Public Service Announcement: No frequent flier miles with Qantas's Aussie Airpass
 

I learned the hard way, AFTER I travelled, that I would not earn any AAdvantage miles for my recent trip to and from Australia using my Aussie Airpass, bought from Qantas after I'd been told that I'd earn miles when I bought it. They even told me I would earn miles when I checked in. Now I'm back and no miles.

If you were told twice that you would earn points, could it be that there is an input error and they simply haven't been credited to your account? Perhaps it may be worthwhile to call AAdvantage admin.

I called American. There was no error. The flight was a "Q" code flight and those flights simply do not earn miles on AA.

Both the Qantas Vacations travel agent and the Qantas desk clerks told me I could earn miles.

I called Qantas Vacations yesterday and spoke with the manager ther. Even he didn't realize that I could not earn miles for those flights. Then, I learned that Qantas Vacations is an independent company and not connected to Qantas airlines anymore. So I doubt I will get anything but I'm hoping. The manager was extremely apologetic and friendly.

Hi Puttakka,

If the Qantas Vacations agent told you that you'd earn miles, and you booked the trip thru him/her, I'm assuming that you have the name of the agent.

This could be a completely honest mistake on the agent's part, because their job is to assist you with your Qantas vacation - it doesn't mean that they are up Qantas' partners (American, Alaska Air...)frequent flyer plans! Especially not the way these airlines CHANGE them all the time. (this is the reason I have my clients call the airline direct).

Of course you had no way of knowing the Qantas Vacations isn't really Qantas airlines.

So, what I'd advise you to try is going back to the agent who's name is on your confirmation; if there is no name, call Qantas Vacations, give them your Confirmation number and ask who your agent was.

Then "refresh" their memory about your conversation and explain that you're being denied mileage.

Now, at this point, there may be nothing that can be done since you're looking for AA miles - BUT, perhaps they could at least credit you miles on Qantas???

Better than nothing!

Hope this is helpful -- let us know!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Common occurrence, happened to me, and to others I know. The little secret ingredient is the letter code of the type of fare, and we all learn the hard way not to trust anyone, working for the airline, directly or indirectly, or not - verify the fare letter code and check against FF miles schedules posted on website.

Easier said than done, until you get caught you don't know or don't think it really matters, but it does.

Basically, anytime a "special" is on or even just a really good offer, suspect that you may not get FF miles, or only a percentage.

For example, the two-for-one that Qantas had going a couple of weeks ago (I posted a heads-up at the time, and I booked it), for travel between Feb and April 09, yields 50 percent of miles. Not bad, but it took some doing to find out.

Thanks to puttakka for highlighting this!

They were extremely friendly and issued me an apology. Still mad though because the apology gets me nothing.