a clean canvas and ten days in US to maximise SC's

[Sprucegoose]

Guys,
here i was worrying how I would do this and I was ignoriging the wonderfully talented AFF community!!!

I will be in LAX next June, (booked JASA AKL-SYD-LAX for 84k pts).

Can anyone suggest ways to max YUPP on AA? Need to get to IAD/WAS. Happy to take a few days to get there and the way back as well.

Also a trick I picked at this site was to purchase the return (both ways) in the states as it is better value, $1.8k O/W NYC-AKL, which is great value. when should i be doing this?

Appreciate any comments and assistance guys.

SPRUCE

 

[serfty]

The USA capitol is not a cheap destination for "Instant Upgrade" first class flights. How long do you need to spend there?

 

[steptoe]

I have a quick trip to Washington in October and the best balance between price, directness and SCs for a KUPP/YUPP has me travelling ONT-DFW-BWI return. End cost was A$1256 all up and returns 420sc.
Considered other combinations but limited for time. The use of ONT and BWI have a significant price impact, but need to consider getting to and from those airports. Still worked out ok for me and allows a bit of sightseeing along the way.

 

[Sprucegoose]

The USA capitol is not a cheap destination for "Instant Upgrade" first class flights. How long do you need to spend there?

No agree with that Serfty. I can always Acela it down, quite pleasant train trip.

Spend 5-6 days, have some close friends there.

cheers

SPRUCE

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have a quick trip to Washington in October and the best balance between price, directness and SCs for a KUPP/YUPP has me travelling ONT-DFW-BWI return. End cost was A$1256 all up and returns 420sc.
Considered other combinations but limited for time. The use of ONT and BWI have a significant price impact, but need to consider getting to and from those airports. Still worked out ok for me and allows a bit of sightseeing along the way.

Yes, good call.

I will try to get destinations that give me 1200 miles, good benchmark me thinks, do you agree??

cheers

Spruce

 

[serfty]

If you can get yourself to Hawaii, Round trip Palm Beach from HNL is available for under USD1900 to earn 720SC's. Port au Prince in Haiti can earn 840 SC's for USD1350.

From LAX, FLL is relatively inexpensive, but look to the Caribbean.

Discounted First Class and Flyer Talk Fares

 

[hollydavid69]

Hey Serfty, i'm stumped.

I've spent 1/2 a hour on this in front of the tv & can't work it out :!:
How does a trip to Port Au Prince net one 840 sc's .

 

[drewbles]

Hey Serfty, i'm stumped.

I've spent 1/2 a hour on this in front of the tv & can't work it out :!:
How does a trip to Port Au Prince net one 840 sc's .

Port Au Prince is not the only Caribbean destination they fly to. They also do BGI and AUA, as well as some other places. Keep hunting

 

[notzac]

By several reports, Port au Prince is still not the most stable of destinations (example ref: Travel Advice for Haiti - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), so you might want to carefully consider whether one of the other Caribbean destinations served by AA might not be a better idea..

 

[Will]

Costa Rica is lovely this time of year

 

[serfty]

HNL-(A,150)-xLAX-(A,120)-xDFW-(A, 90)-xMIA-(I,60)-PAP vv

For each Segment: (<class>,<SC earned>)

PAP is ~USD300 less expensive than other Caribbean options - understandably so.

For another option, Port of Spain (TT) can earn 880 SC's for USD1615:

HNL-(A,150)-xLAX-(A,120)-xDFW-(A, 90)-xMIA-(I,80)-POS vv

 

[11sjw]

HNL-(A,150)-xLAX-(A,120)-xDFW-(A, 90)-xMIA-(I,60)-PAP vv

For each Segment: (<class>,<SC earned>)

PAP is ~USD300 less expensive than other Caribbean options - understandably so.

For another option, Port of Spain (TT) can earn 880 SC's for USD1615:

HNL-(A,150)-xLAX-(A,120)-xDFW-(A, 90)-xMIA-(I,80)-POS vv

Through the AA website on a Kup fare?

 

[serfty]

Through the AA website on a Kup fare?

Yessireee ...

 

[Bundy Bear]

Guys,
here i was worrying how I would do this and I was ignoriging the wonderfully talented AFF community!!!

I will be in LAX next June, (booked JASA AKL-SYD-LAX for 84k pts).

