Premium class, trans-pac, good QFF SC earn?

[TimB]

Hi,

For the past few years, my flights to/from the US have included JQ 3/4 SYD-HNL and vv. in StarClass. The appeal for me has been better than economy seating (and service, although that's debatable), business-equivalent SC earning with QFF, and not too expensive. (I then fly on to my west coast destination with Hawaiian (no SC, but a decent airline).)

I've been looking around for other options that get me out of economy, credit well in terms of SC, and don't cost too much, as I'm funding this myself. Some of the options I'm aware of are:

• via NAN with Air Pacific in J
• via HKG with Cathay in J with their current sale
• QF in PE, although it's expensive and the SCs are the same as economy; a better option if originating in the US

On the last point, if I make two trips to the US this year (as I may), I'd arrange the first trip over and last trip back to be on one return ticket, and the first trip from the US back and second trip over on a second return ticket originating in the US at the cheaper QF PE fare.

What other options are there that meet my basic needs? I'm not after detailed pricing comparisons as I'll look those up myself, but I'm just after ideas for routes/airlines/fares that I haven't thought of. I don't have a fixed budget, but some of the combinations I've looked at (which also include one side trip to Florida on a YUPP/KUPP fare) come in at under AU$8,000, and earn me close to the 1210 SCs I currently need to reach WP. Note that these aren't status runs -- I have reasons to travel to the US, but if I can combine reaching WP with more comfortable flights without spending too much then I'll be very happy.

Thanks for any ideas,

TimB

 

[Katie]

• QF in PE, although it's expensive and the SCs are the same as economy; a better option if originating in the US

QF Y+ SCs are the same as full economy, but double the SCs of discount economy. So, for Y+ last year, I got 90SCs per Aus-LAX leg vs 45 SCs per leg on previous discount economy tickets. And, IIRC, for QF anything less than a Y or B fare basis is regarded as discount economy.
Just looked at the QF SC site - only Y is regarded as full economy for international status credits.

 

[docjames]

A Oneworld "Circle Pacific" fare might be a way to go J on oneworld, and allow CX in one direction, QF in the other. You could really max the SCs that way too, and it might give some interesting options such as coming home via EZE or SCL, and would wind up cheaper than a simple J return on QF/CX in most cases....


http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-trav...or-intercontinental-fares/circle-pacific-fare

 

[TimB]

QF Y+ SCs are the same as full economy, but double the SCs of discount economy. So, for Y+ last year, I got 90SCs per Aus-LAX leg vs 45 SCs per leg on previous discount economy tickets. And, IIRC, for QF anything less than a Y or B fare basis is regarded as discount economy.
Just looked at the QF SC site - only Y is regarded as full economy for international status credits.

Thanks for pointing this out. I guess I hadn't realised that the Mileage Monkey calculator quotes discount economy SC earn rates.

This makes the idea of getting return PE fares from the US (obviously not for the first flight there) a more attractive options from an SC earn perspective.

 

[TimB]

A Oneworld "Circle Pacific" fare might be a way to go J on oneworld, and allow CX in one direction, QF in the other. You could really max the SCs that way too, and it might give some interesting options such as coming home via EZE or SCL, and would wind up cheaper than a simple J return on QF/CX in most cases....


oneworld - Circle Pacific

Thanks, I hadn't even considered these fares. It certainly provides a lot of different routing options to explore.

At the moment, with CX's current business class sale to the US (from AU$6,861), the Circle Pacific fare isn't so competitive, at $9,299 (+taxes, etc.) from Australia, or about AU$6,000 (again, plus taxes, and positioning flights) from Indonesia for the most limited, 22,000 mile option. But once the CX fare is gone (31 March, I think), this becomes more competitive.

 

[wandering_fred]

OTOH posting longhaul Y+ flights to an AA account is very rewarding full mileage and 1.5 Qpoints

I will have to consider whether I can afford to get to the USA and get a Y+ fare exUSA....... of course the question is whether I need/want to return to the USA within the 12 months.....

Fred