Questions and Answers

Hi,

It may just be me but I find it challenging/frustrating to search for oneworld availability on ba.com and wonder if there is an easier way. Basically I have 750k plus AAdvantage miles, I’m EXP and will continue to be. I’m considering a trip in July/August 2016 to either CPT (via QR) or possibly SYD/MEL (via QF) and I have yet to see a single flight with availability to cash in miles in business. I *think* I’m searching right but then think I must be doing something wrong. I would like to get something on the books before any mileage redemption changes occur.

Do others have a similar challenge or is it ‘just me’? Thanks.

Certainly for the QF routes you need to be looking as soon as the calendar opens. QF opens very few premium cabin seats anyway, so you need to be ready to jump on it as soon as you see it. I was able to snag a seat in F on the DFW-SYD route last month using BA miles but I was checking each & every day as the calendar opened up. A friend was able to snag business class on QF via Brisbane several weeks later.

BA & QF open up their calendars further in advance than AA does, meaning that people with BA & QF miles have access to those award seats for ~10 days before those with AA miles. I suspect you’ll have a more level playing field using the miles on the new AA flights. But even then, I’d book as soon as the calendar open.

I don’t know about QR flights. I did a little research a few months ago in anticipation of a possible trip to South Africa but that’s been postponed so I haven’t kept up the searches to see what’s available.