Buying fiance's ticket with airline miles

[Bayareaguy 156]

To add to the above info on AA mileage flights out of Manila...

Photocopies of the passports were acceptable to purchase tickets.

AA seems to stick to the often cited, but not universally followed, "law" about outgoing flights needing to be purchased in person, not online or on the phone. Whether it is really a law or not, AA definitely follows it as if it is.

Good thing about using mileage for a flight: you can change your reservation without any fee. So it actually is very little risk (well, sort of, see below) to make a reservation before the visa is issued. And I would actually recommend making your reservation early, as there were not a lot of flights to choose from. It would probably be easier for a single traveler I'm guessing, as at time I looked for a flight for 3 (her and her boys), there was only one flight in a whole month+ of time I looked (from Aug 21-the end of september), so that is why I booked it even before we got the visa, supposedly a "safe" 3 weeks after the interview (though we now know that is not the case for some ).

Not so good thing: you can not just change it to any available flight, only to another mileage award flight, which are limited as I previously mentioned.

Not so good thing #2: While it's free to change the flight to another mileage award flight, remember that they require you to purchase the ticket (pay the taxes/fees on the award ticket) in person in the Philippines at their office in Manila...so, if you are in or near Manila, then it isn't much of an issue. If you are on another island, then it is going to be an added cost to get to manila to 1: get the refunded taxes/fees for the original ticket, then turn around and 2: pay the taxes/fees on the replacement tickets. Yes, they won't let you do that over the phone. The replacement tickets must be purchased within 5 working days of you reserving the new flight, so it isn't like you can just wait until right before the day of the flight to do this (unless of course your flight is going to be soon). I'm not sure if someone other than the ticketed person can do this, you might check if someone can do this for you if you have someone trustworthy in Manila.

When I called the other day to change the flight, there was nothing available until the end of October...so I just called everyday until something opened up in mid september...which I'm hoping we will have the visa by then. So, we are in essence risking the cost of the flight to manila and back to accomplish the "refund/buy new tickets" dance, which is around the same cost as changing purchased tickets on some airlines...and still way under the cost of buying 3 oneway tickets without mileage.

So, if you are in the Manila area and are considering using AA milage to get tickets, it is going to be pretty low risk, even if you need to change for any reason (and you have up to a calendar year to change flights). If you are not near Manila, then you should keep in mind the fact you need to show up at the office to get the tickets, but it is still a reasonable deal, if you have the mileage.

[mztreiz 0]

UNITED AIRLINES is much easier it seems................

Esp. since they allowed ONE WAY trips 3-yrs ago.... does USEM or NAIA airport give any problems on this if I am booked on a reward ticket US-bound?

[Travelpro 3]

3. Your fiance will go to the AA office from this link and pay the fees and taxes and get the ticket issued (not the boarding pass). You need to have your passports (we are going to try photocopies since the embassy will have her passports at the time). Office is located:

I didn't think about that. Thank you for posting. I have to consider the fact that she will give up her passport for a short period.

[Bayareaguy 156]

I didn't think about that. Thank you for posting. I have to consider the fact that she will give up her passport for a short period.

Photocopies were acceptable.

[Travelpro 3]

I have been flying to the Philippines for years exclusively on AAdvantage miles. It seems you know well to keep calling. No seats are available one minute then open up later the same day. I can also tell for with certainty that award seats open up a few days before departure. Lets say you want to depart Manila on the 15th of the month but your ticket is for the 20th. Start calling multiple times p/day the week before your idea; departure (in this case around the 8th). You have a very good chance to change the flight 1-2 days prior to your ideal departure date. BUT as you pointed out, you need to be in Manila to exchange the ticket. Also being that you need 3 seats, make it more difficult.

You may already know but you can also change the airline. Say your ticket is on Cathay and a better schedule on JAL opens up. No problem to switch.

[waraywarayako 4]

Does anybody tried to email American airlines office in Manila? I tried emailing (salessupport@aamnl.ph)

but it's not working...however the number existed.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

waraywarayako, on 15 May 2014 - 02:07 AM, said:waraywarayako, on 15 May 2014 - 02:07 AM, said:

Does anybody tried to email American airlines office in Manila? I tried emailing (salessupport@aamnl.ph)

but it's not working...however the number existed.

I've searched and couldn't find a email address. I do have other contact information but it is the same as you have found in this thread.

Manila Airesources, Inc (GSA)

Lower Lobby, Century Park Hotel

P. Ocampo St., Malate, Metro Manila

Philippines

Phone: +(632) 524 8625

Fax: +(632) 400 5988

Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Closed Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

Please conduct ticketing transactions at this facility because airport ticketing is not available.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Greenbaum