cynstalker

I'm working on a one world partner award going from Boston or JFK to Rome; via LHR (so I can use BA) in one direction, and Madrid (for Iberia) in the other. Since it's under 9000 miles, the 2 round trip business class tickets I'm trying for would cost 80,000 miles instead of the milesaver 100,000 per ticket.

But <b>every</b> time I call to work on this type of ticket, the agents start off by insisting that I can't do it, that it's going to cost 100,000; that it doesn't matter if I use the minimum 2 partners; that <i>perhaps</i> if I were doing a round-the-world ticket it could be done...

Yesterday, I got the same stuff from the agent. I tried to get her to just "humor me", but she was adamant it would not work so I was ready to "politely hang up and call back"; when she really started getting cranky with me, and insisted I talk to her supervisor so the supervisor could "prove it to me". So I said, fine, I'll talk to the supervisor. (By this time I'm mad too). She puts me on hold for the longest time, finally gets back on the line and is in tears; and tells me I was right, and she would like to work on the ticket for me. So now <b>I</b> feel badly because she's crying. Yuck. (I do now have a workable itinerary on hold until the 13th - not perfect, but it's ok).

<B> Here's the $60,000 question:</b>How do I avoid this kind of drama? Is the coding the agents use for this booking "OW80"? What is the correct name of this award - is it "one world all partner"; "one world partner"; "one world explorer"? It's very rare that I get an agent who immediatley knows what I'm working towards, and I'm thinking it must be that I'm just not giving them the proper information so they can help me get these tickets.

And one other question - with this type of award, do I <i>have</i> to use AA metal? I've been given conflicting info on that as well. It seems to me that I've had trips that only used partners, but this woman yesterday insisted AA had to be included. (It was fine - I want to use AA over the ocean to or from LHR to save on taxes).

I appreciate any help you can offer; this board is how I first learned about this type of award, and I'll bet it's saved me more than 100,000 miles over the years.

Cyn

Gardyloo

AA has further complicated your lives by re-naming the awards a couple of weeks ago. What used to be called an "all-partners" award - the one that would cost 50,000 miles each way, has been re-named a "Oneworld and Partners" award.

What used to be called the "Oneworld" award - the mileage based one that you want to use - is now called the "Explorer" award. (To make things even more confusing, that's reminiscent of the "Oneworld Explorer" - the paid RTW ticket product that some of us use a lot.)

Many of the regular AA phone agents - as opposed to the specialists who work the EXP phones - seldom encounter the "Explorer" awards and might not understand the rules. (Specifically, the requirement that two non-AA Oneworld member airlines be flown, that only one open-jaw is allowed - middle or end - and so on.)

Your route as described sounds legit - BOS-LHR-FCO-MAD-JFK-BOS is under 9,000 flown miles, so they ought to charge you 80,000 miles per ticket.

That award used to go by the designation of OW80C but of course the "OW" stands for Oneworld, so under the new naming regimen who knows if that's still the name? However the technique remains clear. Call and say that's what you want - an <I>Explorer</i> award for 80,000 miles in business class, and if they keep trying to shift you to a Oneworld and Partners award, hang up and call back. (That's the first ironclad rule of award booking - when in doubt, phone back.)

The second rule is to be flexible. You can change dates on Explorer awards, but not the itinerary. If you want to change cities, or change a stopover to a transit, you have to release all the flights and start over, which often is a lousy deal.

The third rule (and actually this is no. 1 1/2 in my book) is to know what flights are available when you make the booking. Use AA's and BA's websites (you'll need a BAEC membership - free - to use BA's) to see award availability, in particular BA's site has a pretty reliable "partners" function where you can see things like Iberia or other partner flights. I've found that asking the AA agent to find open seats for me is usually quite frustrating, while if you know ahead of time that seats on X flight are available, they become very cooperative and will thank you at the end. A much better outcome than the alternative.

Good luck!

cynstalker

Ok, thanks so much Gardyloo. No wonder it's so difficult getting someone who understands, eh? At least I know it's now called the "explorer" award ticket. Maybe that will help. I'm platinum, so I don't get the Exp agents; just the platinum desk. I can't tell you how many times I have had to hang up and call back; it is very frustrating. Worthwhile, but frustrating.

Re: know what flights are available - I do use the BA site; that was how I was able to find the Iberia portion of the flight I'm working on now. But initally they never seem to want to use the information I have - they just ignore what I'm saying and start clicking away looking for routes. It's ok, I guess - they are supposed to be experts.

Is it required to also have at least one leg on this type of ticket on AA metal?

Cyn

Gardyloo

Sorry, forgot to answer that part. No, you don't have to use AA on these awards. You have to use 2 Oneworld members <i>in addition</i> to AA - IF you use AA at all.

cynstalker

Thanks - that's what I thought, but she was so, um, <i>sure</i>...

Rastaguytoday

Here is the AA link for awards.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/r...servations.jsp

In the link above it shows awards.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/oneworld_awards.jsp

Try using this as a reference when speaking to an international agent.