Help with new AAdvantage CC?

[Birdie dog]

I posted these questions on the "I love credit cards thread" but with the pace of the thread, very few of my questions were answered. Help please, if you can.

Last month, I was flying home from St Thomas on AA and they pitched the AAdvantage card (Barclay card) on my flight. The promo included 60,000 miles, a companion pass, free luggage, and priority boarding. I applied, was approved, and received my card. I've used it (for my post TA cruise hotel in Barcelona next year) and will pay my balance in full when the bill arrives.

Here are my questions. How do I use my companion pass? And, how do I make sure I get free luggage? I'm buying AA flights from my home to Miami the night before the TA cruise and then I'll be flying Boston to home after the cruise. I can do both of these flights on American (as a matter of fact, the Miami flight is the only one I'd consider). I want to make sure I get the free checked bags because although I usually try to travel with a carry on, for this trip, I'll be bringing more things. And I actually want to book one of the flights with my capital one card, because I have enough points to get it for free. I was told to enter my AA number, but as far as I know I don't have one.

Also, I'm assuming once I pay my CC bill my 60,000 points will show up?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[gottalovepluto]

On your statement it will show how many bonus points you earned. A couple days after your statement posts you will see points show in your AA account. Since you have to pay your annual fee to get these bonus I would watch for the bonus AA miles to post in the following statement or the one after that.

The details I read on the $99 companion ticket are that they will issue you a certificate for it in 8-10 weeks after you meet the qualifications https://www.barclaycardus.com/applycontent/TnCs.jsp?tc41494 I assume that will include redemption instructions.

As long as the AA account number with Barclays matches the AA account number you use when flying you'll get free luggage automatically. It does not matter how you book your trip, just that you use your AA number that is linked to your AA credit card. I do believe it requires a week to activate so hopefully you aren't looking to travel in the next week.

Since you signed up for the Barclays card without an AA number it should have automatically generated one for you. Use that number to sign up for online access to your AA account. I would start here https://www.aa.com/loyalty/needPasswordAccess and see if it will help you set up a profile without making a new AA number for you. (If you find yourself accidentally creating a new AA number call AA and tell them. They can merge the accounts and tell them you want it under the AA number Barclays generated for you.)

Edit to add: the miles you earn on your credit card are posted to your AA account. I just want to make sure you're clear on that part as sometimes people worry that cancelling a credit card will make them lose their miles. This is not the case. The miles are in your AA account, not your Barclays account. (I know you're not looking to cancel because you obviously intend to use the cards other benefits, but fyi.)

 

[Birdie dog]

Thank you!

 

[adamak]

Not sure about the pass. As for free luggage, your AA# is attached to your cc. So whenever you buy AA tix, the system knows you're a cc owner and will give you priority boarding and free luggage.

 

[PHXscuba]

Worst case, if you have the credit card with you at the airport, you can show it to have the luggage fees waived.

PHXscuba

 

[smmco]

I posted these questions on the "I love credit cards thread" but with the pace of the thread, very few of my questions were answered. Help please, if you can.

Last month, I was flying home from St Thomas on AA and they pitched the AAdvantage card (Barclay card) on my flight. The promo included 60,000 miles, a companion pass, free luggage, and priority boarding. I applied, was approved, and received my card. I've used it (for my post TA cruise hotel in Barcelona next year) and will pay my balance in full when the bill arrives.

Here are my questions. How do I use my companion pass? And, how do I make sure I get free luggage? I'm buying AA flights from my home to Miami the night before the TA cruise and then I'll be flying Boston to home after the cruise. I can do both of these flights on American (as a matter of fact, the Miami flight is the only one I'd consider). I want to make sure I get the free checked bags because although I usually try to travel with a carry on, for this trip, I'll be bringing more things. And I actually want to book one of the flights with my capital one card, because I have enough points to get it for free. I was told to enter my AA number, but as far as I know I don't have one.

Also, I'm assuming once I pay my CC bill my 60,000 points will show up?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

It's a great thread, but yes a lot of questions go un-answered including mine. Like pp said as long as you have the card your fine.

 

[Birdie dog]

Another question (or questions) for you knowledgable people. I have three tickets to buy next year (x 2). I have Capital One rewards avilable as well as the 60,000 AA points and the companion pass.

First question, can I use the companion pass for a flight I pay for with points?

The three tickets I need to buy are CHS-STT (most expensive) CHS to MIA $171 pp and finally BOS- CHS cheap. I think $120 per person.

I could buy the CHS to Mia tickets with my Capital One points plus $150 (for two people main cabin). Do I pay $ or do I use the Capital One points to pick up the Bos-CHS flights with only fees. I plan on using AA points for one of the shorter less expensive flights and another 30,000 for CHS - STT (and I'm hoping I can use my companion pass for this flight).

I'd love advice.

 

[Ngwira]

On your statement it will show how many bonus points you earned. A couple days after your statement posts you will see points show in your AA account. Since you have to pay your annual fee to get these bonus I would watch for the bonus AA miles to post in the following statement or the one after that.

The details I read on the $99 companion ticket are that they will issue you a certificate for it in 8-10 weeks after you meet the qualifications https://www.barclaycardus.com/applycontent/TnCs.jsp?tc41494 I assume that will include redemption instructions.

