Questions and Answers

Hi Lucky

I was hoping you could make our decision a little easier for redeeming our AA miles before the devaluation coming in two days.

We are going to be using our miles to fly to Australia & New Zealand. Currently we are deciding between these airlines.

1st option: Japan Airlines Business class & First Class. ( we have enough miles for this option)

2nd: Qatar Business – Etihad Business.
(Possibility to upgrade to etihad suite if availability opens up & would have to buy extra miles)

3rd: British Airways First Class – Qantas First Class ( we would have to purchase miles for this option)

What would Lucky do?

Which airlines would you choose and why?

What’s the chances of suites opening up on Etihad?

Have you any other airline options we may have missed to use AA miles to get to Australia/NZ?

Keep the great travel tips coming, we travel the world in style thanks to you.

[USER=1715]@Renae[/USER], welcome!

Are you traveling from the US? If you are, traveling to Australia/New Zealand on any of your options will require 2 awards.

With just 2 days left and many people trying to book awards, space will be harder and harder to come by. For Business Class, I would try to avoid BA. Other options are fine. For First Class, JAL and EY are fantastic.

You will be charged new award miles rates if you decide to buy miles and upgrade after the devaluation. It will be best to ticket an award now in the class of service you want

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 14662, member: 29″][USER=1715]@Renae[/USER], welcome!

Are you traveling from the US? If you are, traveling to Australia/New Zealand on any of your options will require 2 awards.

With just 2 days left and many people trying to book awards, space will be harder and harder to come by. For Business Class, I would try to avoid BA. Other options are fine. For First Class, JAL and EY are fantastic.

You will be charged new award miles rates if you decide to buy miles and upgrade after the devaluation. It will be best to ticket an award now in the class of service you want[/QUOTE]

Thanks David

Yes will flying from US.

I’d check on BA for oneworld space and EY for space on Etihad. Business class is probably going to be easier to get than First Class. I would consider the following for Business Class:

Qatar from JFK, PHL or BOS to DOH on their A350, add a short flight to AUH.
Etihad from JFK to AUH on their A380.
Etihad from IAD to AUH on their B789.

From AUH, you can fly to SYD or MEL on Etihad’s A380.
If you have flexible travel dates, I would try to find dates with First Class on Etihad – its a fantastic product, on both the A380 and B789.

JAL serves many US destinations from Tokyo but business class awards are available either really far in advance, when the schedule opens, or very close to departure. You may be lucky and find 2 seats in JAL First when the schedule opens – I was able to snag 2 seats on the same flight for two of my friends. Cathay also serves a few US destinations from Hong Kong with a great business class product, if you’re interested.

If you decide to route via Europe, AA business class on their 77W has a better seat than BA. From Europe, your only options are BA, QR or QF. For Business class I’d try to find awards on QR/QF before considering BA, especially since BA has fuel surcharges.

Just remember that all the above will ticket as two awards, from US to Europe/Middle East/Asia 1/Asia 2 and then to South Pacific.

The only option for a single award us US to South Pacific on Qantas or American, from Dallas, Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Best of luck finding award space!

[QUOTE=”Renae, post: 14663, member: 1715″]Thanks David

Yes will flying from US.[/QUOTE]
Thank you David you where very helpful.