Late last year we learned about the major changes being made to American AAdvantage this year. In addition to a huge award chart devaluation, AAdvantage is also going revenue based at some point in the second half of the year, meaning members will earn redeemable miles based on how much they spend rather than how…
Continue reading: Introduction: Mileage Run To Beijing
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I booked 2 trips, IAH-HKG & HKG-ORD, for about $1250 for end of May travels. No upgrades for me since I'm only Platinum. But thanks to these low fares, I would become EXP during these runs. Cant wait to check out CX The Pier First Class Lounge. 🙂
The dollar has been especially strong in the world current markets the last few years plus the cost of fuel has fallen dramatically that has led to record profits for the airlines plus less pressure to raise fares to cover costs. What else could be contributing to relative cost of international fares (at least in dollar terms)?
@Donna in this case a visa is required since Beijing was not a stopover on the way to a third country.
I'm going to read all reviews eventually, but out of the tested hotels, which one did you like the most?
Grand Hyatt Beijing, Park Hyatt Beijing, St. Regis Beijing and W Hotel Beijing Chang’an?
I don't have a lot of disposable travel budget but I booked a short stay ATL-HKG next week for $550, and signed up for a PLT challenge before booking. $750 for PLT looked good to me.
Then ~$450 ORD-NRT popped up, and I was able to get another very short trip booked immediately before the ATL-HKG. And then some excellent weekend trips ATL-LAX and ATL-SEA appeared; for ~$650 I used them to complete the PLT challenge ahead of the two Asia trips.
By the end of next week I'll have right about 47.5k EQMs and 83k RDMs and gone from no status to PLT, at a cost of about $1850 and a very sore butt. I should be able to squeeze another 2.5k EQMs and earn non-challenge PLT without exceeding $2k total.
I've got the LAX-DFW-HKG mileage run next week. That will put me halfway to EXP for YTD which is better than last year when I qualified the last week of the year. The REALLY good thing IMO for those of us mileage running right now before they go revenue based is the awards recently booked by all who burned their miles will be WIDE open after 3-21-17 for those of us adding to our mileage haul.
@David W. Thanks! I guess I'll get the ten year Visa that I've been hearing about.
DCA-BOS-NRT-BKK in March for $675 (787's on BOS-NRT, NRT-BKK, BKK-NRT, NRT-ORD, nice business class product for AA)
DCA-DFW-ICN in April for $500
Those two alone plus some really cheap DCA-LAX flights got me to Platinum for under $1400... The rest of the year I'm thinking of jumping ship to Alaska's program or get Star Alliance Gold for ultimate flexibility in 2017. Thoughts? I am a cheap traveler so revenue based is going to destroy my mileage bank going forward. Anyone have Alaska Airlines experience in booking partner flights?
When exactly do the changes kick in? I am confused, i thought the mileage system was already in. And if it's not, until when do i have chance to requalify under the old system?
I didn't take advantage of the low fares as I am on my exit strategy with AA. As like you say a 500 fare that earns 6000 miles is not worth it.
AA has not given a specific date, only middle of the year. 🙁 Old earning charts apply for now, get your cheap flying in while you can.
If you were to buy a return ticket to say Hong Kong or Thailand you would be able to use the transit visa in China.
What about your trip report from Australia and New Zealand from the beginning of the year?