Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise SC's

[legroom]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Ooooh. Don't count your losses just yet. Submit an original routing credit claim to QF and you'll be more than likely credited its the 60 SCs.

Does 'original routing credit' apply to a downgrade of the flight : from P to Y ?

I don't think so as YUPP is essentially Y in nature.

One of my segments had been downgraded (plane change) to Y only.

Lucky it is a short segment (no change possible).

Happy to be corrected !

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Does 'original routing credit' apply to a downgrade of the flight : from P to Y ?

I don't think so as YUPP is essentially Y in nature.

One of my segments had been downgraded (plane change) to Y only.

Lucky it is a short segment (no change possible).

Happy to be corrected !

Are there other options? How long is the journey?

 

[legroom]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Are there other options? How long is the journey?

A short one, Serfty

LAX - SLC

Problem is the next flight (with F seating) arrives @ 17:35 and the (last) return flight (SLC-LAX) departs 18:10

35 min gap, theoretically should be possible but if I were to miss that.... have to stay in SLC overnight

What do you think ?

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

A short one, Serfty

LAX - SLC

Problem is the next flight (with F seating) arrives @ 17:35 and the (last) return flight (SLC-LAX) departs 18:10

35 min gap, theoretically should be possible but if I were to miss that.... have to stay in SLC overnight

What do you think ?

I could be the same aircraft operating a turnaround, but I would not take that risk.

 

[CaviAck]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Does 'original routing credit' apply to a downgrade of the flight : from P to Y ?

I don't think so as YUPP is essentially Y in nature.

One of my segments had been downgraded (plane change) to Y only.

Lucky it is a short segment (no change possible).

Happy to be corrected !

That's what I don't get...
They're supposedly Y in nature but AA advertise that it's a booking into A/P fares. You'd think you have some rights when they say it books into A/P fares when you look them up on their website.

 

[legroom]

YUPP - plane changes, fly Y or wait for F

That's what I don't get...
They're supposedly Y in nature but AA advertise that it's a booking into A/P fares. You'd think you have some rights when they say it books into A/P fares when you look them up on their website.

Yes, you have the right to wait for the next flight with F seating.

But that may mean the next day....

If that suits you, there is no issue.

 

[Danger]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Does 'original routing credit' apply to a downgrade of the flight : from P to Y ?

I don't think so as YUPP is essentially Y in nature.

One of my segments had been downgraded (plane change) to Y only.

Lucky it is a short segment (no change possible).

Happy to be corrected !

I would expect that an involuntary downgrade would qualify for ORC. Perhaps give Qantas a call and put the question to them. I wouldn't expect a definitive answer but you might be able to get a rough idea.

 

[shellthom]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

I would expect that an involuntary downgrade would qualify for ORC. Perhaps give Qantas a call and put the question to them. I wouldn't expect a definitive answer but you might be able to get a rough idea.

Is it an involuntary downgrade though or is it lack of opportunity to upgrade, I thought these fares were a "where available if seating is there we will allow you to travel and have the benefit of travelling in first otherwise you have bought an economy fare" fare?
So I would have thought any ORC would be Y unless you could demonstrate having flow in F?

 

[legroom]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

I would expect that an involuntary downgrade would qualify for ORC. Perhaps give Qantas a call and put the question to them. I wouldn't expect a definitive answer but you might be able to get a rough idea.

Danger

AA-numbered flights crediting to QFF

So, I doubt if QF would care to commit anything.

AA would surely say ... if you insist on F, please wait for the next flight.....

In the end, the credit coming back to QF would be a Y credit.

 

[dzinh]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Just be careful with that routing and/or make sure you make the stop in LAX. I booked LAS-LAX-SFO straight through in F on seperate flight numbers (AA1308 into AA1967) about 3-4 months ago for a trip in August and got an itinerary change a fortnight ago saying that it has all become one flight number now (AA1967 FWIW). It has cost me 60 SC's

Hi guys, Ill be in LAS next year so this basically caught my attention. I'm WP with VA and am wanting to build my status with QF.

