm to Bearded_Chow25
1) You cannot transfer out points from one airline to another. All you can do is redeem points on partner airlines. But you'll still have to go by the primary airlines' award chart. In your case AA.
2) Look for the over water flight first. From us to Europe. Most likely would be EWR/JFK/CLT/IAD/BWI to LHR. Then find connections. LHR to AMS and DFW to your gateway. Write down all flight info, time and and dates. Call AA and feed that info to rep who will give you a final cost in points and dollars. Since AA gives you free domestic transfers on international flights, you should be able to get to AMS and back to DFW with the same number of points as you would to LHR as they're in the same region, as long as awards on all legs are available. You want to check this by looking for SAAver awards on AA website. Phone booking fee is $25, no way around that.
3) You wanna book your flight sooner rather than later as AA off peak awards are changing soon.
Good luck.
2) Look for the over water flight first. From us to Europe. Most likely would be EWR/JFK/CLT/IAD/BWI to LHR. Then find connections. LHR to AMS and DFW to your gateway. Write down all flight info, time and and dates. Call AA and feed that info to rep who will give you a final cost in points and dollars. Since AA gives you free domestic transfers on international flights, you should be able to get to AMS and back to DFW with the same number of points as you would to LHR as they're in the same region, as long as awards on all legs are available. You want to check this by looking for SAAver awards on AA website. Phone booking fee is $25, no way around that.
3) You wanna book your flight sooner rather than later as AA off peak awards are changing soon.
Good luck.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 7:13 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:32 pm to Bearded_Chow25
Here's a quick itinerary I came up with for you:
14th May: AA5815+AA3505 DFW > JFK via CVG
BA172 JFK > LHR
15th May: BA438 LHR> AMS
28th May: BA553 FCO > LHR
AA107 LHR > JFK
19th May: AA3547+AA3445 LGA>DFW via XNA
Call AA and tell the rep you would like to book a flight from DFW to AMS, but since it is a complex itinerary, the search engine online is unable to price it out. Feed these flights and dates the rep. Since no stopovers are above 24hrs, this award should price out at 50K AA miles. 20K off peak for the outbound, 30K for the in bound because it flips back to peak.
Remember - BA will charge high fuel surcharges on their legs. To avoid those, or bring those down, search for flights on Iberia (MAD hub )or better yet airberlin (TXL, DUS hub)
14th May: AA5815+AA3505 DFW > JFK via CVG
BA172 JFK > LHR
15th May: BA438 LHR> AMS
28th May: BA553 FCO > LHR
AA107 LHR > JFK
19th May: AA3547+AA3445 LGA>DFW via XNA
Call AA and tell the rep you would like to book a flight from DFW to AMS, but since it is a complex itinerary, the search engine online is unable to price it out. Feed these flights and dates the rep. Since no stopovers are above 24hrs, this award should price out at 50K AA miles. 20K off peak for the outbound, 30K for the in bound because it flips back to peak.
Remember - BA will charge high fuel surcharges on their legs. To avoid those, or bring those down, search for flights on Iberia (MAD hub )or better yet airberlin (TXL, DUS hub)
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 7:42 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:40 pm to AmeriKop45
Thanks for the info!
I am only really concerned with the flight(s) getting to Europe/Amsterdam.
So essentially I need to find the 3 separate flights with times that line up correctly to feed to the AA Rep that are all on the same award level (SSAver)?
Ex:
Flight 1 : DFW to JFK
Flight 2 : JFK to London - Look for this leg first
Flight 3 : London to Amsterdam
I am only really concerned with the flight(s) getting to Europe/Amsterdam.
So essentially I need to find the 3 separate flights with times that line up correctly to feed to the AA Rep that are all on the same award level (SSAver)?
Ex:
Flight 1 : DFW to JFK
Flight 2 : JFK to London - Look for this leg first
Flight 3 : London to Amsterdam
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:43 pm to Bearded_Chow25
Exactly.
If you want to avoid fuel surcharges - then look for flights to DUS or TXP on airberlin from MIA, SFO, LAX.
This is a little more complicated because AA search engine is a little quirky. Use ba.com or Qantas.com. Qantas happens to be the best for searching oneworld availability.
