Urgent :) QF Status Run in US (LAX/JFK)

[pauly7]

Hi All

After reading all the recent US Status run threads with envy, my work has tossed me a last minute trip to the US which I would like to squeeze some status credits out of and get WP!

I have to nail and book this all in the next 2 days!

My schedule (work paid) is:
June 2 QF SYD - LAX in J
June X AA LAX - JFK in J (this is flexible but I need to be in NY Sunday PM at latest for Monday AM meetings)
June 8 QF JFK - SYD in J

The Mission - earn 400 sc's (excluding work paid trips above)

So I have looked at Farecompare, read through the multiple threads here. In general - seems like alot of the super cheap instant upgrades have disappeared. But still some pretty efficient ones exist.

Given the small amount of flexibility in my schedule I looked at a run out of JFK or LAX. Pretty quickly ruled out JFK, not much there - so focused on LAX.

The best I could generate were

Instant Upgrade fares:
1) LAX-DFW-RIC-DFW-RIC $1162 netting 420 sc's
2) LAX-DFW-CMH-DFW-LAX $1146 netting 420 sc's

I did look at other CA airports (Ontario, OC, San Diego) and found a few e.g:

Instant Upgrade fare:
1) SAN-DFW-BUF-DFW-SAN $789 netting 400 sc's (As DFW-BUF is only American eagle the instant upgrade fare tickets to Y instead of P {First})

....But - very annoying as couldn't get find decent prices on any carrier to get to SAN - which meant when I factored in a Y special to get me there it ended up the same price as the LAX runs, with more hassle! Bummer!

So I wanted to run this past the great minds in AFF..... I think I've found the best... given the restrictions on time I have - but MORE than happy to be proven wrong. One thing I haven't looked at as closely is a series of short hops (back and forths) from LAX.....

Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions

 

[dk4]

June X AA LAX - JFK in J (this is flexible but I need to be in NY Sunday PM at latest for Monday AM meetings)
June 8 QF JFK - SYD in J

tip 1: Do not fly non-stop in J between New York and Los Angeles (& vv), when you can connect through Dallas in F, with two AA sectors!

 

[pauly7]

tip 1: Do not fly non-stop in J between New York and Los Angeles (& vv), when you can connect through Dallas in F, with two AA sectors!

Thanks As thats one of the work sectors I'm hamstrung by our work policy, they won't even care if I save them money by not going direct....

But thanks anyway

 

[drron]

But if you go LAX-LGA you have to fly via DFW-no directs.An instant upgrade fare LAX-JFK is $1272,T0 LGA is $1275-but you will save more than that with the taxi fare.So do they say you have to fly into JFK or will LGA do.
LAX-DFW-LGA in F=240SCs
LAX-JFK in F=150 SCs.But J only 100

 

[drron]

Quick search and certainly cant quarantee the cheapest but you could do LAX-DFW-TPA-DFW-LAX on either friday 4th or saturday 5th for $US682 each way instant upgrade.Total 420SCs.First flight 0810,arrive back LAX 2300.
Just check on price + schedule.
Sorry didnt realise your examples would be done in 1 day too-though a little longer!

 

[pauly7]

But if you go LAX-LGA you have to fly via DFW-no directs.An instant upgrade fare LAX-JFK is $1272,T0 LGA is $1275-but you will save more than that with the taxi fare.So do they say you have to fly into JFK or will LGA do.
LAX-DFW-LGA in F=240SCs
LAX-JFK in F=150 SCs.But J only 100

Mmmmmm interesting... thank you

I wonder if there is a way to convince our rigid travel people to book me instant upgrade fare to LGA..... Maybe I can invent a reason, meeting someone there, closer to Manhattan (? No idea, never been to NY!)..... That would then deliver me as you point out an extra 140 SC's over LAX-JFK J that I was expecting to just be 100SC's.

Which would mean I would only need (out of my pocket) a 260 sc earner instead of a 400.

Wonder if this will actually save me much money.... off to have a look... getting a bit tired of searching!!

Thanks v much....

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I just had a quick look on AA and even the great LAX-DFW-FLL is $700-odd ONE WAY (Usually around $700 return).
Guess the problem is that your leaving it pretty late and all the fares have gone up significantly. What you have found seems to be pretty good.

 

[drron]

Mmmmmm interesting... thank you

I wonder if there is a way to convince our rigid travel people to book me instant upgrade fare to LGA..... Maybe I can invent a reason, meeting someone there, closer to Manhattan (? No idea, never been to NY!)..... That would then deliver me as you point out an extra 140 SC's over LAX-JFK J that I was expecting to just be 100SC's.

Which would mean I would only need (out of my pocket) a 260 sc earner instead of a 400.

Wonder if this will actually save me much money.... off to have a look... getting a bit tired of searching!!

Thanks v much....

Definitely LGA is closer to Manhattan than JFK.

 

[pauly7]

I think I know the answer to this one... but just confirming -
You don't earn SC's on flights operated by Alaska for American (so American flight number on your ticket)....?

Looking now for a 260SC solution

Cheers

 

[pauly7]

Definitely LGA is closer to Manhattan than JFK.

Nice, going in to bat for that flight tomorrow

Now I have to find a 260SC solution (out of LAX or potentially LGA I guess - haven't looked from there at all)

 

[drron]

OK so LAX-SFO-SEA-PDX-LAX is $US732 in F.The SEA-PDX is Horizon air so Y.SFO-SEA and PDX-LAX are on Alaska but in F and so 260 SCs.

 

[pauly7]

OK so LAX-SFO-SEA-PDX-LAX is $US732 in F.The SEA-PDX is Horizon air so Y.SFO-SEA and PDX-LAX are on Alaska but in F and so 260 SCs.

Thanks - I also found good F fares with a combo of AA and Alaska, but I'm confused - I thought that you didn't earn QF SC's on Alaska (even when it shows a AA flight number)??

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

Here it says points are not earned on codeshare Alaska flights operated by other airlines excluding Qantas....

EDIT - sorry I think I'm confusing myself, I think I should be looking at American not Alaskan.... in which case there seems to be no restrictions about the operating carrier....
In which case Alaskan is a bargain...!

 

[straitman]

I think I know the answer to this one... but just confirming -
You don't earn SC's on flights operated by Alaska for American (so American flight number on your ticket)....?

Looking now for a 260SC solution

Cheers

As you said yourself in the last post. If you book with AA and the carrier happens to be Alaska then you do earn the SC.

 

[serfty]

As I have posted - AA codeshare flight numbers on AS metal booked into F earns First class SC's.

The e-ticket shows the AA flight number but BP's shows the AS number with no reference to AA.

It also shows the booking class (F) and you can use this to access any Alaska Airline's "Boardroom" lounges before these flights.

As always, keep your e-ticket and BP's in case of any issues.