Questions and Answers

I’m having trouble finding info online about rewards bookings for flights to Asia – I’m trying to use AA miles to book travel (ideally first class, depending on how many miles that requires) from Los Angeles to Bali for the mid/end of June. Best I can tell, the most logical route would be LA to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Bali. Via Cathay Airlines?? Is there anywhere I can browse flight availabilities and mileage requirements online, or do I have to call AA and do it all on the phone?

Thanks@

Hello LAgirl.

How to redeem AA miles written by [USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER]
[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/04/12/how-to-redeem-american-aadvantage-miles/[/URL]

Since the post above is a bit old, here is the new award costs
[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/11/17/2016-aadvantage-program-details/[/URL]
[URL]https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/redeemMiles/all-partner-chart2016.jsp#[/URL]

Since Bali is in Asia Zone 2 cost one way would be 70K miles for J and 110K miles for F.

Also, for CX award space, you need to check via BA’s search tool and then calling AA to book.

[USER=29]@David W[/USER]

“Also, for CX award space, you need to check via BA’s search tool and then calling AA to book.”

Which was mentioned in the helpful list on where to search for space in Tiffany blog post along with JAL and Qantas.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 16676, member: 29″]Also, for CX award space, you need to check via BA’s search tool and then calling AA to book.[/QUOTE]

I’ve been trying to do that, but the BA website is not giving me the option to search partner airlines… Help? Has anyone else had this problem?

thanks!

[USER=1907]@writegirl[/USER], just search for avios/award availability segment by segment for your route. If partner space is available, it should show up.

Thank you!

And, if it turns out that no reward seats are avail in business or first class, would it be feasible to buy an economy ticket and then use miles to upgrade? Is that an option? Or not? I know I’ve read that Cathay frequently releases biz/first award seats closer to the date of trip, but while i do have some travel flexibility, I really don’t want to end up a week before travel without a flight (or with only the option of an absurdly expensive ticket)

you’d have to buy a ticket directly from Cathay and use CX’s program AsiaMiles to upgrade.

I’ve used AsiaMiles a few times to waitlist awards and I’ve never had a waitlist not clear yet, for J and F. Awards are distance based though and taxes and fees are pretty low.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 16749, member: 29″]you’d have to buy a ticket directly from Cathay and use CX’s program AsiaMiles to upgrade.

I’ve used AsiaMiles a few times to waitlist awards and I’ve never had a waitlist not clear yet, for J and F. Awards are distance based though and taxes and fees are pretty low.[/QUOTE]
Got it – thank you! But do AA miles transfer to Asia Miles? (excuse my ignorance, i’m new to all of this…). While i do have plenty of AA miles, that’s the only airline i have award miles with…

Nope, AA miles cant be transferred out to another airline. You’d have to get AsiaMiles by transferring from Amex MR. Citi Thankyou also works I believe.

[USER=1907]@writegirl[/USER], you could book an economy seat with your AA miles if that is available. AA is relatively generous about allowing upgrades on award tickets so if space opens up you would just pay the difference in miles to move from Y to J or F closer to departure. You just need to make sure that your arrival and departure cities stay the same. You can even move the dates since you have some flexibility.