YUPP runs - what's a reasonable safe connection time?

[beardoc]

I'm going to be doing my first ever US YUPP/KUPP SC run - and entertaining a lot of options, but I note that a lot of the time, the AA website gives me connection times on multi-flight itineraries with connection times of 40-50 minutes. I doubt that's enough to be safe.

As a general rule on KUPP/YUPP fares (or generally), what is the generally accepted minimum connection time for flights within the US?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'm going to be doing my first ever US YUPP/KUPP SC run - and entertaining a lot of options, but I note that a lot of the time, the AA website gives me connection times on multi-flight itineraries with connection times of 40-50 minutes. I doubt that's enough to be safe.

As a general rule on KUPP/YUPP fares (or generally), what is the generally accepted minimum connection time for flights within the US?

If it's the same ticket then the minimum bookable is 30 minutes... they'll put you on the next flight if you miss etc anyway. And if you're re-routed you simply claim for original routing credit. Either way it's no drama

If it's on different tickets then I would be making it 90min++, but that's Mr Paranoid_Rift for you

 

[Sprucegoose]

If it's the same ticket then the minimum bookable is 30 minutes... they'll put you on the next flight if you miss etc anyway. And if you're re-routed you simply claim for original routing credit. Either way it's no drama

If it's on different tickets then I would be making it 90min++, but that's Mr Paranoid_Rift for you

Mr experienced Riff.....

 

[beardoc]

If it's the same ticket then the minimum bookable is 30 minutes... they'll put you on the next flight if you miss etc anyway. And if you're re-routed you simply claim for original routing credit. Either way it's no drama

If it's on different tickets then I would be making it 90min++, but that's Mr Paranoid_Rift for you

Wow - so you can get bumped back to economy, but still get the first class status credits, right? How does this work in practice? Does it happen automatically, or does QANTAS have to be prodded to credit correctly?

 

[dede]

Wow - so you can get bumped back to economy, but still get the first class status credits, right? How does this work in practice? Does it happen automatically, or does QANTAS have to be prodded to credit correctly?

Usually you have to contact Qantas but it's a very easy process. Just send them a copy of the original itinerary and a copy of the boarding passes from the actual flight and they will give you status credits for the class originally BOOKED (as per their T&Cs)

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If it's the same ticket then the minimum bookable is 30 minutes... they'll put you on the next flight if you miss etc anyway. And if you're re-routed you simply claim for original routing credit. Either way it's no drama

If it's on different tickets then I would be making it 90min++, but that's Mr Paranoid_Rift for you

MCT is not a fixed figure. It varies depending on the airport. If it is allowed to be ticketed by AA in a booking the MCT has been met, there is automatic checks in place in the reservation systems to ensure this. You will be protected. If you don't feel comfortable just get the next later flight.

 

[11sjw]

Usually you have to contact Qantas but it's a very easy process. Just send them a copy of the original itinerary and a copy of the boarding passes from the actual flight and they will give you status credits for the class originally BOOKED (as per their T&Cs)

Very handy info there.

To the OP, will you knock up a trip report when you're done?

Cheers

 

[drewbles]

Wow - so you can get bumped back to economy, but still get the first class status credits, right? How does this work in practice? Does it happen automatically, or does QANTAS have to be prodded to credit correctly?

Usually you have to contact Qantas but it's a very easy process. Just send them a copy of the original itinerary and a copy of the boarding passes from the actual flight and they will give you status credits for the class originally BOOKED (as per their T&Cs)

Not so. You will only earn SC's for *travelled* class in this case.

Where you're booked into A, P or K fares, and you accept a route in Economy, QF will only credit you with full-fare economy points and SC's.

You can of course opt to wait until a flight with availability becomes available. I've had a few missed connections on YUP/KUP fares, and have had no problems being accommodated into F on the next flight.

Keep in mind also the time of year you do your run makes a difference. If going anywhere near the east coast, avoid winter. Airports over there have notoriously long delays.

Of course if you're booked into full F, you'll have no problem.

This is the dilemma with YUP/KUP fares. If you're taking the flight in Economy, QF will only give you Economy SC's

YUPP/KUPP fares are full-fare economy tickets that 'instantly upgrade' to F, based on availability being there at time of booking. They are in essence still Economy fares.

You can apply for "ORC" (Original Routing Credit) where you have been involuntarily re-routed via another path. This only applies to re-routing, not cabin downgrading.

 

[serfty]

Strive for 2 hours minimum, even when on the same ticket ... oh and a subscription to E/F or KVS is very handy.

Of course, 2 hours is not always possible.

Last year I was travelling LAX-xPHX-xCLT-FLL. When I go to PHX, the PHX-CLT flight was canceled. I was rebooked on a red-eye with no seat allocation and likely to travel in economy.

I used E/F to ascertain A class availability onr a PHX-xSAN-CLT re route. Went to the desk and they happily re-routed me.