Best to credit to QF?

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Hi guys, Ill be in LAS next year so this basically caught my attention. I'm WP with VA and am wanting to build my status with QF.

Best to credit to QF?

Not really relevant. Credit for QFF is as described in post #6.

ncraigm has the issue when previosly they had booked via LAX under two different flight numbers and this was changed to the same flight number for both segments e.g. LAS-(AA1234)-xLAX-(AA3456)-SFO was changed to LAS-(AA5678)-xLAX-(AA5678)-SFO which QFF treat as LAS-(AA5678)-SFO.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Hi Serfty

Thanks for a brilliant post. As a fairly new member to AFF I read through the huge threads with great interest, although I'm usually left feeling a little confused. Your post is very clear and concise and I am starting to research a routing for next year.

I seem to be having an issue with the AA website though - I am using the link you provided, selecting the correct radio button, choosing 'business/first' from the drop down menu and selecting 'all others' as the country of residence. I cannot seem to find any fares at all which are labelled 'instant upgrade'. I see business flexible, first and first flexible but that's it. At first I though it was because of entering NYC - LAX for January next year, but I have tried this for February, March and April and gone through every date of each of those months. Not one single Instant Upgrade fare is showing.

My eventual routing will be more complex than this and I have been using the ITA link, but on this simple routing with one stop, I cannot find it.

Do you have an idea what I may be doing wrong?

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

...

Do you have an idea what I may be doing wrong?

You are doing nothing wrong - but you could try "Multi City" option.

Note that last year they changed the web site and simply under "First" is listed the cheapest option for one-way or return searches, if there is a more expensive option for the class of travel on the same flight(s) it no longer shows.

What I do is go to the bottom of the list and select "View All Results", then go back to the top and click the ^ under the "First" (or "Business") column - this toggles the sort order, showing the cheapest options first.

Anyhoo, thanks for the heads up ... I have edited the instruction.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Hi Serfty

Thanks for a brilliant post. As a fairly new member to AFF I read through the huge threads with great interest, although I'm usually left feeling a little confused. Your post is very clear and concise and I am starting to research a routing for next year.

I seem to be having an issue with the AA website though - I am using the link you provided, selecting the correct radio button, choosing 'business/first' from the drop down menu and selecting 'all others' as the country of residence. I cannot seem to find any fares at all which are labelled 'instant upgrade'. I see business flexible, first and first flexible but that's it. At first I though it was because of entering NYC - LAX for January next year, but I have tried this for February, March and April and gone through every date of each of those months. Not one single Instant Upgrade fare is showing.

My eventual routing will be more complex than this and I have been using the ITA link, but on this simple routing with one stop, I cannot find it.

Do you have an idea what I may be doing wrong?

Instant upgrade fares are best used from mainland USA to/from Caribbean ex HNL/xx_, LAX/xx_, LAS/xx_, BOS/xx_, FLL/xx_ (xx_ representing whatever Caribbean destination you're travelling to).

You won't get a very good fare on a prime route like LAX/JFK, however the way around that is to book eg LAX/JFK/xx_ then buy a cheapie one way from xx_/JFK. If you want to travel in the direction of JFK/LAX then you just position with a one way cheapie JFK/xx_ then buy your ticket xx_/LAX.

You don't need to necessarily stay overnight at xx_ as you can turnaround & fly straight back to JFK on the sector fare.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

ozbeachbabe & serfty - thanks so much for your replies. Very useful information

 

[will2rob]

Re: A Platinum Flight for $1400

I am just about to book a run @ USD$1500.10 for 1140SC which is the cheapest I can find. As per my previous posts, I will be short for Platinum at my anniversary date of 31 March 2014. If I book it so my run starts on 30 March, I have calculated that I will have hit 1460SC on the 31 March with a balance for next membership year of 600 SC accrued on the flights from 1 April onwards. Is this cutting it too fine or am I tempting fate that the points will credit correctly? The AA booking engine throws up the following warning when I change from AA Advantage to QFF:

Adding your frequent flyer number from another airline is not a guarantee you will earn miles. Each program has certain terms and conditions that apply to earning miles. For details, contact the frequent flyer program of the airline selected.

