I've been pouting that we made a decision to stay in the states this year (only the second time in the past ten years). But when AA sent me a newsletter the other day, I started playing on line.
Booking before Feb. 18 and flying round trip anywhere and returning by May 25 you get double miles and some good fares. We're going to New York for the month of June, so I plugged in JFK to London Heathrow for two weeks in May and get a round trip fare of $402 -- including all taxes and fees. Hmmm. And that included the wonderful day flight 8:30 AM to 8:11 PM. going over. Add in getting a total of about 15,000 frequent flyer miles including the on line booking bonus, and it sure tempts me!! I started thinking a week in London and a week in Paris. But sadly, my flat I always rent in London is already taken, as well as the one in Paris, and everything I look at is SO expensive. I can't see going just to go, and sure I could find a hole in the wall, but we really don't enjoy it that much. So once I start looking at ALL the money we'd spend, particularly with all the theatre tickets, etc., guess we'll not do it. I hope someone can take advantage of some of these deals.

Incidentally, I was looking at $120 round trip from Ft. Lauderdale to New York, flying up the day before going to London, and then flying home a full month after return from London. Adding the two separate air fares together for a total of $522 was still a whole lot better than any other way I could think of doing this "double destination" trip, since most bargain fares wouldn't let us do the New York stop overs, or allow us a total of over 6 weeks.

Have you tried the airfares to Venice from JFK? I understand Giovanni has a NICE/UNDERPRICED apartment for rent during that time period. A little early morning humor from California!!! Mike

Yeah Patrick, that all sounds great, but according to many on this forum the airline miles are useless. It's a scam. Why waste your money?

I will collect a nice chunk of AA miles myself due to this double miles promo but not as many as I would like beacuse of my month long trip to NZ, Australia and Hong Kong in April. Ironically the trip was bought by those useless miles. All first class on some of the best airlines in the world.

We had bought our tickets back in October, because our two children were using frequent flyer tickets, and we had wanted absolute surety that we would be flying with them. Does AA do a price adjustment if prices have dropped?

Monique, yes they will make a price adjustment, but depending on your original ticket classification there may be a change fee that will or will not make it worthwhile. It's worth a shot. Check out online the current fare for your flights and if it is lower, call them and see.

Also, be aware that this double mileage thing is only good on roundtrip, not on open jaw flights.

AAFrequent Flyer, as you know I'll never say that those miles are worthless. I've learned to play the game and have done business class to Europe free more times than I can now remember, not to mention the trips to four destinations in Asia on one trip and to Australia and New Zealand. Those miles are pretty precious to me!!

I had no trouble using my AA ff miles to visit my son in Maui x2. Very nice to deal with.

AA=Alcoholics Anonymous?

Oops, oh yeah....some airline or other.

--Marv

Like you,Patrick, this is the first year in man years we are not going to London & Paris. The dollar is just too weak and paying "double" for just about everying (dollar vs. pound) makes for a less then thrilling vacation. We are doing a Southern Caribbean cruise in April tho, and while it is not London we hope to enjoy it !!

Hopefully someone can take advantage of AA's fares but it won't be me this year We're holding on to our BA FF miles and hope that the dollar improves a little in 2006.

I was thinking earlier this year that with the exchange rate we might see a significant enough drop in passengers on routes to London that might trigger fare sales. Then I realized that people from Britain might be more inclined to fly given that same exchange rate and replace the people from the US who have decided not to go.

When we were in London last week we actually talked to several people who told us they thought New York, and other US cities, are "expensive" to visit. Our reponse was that it couldn't get much better given the value of the Dollar vers. the Pound.

I can't see how anyone in England would think the U.S. is expensive right now since they are getting such a great exchange rate. Basically, everything is half price.

I have never let the exchange rate dictate my vacation plans. I could care less what the exchange rate is. In 10 years of travel to Europe the rate has been all over the place and every trip I've been on has been great.

I wish AA had this double mile offer when I took 4 trips in 12 months. Like Patrick, I like my FF miles - I'm planning on going later this year, will see if I can go before May.

I don't get this idea that everything in the US is half price to someone from the UK. Just because it takes two dollars (well, not even) to make a pound, for your statement to be true, then everything in the US would have to have the same "number value" as in the UK.
Just start with theatre tickets. Top price in London -- just over 45 (pounds). Top price on Broadway -- just over 100(dollars). Dollars or pounds be damned. The Broadway tickets still cost more than the London tickets no matter what currency you're looking at!

In London I get a great latte at Pret a Manger for just over 1 pound. That's less money than the almost three dollars I pay at Starbucks. So if a Brit takes his one pound that he'd spend on a latte at home and converts it to dollars, are you suggesting he can now get TWO lattes with that money? WRONG! He can't even get one!

And hotels in New York are not half price for the same quality as they are in London!! Those in Valdosta, Georgia certainly are -- but you have to compare apples to apples.

Using that theory about everything being half price, I guess when Italy still used Lira, you'd say that everything in the US cost Italians only 1/2000 as much? The dollar and the pound have NEVER been equal and there's no reason to think of them as being so.

Point taken Patrick. It would been better to have just said they are getting a better exchange rate.

Patrick - - I cannot find any reference to this promotion - - not the low fare(s) nor the double miles on aa.com and I have clicked on NetSAAver and Special Offers.

How would one price a particular set of dates?

<b>Patrick</b>,

The above reply wasn't directed at you.

<b>Rex</b>

As a valued AAdvantage(R) member who subscribes to AAirmail and/or AAdvantage eSummary, American Airlines wants to let you know about our latest great offer. Now you can earn double AAdvantage miles for round-trip travel through May 25, 2005! All you have to do is book and purchase your ticket between now and February 18.

That's right, we're talking about double miles! Anywhere we fly! Make travel plans for Valentine's Day, President's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, Easter, Passover, Mother's Day or any day in between - there's never been a more rewarding time to fly American.

Simply register using Promotion Code DBL05 at https://www.aa.com/offers and purchase a qualifying ticket on American Airlines, American Eagle(R) or AmericanConnection(R) by February 18. Then, sit back and enjoy your trip (or trips) by May 25. What can be easier than that?

And remember, you'll pay no online booking fee and earn up to 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles every time you purchase a ticket on AA.com. Visit https://www.aa.com/bonus for details.

Terms &amp; Conditions

-Registration required by midnight CST, February 18, 2005.
-Valid for round-trip travel, on all purchased, published fares, completed between February 8 and May 25, 2005 for qualifying flights booked and ticketed between February 8 and February 18, 2005.
-Offer may be earned an unlimited number of times.
-Round-trip travel is required. Round-trip travel is defined as two one-way trips, booked in a single reservation under one ticket number. The round trip must depart from and return to the same city or co-terminal.
-Open jaws and circle trips are not allowed.
-Not valid on military/government fares.
-Valid only on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection. Travel on flights operated by other airlines such as American marketed codeshare and oneworld(TM) flights does not qualify for this offer.
-Bonus miles will be posted to the account of the person traveling within 6-8 weeks after round-trip flight activity is posted to the traveler's AAdvantage account.
-Double miles will be calculated at 100% of the base or guaranteed minimum miles earned on eligible, published fares.
-Bonus miles do not count toward elite status qualification.
-This promotion may be combined with other AAdvantage bonus mile promotions.
-Offer subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Miles accrued and awards issued are subject to the rules of the AAdvantage program. Any taxes and fees associated with award travel are the responsibility of the passenger and/or the AAdvantage member.

Thank you AAFF...

AAFrequentFlyer, I knew you weren't addressing me with the worthless FF miles comment. You and I have had endless discussions of how important they are to both of us.