I'm currently in LAX waiting for a red-eye to BOS. Due to weather(snow!) my 6am BOS-MIA flight was cancelled and using E/F was able to ascertain a workable reschedule.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Usually you have to contact Qantas but it's a very easy process. Just send them a copy of the original itinerary and a copy of the boarding passes from the actual flight and they will give you status credits for the class originally BOOKED (as per their T&Cs)

These days just ring up or drop an email, and it just happens. Even call me out of courtesy.

How's mum?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If you want a review of an AA status run check my blog:

Dazz81 Planes and Travel Blog

warning, its very long! start at chapter 1 if you want the story in sequence.

 

[beardoc]

I'm a little confused - different people are saying different things ("if you get bumped to Y, you get the SCs per the original booking" vs "you get Y SCs if you get bumped to Y.

Does that suggest QANTAS is inconsistent in applying these?

 

[drewbles]

I'm a little confused - different people are saying different things ("if you get bumped to Y, you get the SCs per the original booking" vs "you get Y SCs if you get bumped to Y.

Does that suggest QANTAS is inconsistent in applying these?

No. Qantas are 100% consistent. These are instant-upgrade economy fares.

If you do not travel in in First, your booking class reflects this, and when it's passed onto Qantas, it credits as the fare basis for the class you travelled in.

If you are on a YUPP or KUPP fare, and travel in Economy rather than First, you will only earn Economy SC's and points. QF will not waiver on this.

 

[dede]

No. Qantas are 100% consistent. These are instant-upgrade economy fares.

If you do not travel in in First, your booking class reflects this, and when it's passed onto Qantas, it credits as the fare basis for the class you travelled in.

If you are on a YUPP or KUPP fare, and travel in Economy rather than First, you will only earn Economy SC's and points. QF will not waiver on this.

That's not what happened to me. I was bumped to Y last year on an instant upgrade fare from DFW-EWR. Y SCs were posted to my account until I contacted Qantas and provided proof I'd been booked in First. The Qantas terms and conditions state that you earn status credits for the class you are BOOKED in, rather than TRAVEL in. That's why you don't get SCs for OP UPs.

 

[oz_mark]

That's not what happened to me. I was bumped to Y last year on an instant upgrade fare from DFW-EWR. Y SCs were posted to my account until I contacted Qantas and provided proof I'd been booked in First. The Qantas terms and conditions state that you earn status credits for the class you are BOOKED in, rather than TRAVEL in. That's why you don't get SCs for OP UPs.

At which point were you bumped to Y?

 

[beardoc]

I'm about to book a back-to-back YUPP run (4 days, 12 flights - won't be leaving the airport except for 20 hours at the destination each time). Wish me luck!

BTW, if you ascend through status (say, you cross from PS to SG and onto WP during the course of an itinerary), do the higher status bonuses start accruing from the very next flight after you cross a milestone, or does it take a day or two for the computers to click over and start awarding the proper status bonus?

 

[11sjw]

Strive for 2 hours minimum, even when on the same ticket ... oh and a subscription to E/F or KVS is very handy.

Of course, 2 hours is not always possible.

Last year I was travelling LAX-xPHX-xCLT-FLL. When I go to PHX, the PHX-CLT flight was canceled. I was rebooked on a red-eye with no seat allocation and likely to travel in economy.

I used E/F to ascertain A class availability onr a PHX-xSAN-CLT re route. Went to the desk and they happily re-routed me.

I'm currently in LAX waiting for a red-eye to BOS. Due to weather(snow!) my 6am BOS-MIA flight was cancelled and using E/F was able to ascertain a workable reschedule.

You should setup the odd seminar telling we relative n00bs how to do it! :mrgreen:

 

[dede]

At which point were you bumped to Y?

It was during a huge storm at DFW in 2009. Hundreds of flights cancelled. The first flight I was able to be booked on (due to the class I was sitting in) left 6 hours later than I was originally due to leave. The only seats available were in Y. I was happy to take it just to get out of there.
It was annoying because it was part of a finely thought out status run to get me to WP. Fortunately getting the correct SCs was no problem at all from Qantas.

see my report here (June 10)
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tos/trip-report-seattle-and-beyond-18425.html

 

[drewbles]

It was during a huge storm at DFW in 2009. Hundreds of flights cancelled. The first flight I was able to be booked on (due to the class I was sitting in) left 6 hours later than I was originally due to leave. The only seats available were in Y. I was happy to take it just to get out of there.
It was annoying because it was part of a finely thought out status run to get me to WP. Fortunately getting the correct SCs was no problem at all from Qantas.

see my report here (June 10)
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tos/trip-report-seattle-and-beyond-18425.html

You got lucky

QF May have had a large backlog due to the delays and thought it easier to just take it as an error.

The fare rules clearly state that you should only earn for the class you fly in, not the class you were booked in.

Congrats on the luck though!

For anyone taking YUPP/KUPP fares, be prepared for QF to say no (I've had them apply original routing credits for me on several occasions where I was re-routed on YUPP/KUPP fares, but none of those involved downgrading, just re-routes).