Best way to book an AA (US dom) flight?

[Febs]

Hi everyone,

Apologies if it's already been answered elsewhere (the stickies I looked at were all about the Plat challenge), but what's the best way to book a one-way US domestic fare on AA?

The price is cheap enough through the AA website, but I noticed there was no space to enter my QFF number. Can I add this later (and if so, do I have to call up AA)? Is there another website I should book through instead?

I know the exact flight I want to book.

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Mal]

There are two ways that I know of. One of the AA experts should be along shortly to add any more ways they know of (or corrections to my comments!)

1) Legit way:
Book the flight as a one way flight on the AA website. When you say you're in Australia then you'll be told to put the booking on hold then call AA to pay by credit card.
Find the AA number for Australia. Call it and speak to the lovely Indian call centre.
After spelling out your booking reference and address and credit card details (can be a 20 min task!) the booking will change to Australian dollars. You can tell them your Qantas details at this point and they will be entered.
Sydney AA office will charge your card and send you a confirmation receipt in the mail. (All done in Australian dollars).

Perhaps if in Syd you can visit AA's office at Mascot and sort things out there.

2) not so legit, but much simpler:
Book your flight on the AA website and pretend that you've moved to the UK for a few minutes. Pay by credit card in pounds. Your flight will be confirmed in a couple of hours, and your card charged by either the UK or Ireland offices.
Your card will be charged in Pounds, but everything will be automatic. You'll still need to call up AA and get them to apply your Qantas FF number.

Note that credit/address checks are performed somewhere around the $1000US mark (apparently) so if over that amount you will have lots of difficulties with your booking if you choose the second method.

[Febs]

There are two ways.

Thanks Mal. Very comprehensive.

I am in Sydney so I'll call them up and see if I can sort it out at Mascot tomorrow. I mean, I love Indian call centres and all, but...

Cheers,
- Febs.

[Mal]

Dave Noble is the expert when it comes to the Syd AA office, so he'll probably give some advice when he sees this thread.

But even if going in to visit them, do the booking online, then print out the "On Hold" reservation. You should be able to take that into the AA office and pay (although I have no experience with that). If you walk in and do a fresh booking, there may be additional charges.

[Dave Noble]

The Mascot office , I believe, is not set up for visitors ( unlike the old one at N Sydney )

The correct thing to do is to hold the reservation online and then just call the Indians or the UK office and pay for it; they should then be able to issue an eticket for you and add the QF FF number

The way I would do it, is as mentioned above, is to pretend that your credit card is from the UK and use a UK address online. It should work and , if it doesnt, then you can phone n do it

Dave

[JohnM]

I have just tonight booked a 4-flight AA trip for Partner JohnM over the internet using the 'UK method'. It worked a treat. I entered all real Australian home address and phone number details (including the Australian 61 prefix), but just selected UK from the country pop-up box since Australia is not listed.

In any event, I couldn't figure out how to use the 'call centre' method quoting an 'on hold' booking reference as a reference number was not generated (at least for this multi-sector booking) prior to payment.

I tried the Sydney AA 1800 number just to see if it went to India, but it's only operative during Sydney business hours.

My experience suggests forget the call centre option (subject to the fare being below the level that could trigger problems as outlined by Mal) and use the UK option .

So thanks, Mal for what was a very timely tip for me. (Moral of story: always check FF.com before attempting something a little unusual - someone out there knows a way!).

[Mal]

The thing to watch for is your reservation becoming "ticketed <Date>" when looking at the reservation online via the AA website https://www.aa.com/aa/reservation/fi...ationAccess.do (rather than just being "ticketed"). Then you'll know the booking has gone through correctly. This should happen a few hours after the booking is made.

I did post here about my wonderful experience last time I tried to do the right thing... http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/comm...kets-8415.html (Arrgh! It's painful buying tickets online!)

[Febs]

Thanks for the help Mal and Dave. I decided to go about it the slightly-more legitimate way (figured I had to call up and deal with India to get my QFF number added anyway...) Got it all sorted first go, but as expected there was lots of "SORRY SIR? COME AGAIN PLEASE SIR?"

For future flights, I'll just use the UK method. Was a little apprehensive this time.

Cheers,
- febs.

[Soundguy]

I have just tonight booked a 4-flight AA trip for Partner JohnM over the internet using the 'UK method'.

John, have you recieved a confirmation e-mail yet?

When I tried this it was knocked back (my total flight cost was about A$350, well short of $1000 that Mal mentioned). In fact they just didn't respond; I recieved no e-mail confirmation or refusal. To confirm the flight I called the UK office who said there was a problem because I had an Australian CC. They would accept an Australian CC but only with a heft extra fee per passenger.

The bottom line is that AA really doesn't want business from Australians, there is no other way to look at it. I believe they maintain a token office here primarily for the benefit of their American customers who may travel to Australia.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Why are you booking under UK option and not US?