Songdoc

We'll be there at the same time (!!!), but apparently, not at the same camps.

I'll arrive August 12th and spend that night at the Eka Hotel in Nairobi. Then ...
2 nights @ Nairobi Tented Camp followed by:
3 nights each at: Amboseli, Rhino, and Lion Porini Camps

I was able to use AA FF miles to book Las Vegas to Chicago (1st class); Chicago to Doha (in a Qatar Airlines Q-Suite); and Doha to Nairobi (business class). 92,500 miles & $31. pp) I'll book a separate flight from Lihue, Kauai to LAS.

It was impossible to get business class for the return flights. We'll fly British Air premium economy Nairobi to London and London to LAX. (65k miles & $446. pp). Then a separate flight LAX to LIH. I'll keep looking for business class flights for the return.

sf7307

I have to look at the calendar. It’s possible we’ll overlap one night at Rhino. I’ll let you know what I come up with.Â

sf7307

I just did the calendar and I think we might both  be at each of Amboseli (17 Aug) and Rhino (20 Aug) at the same time. In both cases it’s the day we’re arriving and you’re leaving or vice versa , so we’ll see you at dinner!!

CaliNurse

I'm jealous of you both, sf and Songdoc!!

Songdoc, don't you love those Qatar miles fares via Doha, minus the crazy Heathrow airport fees.?!!!

You both inspire me to browse and dream, maybe for Summer 2023 back to Kenya with more family. Been trying to persuade them for years!!

Songdoc

sf7307: After 2 weeks of the British Air portions of my reservation remaining "on request," I checked into other flights and was amazed to see that a slew of Qatar Airlines flights had become available with AA FF miles. So the bad news is that I've changed my dates (to about 2 weeks later), and we won't be crossing paths. But the good news is that for 10k additional miles each, we will return NBO to LAX in Q-Suites--instead of BA Premium Economy -- and will save more than $700 in BA fees!

You might want to check if anything has opened up using Qatar.

CaliNurse: <Songdoc, don't you love those Qatar miles fares via Doha, minus the crazy Heathrow airport fees.?!!!>

YES!!! Keep working on your family!

sf7307

I'm bummed we won't get to meet up, but that's great news about the Qatar flights. We will check into them, although I have no idea where they go - we were going to fly to London, spend 3-4 weeks in Europe and then fly to NBO from London. Maybe that'll all change (we can't change our dates though -- have to be back in NY for a wedding)

Songdoc

sf7307: Sounds like you'll have to come to Kauai for us to meet up. ;-)

CaliNurse

Songdoc, did you call the AA "Award" desk for help booking your Qatar flights, or did they pop up online when you entered the route? I.e., did you see the option to fly via DOH, instead of via LHR ? Just looking ahead to booking in Fall 2022 for (fingers crossed) family trip to Kenya, Summer 2023. Thanks for the encouragement!
(If you think this AA miles question is too off topic, feel free to DM.)

I was scheduled for a then-new Q Suites flight in Feb 2019, Doha -ORD. Alas, the aircraft was changed at the last minute! Even in "old-fashioned" Int'l Business Class, the entire experience with great flight attendants, food, & comfort, was fantastic. Still...next time, I sure hope for Q Suites!

Songdoc

CaliNurse: The Qatar Air flights showed up when I entered the route. But these same flights were not showing availability with AA FF miles a few weeks earlier. I'm glad to know your had such a good experience with Qatar Air.

In some cases flights that showed availability were not available when I tried to book them. That's why I called the Gold Elite help desk. Good luck!