Am I correct in assuming this is a standard warning and just ignore it? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for the best positioning flight/s to/from HNL other than Qantas?

 

[drewbles]

Re: A Platinum Flight for $1400

I am just about to book a run @ USD$1500.10 for 1140SC which is the cheapest I can find. As per my previous posts, I will be short for Platinum at my anniversary date of 31 March 2014. If I book it so my run starts on 30 March, I have calculated that I will have hit 1460SC on the 31 March with a balance for next membership year of 600 SC accrued on the flights from 1 April onwards. Is this cutting it too fine or am I tempting fate that the points will credit correctly? The AA booking engine throws up the following warning when I change from AA Advantage to QFF: Am I correct in assuming this is a standard warning and just ignore it?

Adding your frequent flyer number from another airline is not a guarantee you will earn miles. Each program has certain terms and conditions that apply to earning miles. For details, contact the frequent flyer program of the airline selected.

Am I correct in assuming this is a standard warning and just ignore it? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for the best positioning flight/s to/from HNL other than Qantas?

So long as you're booked into F/A/P/J/D/I you'll be fine (F/A/P are First, J/D/I are Business). It always throws up that warning (which IMHO more airlines should do!).

 

[gogo419]

Re: A Platinum Flight for $1400

I am just about to book a run @ USD$1500.10 for 1140SC which is the cheapest I can find. As per my previous posts, I will be short for Platinum at my anniversary date of 31 March 2014. If I book it so my run starts on 30 March, I have calculated that I will have hit 1460SC on the 31 March with a balance for next membership year of 600 SC accrued on the flights from 1 April onwards. Is this cutting it too fine or am I tempting fate that the points will credit correctly? The AA booking engine throws up the following warning when I change from AA Advantage to QFF:

Adding your frequent flyer number from another airline is not a guarantee you will earn miles. Each program has certain terms and conditions that apply to earning miles. For details, contact the frequent flyer program of the airline selected.

Am I correct in assuming this is a standard warning and just ignore it? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for the best positioning flight/s to/from HNL other than Qantas?

Can you start on April 1? And get enough to go straight to plat!? With in a couple of weeks? Then you get just under two years of WP!?

 

[serfty]

Re: A Platinum Flight for $1400

I am just about to book a run @ USD$1500.10 for 1140SC which is the cheapest I can find. As per my previous posts, I will be short for Platinum at my anniversary date of 31 March 2014. If I book it so my run starts on 30 March, I have calculated that I will have hit 1460SC on the 31 March with a balance for next membership year of 600 SC accrued on the flights from 1 April onwards. Is this cutting it too fine or am I tempting fate that the points will credit correctly? The AA booking engine throws up the following warning when I change from AA Advantage to QFF:

Adding your frequent flyer number from another airline is not a guarantee you will earn miles. Each program has certain terms and conditions that apply to earning miles. For details, contact the frequent flyer program of the airline selected.

Am I correct in assuming this is a standard warning and just ignore it? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for the best positioning flight/s to/from HNL other than Qantas?

It's normal - see here: How to research and book an AA "Instant Upgrade" fare to maximise status earn

Also look to the previous post on that thread on calculations ...

 

[will2rob]

Re: A Platinum Flight for $1400

So long as you're booked into F/A/P/J/D/I you'll be fine (F/A/P are First, J/D/I are Business). It always throws up that warning (which IMHO more airlines should do!).

All first class seats are A and the CA leg is I, so I should be right. Thanks