Can anyone suggest ways to max YUPP on AA? Need to get to IAD/WAS. Happy to take a few days to get there and the way back as well.

Also a trick I picked at this site was to purchase the return (both ways) in the states as it is better value, $1.8k O/W NYC-AKL, which is great value. when should i be doing this?

Appreciate any comments and assistance guys.

SPRUCE

I think doing this simplest and easiest flights would be best.



LAX-DFW-BWI-BWI-DFW-LAX for 480SCs &

AUD $ 1983.50


Just need to pick the flights that go via Dallas as the flights via Chicago are RJs ORD-BWI.

Flying to IAD doesn't work as well as DFW-IAD is just under the 1200 miles.

The MARC train from BWI to Washington Union Station is around $9.00, Union Station is part of the Washington Metro so you can then get around cheaply.

There is a flight that departs 13:25pm arrive into Los Angeles at 6:00pm and then only 4 hours to your connecting flight back to Australia.

I can understand trying to maximize the status credits but if you are trying to reach platinum in one trip than what is the point.

 

[dede]

I must keep some of this info handy for my trip later this year!

 

[hollydavid69]

I actually found it , i'm in a state of shock at present, for me Yup fares were like Big Foot,
everybody's talkin about them, but i could never see em / find it .

Here's my next question: How do you work out how many status credits you get for flying to
those destinations on AA, given that Qantas doesn't fly to PAP for example ?


AMERICAN AIRLINES
270
HNL Honolulu
Aug 22, 2010
07:15 AM
LAX Los Angeles
Aug 22, 2010
03:45 PM
757
First
A
MODIFY

AMERICAN AIRLINES
1214
LAX Los Angeles
Aug 22, 2010
08:50 PM
MIA Miami
Aug 23, 2010
04:55 AM
738
First
A

AMERICAN AIRLINES
377
MIA Miami
Aug 23, 2010
07:00 AM
PAP Port Au Prince
Aug 23, 2010
08:05 AM
757
Business
I

AMERICAN AIRLINES
896
PAP Port Au Prince
Aug 24, 2010
02:00 PM
JFK New York
Aug 24, 2010
07:15 PM
763
Business
I
MODIFY

AMERICAN AIRLINES
185
JFK New York
Aug 24, 2010
08:55 PM
LAX Los Angeles
Aug 24, 2010
11:59 PM
762
First
A

AMERICAN AIRLINES
283
LAX Los Angeles
Aug 25, 2010
10:10 AM
HNL Honolulu
Aug 25, 2010
12:50 PM
757
First
A

Fare Summary

?

Average Fare per Person: Departure - 613.00 USD Return - 613.00 USD Passenger Type Used in Pricing Adult Departure Fare per Person 613.00 USD Return Fare per Person 613.00 USD Total Fare per Person 1226.00 USD
Additional Taxes and Fees per Person * 105.80 USD Total Price 1331.80 USD

 

[Danger]

Here's my next question: How do you work out how many status credits you get for flying to those destinations on AA, given that Qantas doesn't fly to PAP for example ?

This is by far the easy part.

1. Plug your route into Great Circle Mapper.
2. Refer to the Qantas website here for information on the points earning for AA booking classes (eg. A class earns 1.5 QFF points per mile (excluding any QF status bonus)).
3. Then go to the SC section of the QF website here and find the corresponding earning.

So, for example, using Great Circle Mapper, HNL-LAX is 2556 miles (step 1). You are booked into A class which is first class earning for AA (step 2). The SC table shows that you'll earn 150 SCs for this sector (step 3).

 

[hollydavid69]

Cheers for that Danger, that actually make's sense .

 

[moa999]

Or even easier,

plug the flights into Mileage Monkey
MileageMonkey 0.95022

Put them in the OneWorld Explorer Validator field (ticking ignore errors).
Table down the bottom - just pick the class and add.

I get 710 SCs for that routing (assuming JFK-LAX is F as shown in the above)

 

[serfty]

...
I get 710 SCs for that routing (assuming JFK-LAX is F as shown in the above)

Yup, routing via DFW both ways is not there, so less SC's.

For more advice see these threads:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...m/maximising-status-credits-in-usa-22776.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...er-program/help-qf-mileage-run-usa-24158.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-program/help-maximise-scs-syd-lax-24284.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ning-platinum-status-what-quickest-19802.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/aa-yup-fares-12809.html