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« Last edited by DoreshEmes on April 11, 2019, 03:54:27 AM »

Author Topic: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!  (Read 1737754 times)

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: canceled united flight
« Reply #8540 on: March 18, 2018, 10:51:06 PM »
Ah ok. Didn't understand. Though I still don't think, that diversion required more than $200 compensation (though definitely would be decent of them). As it was an emergency landing and, as was pointed out here, the bus is the regular route from that airport...
And if you book J and the regular route has Y, is that not a botch of they put you on that?
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Offline smart man

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Re: canceled united flight
« Reply #8541 on: March 18, 2018, 10:55:37 PM »
And if you book J and the regular route has Y, is that not a botch?
If it's an emergency landing you can't demand that they get you back in J. It's definitely a botch but not any more than not getting you to the destination in time. If it's something beyond the airline's control then they shouldn't be responsible. So in a way back to your screen scenario, I would understand why they would give more compensation, as that was completely the airlines fault. So I'm not convinced their compensation numbers are messed up.

Offline elihak7

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Re: canceled united flight
« Reply #8542 on: March 19, 2018, 12:07:52 AM »
So bottom line how can I get back the most?

Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8543 on: March 19, 2018, 03:17:35 PM »
I'm looking to go to Arizona over Memorial Day weekend. Is it too late to sign up for credit cards to get there on points? Meaning, do the points post before the three or so month period in which you can take advantage of the sign up bonus?

I posted this question about a month ago and based on the responses it seemed like it was doable. However, when I looked at flight availability, there was barely anything using Avios. Is this generally the case around holidays? Is there a better option for booking around holidays with points?

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8544 on: March 19, 2018, 03:27:30 PM »
I posted this question about a month ago and based on the responses it seemed like it was doable. However, when I looked at flight availability, there was barely anything using Avios. Is this generally the case around holidays? Is there a better option for booking around holidays with points?
I assume you are looking to fly from somewhere in the US, and you want to use avios to fly on AA. Their award availability has been pretty terrible lately, so unless you are booking well in advance, the chances of finding saver awards is pretty slim

Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8545 on: March 19, 2018, 04:26:52 PM »
I assume you are looking to fly from somewhere in the US, and you want to use avios to fly on AA. Their award availability has been pretty terrible lately, so unless you are booking well in advance, the chances of finding saver awards is pretty slim

Thanks for your response! It won't help me this time around but what generally has availability for flights booked close to the travel date?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8546 on: March 19, 2018, 04:29:45 PM »
Thanks for your response! It won't help me this time around but what generally has availability for flights booked close to the travel date?
AA and UA both often have availability close in but it's completely hit or miss. Holidays and weekends both make availability scarcer, put that together and you're usually going to be out of luck.
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Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8547 on: March 19, 2018, 04:30:37 PM »
AA and UA both often have availability close in but it's completely hit or miss. Holidays and weekends both make availability scarcer, put that together and you're usually going to be out of luck.
I think you should add that if she's looking to get a credit card for this, UA expanded availability could help a lot
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Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8548 on: March 19, 2018, 04:32:31 PM »
I think you should add that if she's looking to get a credit card for this, UA expanded availability could help a lot

What's the UA expanded availability? I'd aim for my next trip to be Thanksgiving but don't want to bother signing up for cards if I won't be able to use the points when I want them anyways.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8549 on: March 19, 2018, 04:34:13 PM »
What's the UA expanded availability? I'd aim for my next trip to be Thanksgiving but don't want to bother signing up for cards if I won't be able to use the points when I want them anyways.
UA card holders show more saver award availability, which can help for bookings closer to your travel date
I'd like to add that signing up for a hybrid point earning card like a Chase UR card, or Amex MR card always gives more options with its transfer partners
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Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8550 on: March 19, 2018, 04:38:12 PM »
UA card holders show more saver award availability, which can help for bookings closer to your travel date
I'd like to add that signing up for a hybrid point earning card like a Chase UR card, or Amex MR card always gives more options with its transfer partners

In your experience, does this include around holiday time?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8551 on: March 19, 2018, 04:40:38 PM »
In your experience, does this include around holiday time?
The answer is yes, the question is just how much.
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Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8552 on: March 19, 2018, 04:45:20 PM »
The answer is yes, the question is just how much.

Ok, then I have two more questions:
1. Which card would you suggest for maximizing points while maintaining some degree of flexibility?
2. Are cancellation policies for reward flights similar to paid ones? Meaning only 24 hrs?

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8553 on: March 19, 2018, 04:50:43 PM »
Ok, then I have two more questions:
1. Which card would you suggest for maximizing points while maintaining some degree of flexibility?
2. Are cancellation policies for reward flights similar to paid ones? Meaning only 24 hrs?

Best cancellation policy (for the casual flyer) is using Avios for AA flights (when you can find them). You can cancel up to 24 hrs before the flight, and get back all your miles, but you forfeit the tax (~$5.00 on domestic flights)  Thats whats great about Avios.

And with Southwest, points booking can be cancelled with a full refund up to 10 minutes before the flight.

^^^

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8554 on: March 19, 2018, 04:51:53 PM »
Best cancellation policy (for the casual flyer) is using Avios for AA flights (when you can find them). You can cancel up to 24 hrs before the flight, and get back all your miles, but you forfeit the tax (~$5.00 on domestic flights)  Thats whats great about Avios.

Wow! If only there was availability  :)

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8555 on: March 19, 2018, 04:52:05 PM »
Best cancellation policy (for the casual flyer) is using Avios for AA flights (when you can find them). You can cancel up to 24 hrs before the flight, and get back all your miles, but you forfeit the tax (~$5.00 on domestic flights)  Thats whats great about Avios.
There is also Southwest that gives you up to 10 minutes before the flight which may be a good idea to apply for two of them and earn a Companion Pass
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Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8556 on: March 19, 2018, 04:56:43 PM »
There is also Southwest that gives you up to 10 minutes before the flight which may be a good idea to apply for two of them and earn a Companion Pass

Sorry for my ignorance, but two separate cards?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8557 on: March 19, 2018, 05:04:20 PM »
Sorry for my ignorance, but two separate cards?
With the sign up bonuses is being between 40K and 60k you will need to get 2 sign up bonuses and some to earn a Companion Pass which needs a 110k annual points
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Offline Esther

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8558 on: March 19, 2018, 05:08:18 PM »
With the sign up bonuses is being between 40K and 60k you will need to get 2 sign up bonuses and some to earn a Companion Pass which needs a 110k annual points

I'm going to look more into this. Thank you so much!

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #8559 on: March 20, 2018, 12:23:31 AM »
In your experience, does this include around holiday time?

I used to travel a lot, I used to find availablelty on EWR-TLV route, J class Saver award. On the  busiest travel dates
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