If you want to avoid fuel surcharges - then look for flights to DUS or TXP on airberlin from MIA, SFO, LAX.
This is a little more complicated because AA search engine is a little quirky. Use ba.com or Qantas.com. Qantas happens to be the best for searching oneworld availability.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 7:52 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:52 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
What are yall's travel habits usually like? What is a typical year? Do you usually redeem on premium cabins for long hauls or domestic? Always fly on awards or $$ too? Just curious.
Quite the list...
In 1 year I'll travel on paid tickets through work reimbursement maybe 3-4 times.
In 2 years working the CC game,
Major notes:
Thailand twice @ local hotels
Japan twice @ local hotels
Hong Kong twice @ grand Hyatt award
Napa Valley @ The Andaz @ Sonoma Hyatt award
NYC @ Park Hyatt award
Bora Bora @ IC Thalasso award
Moorea @ IC Moorea award
Tahiti @ IC paid award with Barclays Arrival plus
Chicago 3 x @ River north Hyatt, Regency, and IC Mag mile all awards
Coming year:
London @ Indigo Paddington award
Dublin @ Radisson Blu award
Dubai @ Park Hyatt award
Hanoi @ Park Hyatt award
Kualu Lumpur @ Haven't decided
Hong Kong @ Grand Hyatt award
Sheraton Swan @ Disney World award
Internationally I've Flown first class on Japan Airlines twice, business on United twice, business on Air Tahiti Nui, Thai Air business, Cathay Pacific Business twice.
Coming year I'll fly Emirates first twice, Japan Airlines first two twice, Cathay Pacific business twice, Iberia air business, and American business multiple times.
I'm taking a break after next January and having another kid... I think. Those things...they're the best.
quote:
AmeriKop45
How'd you find this site?
quote:
Phone booking fee is $25, no way around that.
I've never paid it. Usually fairly easy to talk out of that one.
quote:
so you need to search on Quantas.com.
I normally use British Airways.
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:58 pm to LSUAfro
LSUAfro - You've put me to shame. I'm going to stand in the corner now.
I would wish to travel more but don't get enough PTO. I use up all of them (only 16 a year), and I like to use at least 1 week for skiing every year.
Saving Bora Bora for honeymoon trip. (Maybe 3-5 years down the line).
Next year between using 4 PTO days in Cabo and the Caribbean, I have a 2 week long Euro-trip planned where I'll go around Italy (starting in Rome), and 9 days over 2 weekends skiing in Aspen/Vail. 4 nights at the Park Hyatt Beaver creek, 5 at the Westin Snowmass.
In practice, I've gotten away by not paying the $25 fee when booking awards on airlines that couldn't be booked online, like when using avios to book AS to Hawaii. Other than that I've had that fee waived anyway through EP.
Also, I've found qantas search engine to be by far the easiest to use. Ever given it a shot?
I would wish to travel more but don't get enough PTO. I use up all of them (only 16 a year), and I like to use at least 1 week for skiing every year.
Saving Bora Bora for honeymoon trip. (Maybe 3-5 years down the line).
Next year between using 4 PTO days in Cabo and the Caribbean, I have a 2 week long Euro-trip planned where I'll go around Italy (starting in Rome), and 9 days over 2 weekends skiing in Aspen/Vail. 4 nights at the Park Hyatt Beaver creek, 5 at the Westin Snowmass.
In practice, I've gotten away by not paying the $25 fee when booking awards on airlines that couldn't be booked online, like when using avios to book AS to Hawaii. Other than that I've had that fee waived anyway through EP.
Also, I've found qantas search engine to be by far the easiest to use. Ever given it a shot?
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 8:03 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 7:58 pm to LSUAfro
I need to get my wife into a job with more days off.
What do you do with the first kid? Grandparents?
What do you do with the first kid? Grandparents?
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:18 pm to LSUAfro
LSUAfro, Teddy - any of you have the Ink?
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:49 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
How was your trip Teddy?
I haven't touched base since we have both been back.