As long as the AA account number with Barclays matches the AA account number you use when flying you'll get free luggage automatically. It does not matter how you book your trip, just that you use your AA number that is linked to your AA credit card. I do believe it requires a week to activate so hopefully you aren't looking to travel in the next week.

Since you signed up for the Barclays card without an AA number it should have automatically generated one for you. Use that number to sign up for online access to your AA account. I would start here https://www.aa.com/loyalty/needPasswordAccess and see if it will help you set up a profile without making a new AA number for you. (If you find yourself accidentally creating a new AA number call AA and tell them. They can merge the accounts and tell them you want it under the AA number Barclays generated for you.)

Edit to add: the miles you earn on your credit card are posted to your AA account. I just want to make sure you're clear on that part as sometimes people worry that cancelling a credit card will make them lose their miles. This is not the case. The miles are in your AA account, not your Barclays account. (I know you're not looking to cancel because you obviously intend to use the cards other benefits, but fyi.)

The credit card is attached to your advantage number. As long as you book the ticket with your advantage number it will automatically give you the free bags. You may have to see a customer service rep to do so but it’s linked to your profile.

 

[kandb]

I have Barclays for JetBlue and just wanted to mention because it's probably the same for AA. JetBlue gives you free baggage for the cardholder and for 3 others just as long as their ticket was purchased with the JetBlue cc. When you book your fare, book saying 0 luggage and at the end it will automatically give you a free checked luggage. The first time I booked, I picked the fare that included 1 checked luggage (which is obviously higher), thinking it would take the extra fee off and it did not. I called and they said always book with NO luggage and it gives you the free checked luggage when it recognizes your credit card. Hope that makes sense. Lol

 

[gottalovepluto]

The credit card is attached to your advantage number. As long as you book the ticket with your advantage number it will automatically give you the free bags. You may have to see a customer service rep to do so but it’s linked to your profile.

I clarified it for OP in case they accidentally ended up with 2 Advantage numbers. Happened to me when I got my first AA card and the phone rep was quick to fix it so I know it’s a fairly common issue.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have Barclays for JetBlue and just wanted to mention because it's probably the same for AA. JetBlue gives you free baggage for the cardholder and for 3 others just as long as their ticket was purchased with the JetBlue cc. When you book your fare, book saying 0 luggage and at the end it will automatically give you a free checked luggage. The first time I booked, I picked the fare that included 1 checked luggage (which is obviously higher), thinking it would take the extra fee off and it did not. I called and they said always book with NO luggage and it gives you the free checked luggage when it recognizes your credit card. Hope that makes sense. Lol

Don’t go by one airlines rules for another when it comes to credit card free bags. There are quirks to each program that are card and airline specific.

 

[kandb]

Don’t go by one airlines rules for another when it comes to credit card free bags. There are quirks to each program that are card and airline specific.

I said it was "probably" the same. I just wanted to make them aware that it has to be booked a certain way. I booked it incorrectly and I had to call and it took a while for them to have to change the reservation.

 

[miztressuz]

Another question (or questions) for you knowledgable people. I have three tickets to buy next year (x 2). I have Capital One rewards avilable as well as the 60,000 AA points and the companion pass.

First question, can I use the companion pass for a flight I pay for with points?

The three tickets I need to buy are CHS-STT (most expensive) CHS to MIA $171 pp and finally BOS- CHS cheap. I think $120 per person.

I could buy the CHS to Mia tickets with my Capital One points plus $150 (for two people main cabin). Do I pay $ or do I use the Capital One points to pick up the Bos-CHS flights with only fees. I plan on using AA points for one of the shorter less expensive flights and another 30,000 for CHS - STT (and I'm hoping I can use my companion pass for this flight).

I'd love advice.

If you haven't found it yet, this seems like a comprehensive post about using the AA companion pass - https://www.middleagemiles.com/2019...now-about-barclays-aa-companion-certificates/

I don't think you can pay for the flight with points and use the companion pass. Every article I find says "purchase" a fare, or a "paid fare" and usually when redeeming miles it's not referred to as a purchase of airfare. You can call the group that actually books the companion certificates and double check.

 

[DisneyEater]

This was a few years ago, but I have the AA Barclay card and was told if I don't pay for the trip with that card (even if just the taxes and fees part), I don't get the free bag. Just my experience. Don't know if it changed or if I was misinformed.

 

[miztressuz]

This was a few years ago, but I have the AA Barclay card and was told if I don't pay for the trip with that card (even if just the taxes and fees part), I don't get the free bag. Just my experience. Don't know if it changed or if I was misinformed.

If it was the case before, it's not for cards issued now. Now it's linked to your AA account that you have the card and the baggage credit. From the current terms "For this benefit to apply, the Card Account must be open 7 days prior to air travel, and the reservation must include the primary cardmember’s AAdvantage® Account number 7 days prior to air travel. If your Card Account is closed for any reason, these benefits will be canceled... " and basically that's it. No mention of having to use the card, which matches what happens in practice from the reports I've read.

I'd double check on your account, hopefully you were just misinformed at the time.