bobbymckaye

Hello--We'll be flying to Dublin in October. I have LOTS of American Airlines miles as I never seem to be able to get a seat using them. This has been going on for several years and now that they're in Ch. 11 I'm concerned that I'll eventually lose the miles before I get to use them. Do any of you have suggestions about the best way to go about redeeming miles from American? I've used United miles and it's a different story--way easier to work with. All suggestions appreciated. Cheers, BMK

Gardyloo

Where are you flying from? How many passengers?

Using AA miles isn't that hard, but as with all mileage redemption trips, being flexible in your timing is a good idea.

Coach or business?

bobbymckaye

Hi--We'll be flying out of Sacramento or SanFrancisco and preferably Business--First if necessary. BMK

Gardyloo

Well I just had a look at October, and if you're willing to travel after around the 12th, there appear to be business class seats on AA's nonstop from Chicago to Dublin virtually every day. (AA doesn't offer first class to Dublin, only business on its 767s.) Your connecting flight(s) to Chicago would be in first class.

Go to aa.com and put in some dates and see what you get. Again, if you're willing to be a little flexible on timing, you shouldn't have an impossible time.

If you want to go using an AA partner, e.g. British Airways via London or Iberia via Madrid, you'll need to phone AA as they don't (yet) have online redemption booking for partners, except for Alaska Airlines. With BA you'll undoubtedly be able to find space, but you'll have to pay BA's exorbitant fuel surcharges, so I'd shoot for AA if I could. AA's business class product on the 767s is excellent.

bobbymckaye

Gardyloo--Thanks, I'll let you know how it came out. Hmmmm--Gardyloo----doesn't that mean-----? BMK

basingstoke2

So far we have done 4 international flights on AA ff miles with only 2 problems. One was Iberia cancelling our flight 2 weeks before it was to begin. A call to AA put us on another flight right away. The other was a missed connection due a delayed American Eagle flight out of BWI to JFK. Again, a call to AA got us on the next flight that day to our destination but with an additional stop so we lost about 10 hours of our trip. Our latest AA ff trip was last year with open jaw into London and out of Edinburgh.

Underhill

We've used our AA miles to fly from Sacramento to Nice, the portion of the trip from London to Nice having been on partner British Airways. You just need to start looking 330 days out from your hope-to-travel date; some periods, like the first 2 weeks of December on that route, were fairly easy to get free business-class tickets or upgrades.

I don't find UA easier to work with at all, especially with the new web site.

Also, we just applied for the new Explorer credit cards so we could get free checked baggage on our next flight. It turns out that because we'd already bought the tickets, we don't get the freebie--but that sure was in the small print when I finally tracked down the "conditions"," not in the big print on the promotion.

JaneB

We have 3 trips in 2012 using the AA FF program and I love them.
We are flying to Amsterdam and returning from Vienna in March (coach); roundtrip to Seattle in June (coach); and to London returning from Paris in September (business). Booking early is the key to success with any FF program.

socaltraveler

The best way to go is to call the AA awards desk and ask for their help; we have gotten trips well after the 330 day out situation, and if you're willing to have an extra stop, I think someone can help you. If you get an agent who does not seem helpful, hang up and call back until you get one.

Underhill

I've had the best luck getting a helpful agent when I call after 9 p.m. PST on a week-night, BTW. At least so far AA has not outsourced its call centers.

bobbymckaye

Well, I've booked a flight with miles--San Fran to Dublin by way of Chicago--Both ways are First in US and Business in Europe. It's 200,000 miles per person round trip including tax, etc. My other options--(full fare at $1,222.00 per person economy class)-- all included a stop in Madrid as well as one in the US plus 25,000 miles per person to upgrade to business and a $350.00 charge per person EACH WAY, also to upgrade. Yow! I'm thinking of totally using up my miles and moving on to another card with more options. Perhaps this is not such a good idea? Thanks for all the good input--Cheers, BMK