Questions and Answers

I’d love to try to the Etihad First Class Apartments and I’m planning a trip to Australia in Dec 2017. I’d love to fly out there in EY first.

I’ve been told (mainly here, and a few other blogs) that the best/easiest way of booking an award on EY is using AA miles. Does anyone think differently? Is there another programme (even EY’s own?) that’s better than AA for what I want to do?

What are people’s thoughts on earning opportunities in the UK? I don’t fly very often (and when I do, they tend to be redemptions!) The credit card offered by MBNA offers a pittance of a sign-up bonus and the earning rate isn’t anything to write home about either…

(I’ll probably fly back with Qantas, using Avios, so only need enough AA miles to get me there.)

Are you able to get an US credit cards at all? Otherwise, the easiest way is to fly BA and credit flights to AA or buy miles when there’s a discount. EYs own program can be lucrative for some redemptions since it’s distance based. But unless you fly EY or their partners and credit to them their miles aren’t easy to obtain.

Or you could buy AA miles now while there’s a sale.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 18679, member: 29″]Are you able to get an US credit cards at all? Otherwise, the easiest way is to fly BA and credit flights to AA or buy miles when there’s a discount. EYs own program can be lucrative for some redemptions since it’s distance based. But unless you fly EY or their partners and credit to them their miles aren’t easy to obtain.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the reply David. Unfortunately, I live in the UK and so am not able to get US credit cards. I don’t have a US credit record or social security number.

I don’t fly very often and when I do, they tend to be award flights (I collect Avios via Tesco Clubcard points).

[QUOTE=”MidSouth Skier, post: 18686, member: 184″]Or you could buy AA miles now while there’s a sale.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I’m looking at this quite carefully. Might be worth doing.

There’s also these credit cards that are UK based. [URL]https://www.aa.com/i18n/specialOffers/mbna.jsp?locale=en_GB[/URL]

Not the biggest of bonuses but I’m unfamiliar with UK card bonuses. If these are the best offers, I would apply for both for the bonus and only keep the AMEX version since it earns 1.5 miles per £1 instead of 1.5 miles for ever £2 of spending on the Visa version.

Theres a UK SPG Amex card as well. Just check to make sure points are transferable to AAdvantage, though it may not be the best use of star points. [URL]https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/starwood-preferred-guest-credit-card/[/URL]

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 18725, member: 29″]There’s also these credit cards that are UK based. [URL]https://www.aa.com/i18n/specialOffers/mbna.jsp?locale=en_GB[/URL]

Not the biggest of bonuses but I’m unfamiliar with UK card bonuses. If these are the best offers, I would apply for both for the bonus and only keep the AMEX version since it earns 1.5 miles per £1 instead of 1.5 miles for ever £2 of spending on the Visa version.

Theres a UK SPG Amex card as well. Just check to make sure points are transferable to AAdvantage, though it may not be the best use of star points. [URL]https://www.americanexpress.com/uk/content/starwood-preferred-guest-credit-card/[/URL][/QUOTE]

Thanks again David. I’ve had a look at the AA card. You’re right; the bonus is pitiful. We don’t get anywhere near the levels of sign up bonuses offered in the US. I’ll wait until the run a promotion before applying and might get another 5k, or possibly even 10k.

I already have the SPG Amex. Need to cancel it so I can churn (and get the bonus) in six months’ time!

Hi, do you have any suggestion for earning AA Miles while in England? I’ve CITI AA Bronze Credit Card, but due to 3% Foreign Transaction Fee, it is not great idea to spend abroad. I need 2K AA Miles for my next award. Appreciate any help.

You can just buy 2k miles if you need the award right now. It’s about $94 after taxes and fees