We had a fantastic time and didn't want to leave. People there are amazing. Only bad experience was I got food poisoning our last night in SE Asia. Was up all night sick and sick for an international flight. Ended up being awake for close to 60 hours. It was pretty terrible, haha.
ETA: Anyone who wants a run down of my trip and had any questions or interest in the intenerary, I'd be happy to answer questions.
28 days total:
1 in Hong Kong
5 in Bangkok
8 in Chiang Mai
4 in Siem Reap
7 in Koh Chang
1 evening back in Bangkok before departure
I haven't touched base since we have both been back.
We had a fantastic time and didn't want to leave. People there are amazing. Only bad experience was I got food poisoning our last night in SE Asia. Was up all night sick and sick for an international flight. Ended up being awake for close to 60 hours. It was pretty terrible, haha.
ETA: Anyone who wants a run down of my trip and had any questions or interest in the intenerary, I'd be happy to answer questions.
28 days total:
1 in Hong Kong
5 in Bangkok
8 in Chiang Mai
4 in Siem Reap
7 in Koh Chang
1 evening back in Bangkok before departure
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 8:54 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:52 pm to juice4lsu
quote:
How was your trip Teddy?
quote:
We had a fantastic time and didn't want to leave. People there are amazing.
We had the same exact feeling.
quote:
Only bad experience was I got food poisoning our last night in SE Asia. Was up all night sick and sick for an international flight. Ended up being awake for close to 60 hours. It was pretty terrible, haha.
That sucks man. I had an upset stomach when I got back that kept me from getting on the right sleep schedule, but nothing like that. I thought it was a great country. My wife wants to go back.
Cambodia was like India-lite. You can see the Khmer Rouge and the aftermath that followed set them back 30 years. But they too were very kind. Amazing that any of those people became capable of such atrocities. There is a lesson there.
ETA:
28 days total:
1 in Hong Kong
5 in Bangkok
8 in Chiang Mai
4 in Siem Reap
7 in Koh Chang
1 evening back in Bangkok before departure
Totally jelly of those extra days you had.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 8:55 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:55 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I thought the Khmer people were even better than the Thai people. To know what they went through...amazing how joyful they are.
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:57 pm to juice4lsu
quote:
I thought the Khmer people were even better than the Thai people. To know what they went through...amazing how joyful they are.
Totally.
By the way, did you have "fun" at Siem Reap immigration like we did?
They were having a blast tossing those passports around.
My wife got a real stickler on the passport photo. He made her show him her teeth
Posted on 1/20/16 at 8:59 pm to AmeriKop45
quote:
LSUAfro, Teddy - any of you have the Ink?
I have an Ink Bold and an Ink Cash.
Afro has at least 1 of those as well.
This post was edited on 1/20/16 at 9:00 pm
Posted on 1/20/16 at 9:00 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
I wouldn't go back to Bangkok, but I could live in Chiang Mai tomorrow and just love the Khmer people. Would love to be able to travel and give back to the people especially in SE Asia. Kinda feel like every other travel experience now that I've been there won't be as exciting or enlightening.
Posted on 1/20/16 at 9:00 pm to AmeriKop45
dam those fuel surcharges... didn't realize how expensive those would be.
Posted on 1/20/16 at 9:03 pm to juice4lsu
quote:
I wouldn't go back to Bangkok
My wife actually loved Bangkok too, but a lot of people do say that.
quote:
but I could live in Chiang Mai tomorrow
Couldn't squeeze it in but people always go nuts about it so I'm going to have to do that. Sometimes I wonder if it really is that great but that's all I hear.
quote:
Kinda feel like every other travel experience now that I've been there won't be as exciting or enlightening.
Go to India. You'll feel like Indiana Jones
Posted on 1/20/16 at 9:04 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
My wife got a real sticker on her's in Siem Reap. I had an evisa. We both applied but here's never came through. I canceled the charge once I got back to the states.
When we went back to Thailand to Koh Chang, we took a bus and literally had to walk from Cambodia back into Thailand. That was interesting. Those countries don't really get along geopolitically.
When we went back to Thailand to Koh Chang, we took a bus and literally had to walk from Cambodia back into Thailand. That was interesting. Those countries don't really get along geopolitically.
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