2nd DONE4!

[Keith009]

Before I go off to harass the ATW desk I thought I'd better get my itinerary vetted by the experts here:

July 2008:
NRT-DPS-xHKG-MEL

January 2009:
MEL-CNS-MEL

January/February 2009:
MEL-xLHR-DOH-xLHR-IST-LHR

June/July 2009:
LHR-LAX-AUS-xORD-SEA-JFK-BGI-xJFK-xHKG-SIN-NRT

In the event of a segment reduction to 16 my contingency is to remove MEL-CNS-MEL and JFK-BGI-JFK. I am looking to ticket this within the next month or 2 though.

- Can anyone think of somewhere more exciting than DOH in the Gulf Area, other than DXB because I've already been there? They all look the same to me and I simply picked DOH because there's going to be a new W Hotel there... I am looking to spend 2-3 nights tops in any Gulf city.

- I am willing to substitute BGI for a mileage run elsewhere - any ideas? (the other stops must be done, pardon the pun.) Of course this is moot if the segment reduction does occur before ticketing.

Cheers.

 

[Mwenenzi]

What places do to you to visit and what are for miles - SC's ?

I am willing to substitute BGI for a mileage run elsewhere - any ideas?

BGI is likely to be a 2 class sold as business & economy, so you won't have the free upgrade to A (first). In June - July you should be able to get to ANC. May only be DFW-ANC, as ORD-ANC on AA metal has been dropped I think

Route as above on M Monkey. Been told the red text in the mileage-SC summary at the bottom indicates seats in that class not available, but its not 100% accurate. Eg no F on JFK-BGI-JFK

 

[Keith009]

For miles:

- DOH

- AUS-xORD-SEA - I suppose I could get the direct flight if it saves a segment for an MR elsewhere. (I do want to visit both AUS and SEA though).

- BGI. Well I wouldn't mind a visit but I'm not overly keen either so I'd consider this as somewhat for miles.

Every other place is non-MR.

I'm crediting to AAdvantage, if that helps.

 

[serfty]

If crediting to AAdvantage rather than BAEC or QFF it does not really matter for status whether flying Business or First. I believe AA BGI J service is quite similar to AA domestic F.

 

[Keith009]

For now I've just booked it with 16 segments to allow for eticketing:

NRT
DPS JL
xHKG CX
MEL QF (overnighting to 1) avoid CX; 2) spend Sat night at Lan Kwai Fong, it's still a transit)
xLHR QF
DOH BA
xLHR BA
IST BA
LHR BA
LAX AA
AUS AA
xORD AA
SEA AA
JFK AA
xHKG AA (booked on the codeshare to avoid auto CX 2 week tkt deadline)
SIN AA
NRT JL

Will add the MEL-CNS-MEL and JFK-BGI-JFK segments in after ticketing and reissue b4 departure to avoid $125 fee.

Whole process only took a grand total of 8 minutes!!

In the meantime, are there anywhere more exciting than DOH and BGI to visit?? They have to earn me similar levels of Qpts of course.

 

[simongr]

If crediting to AAdvantage rather than BAEC or QFF it does not really matter for status whether flying Business or First. I believe AA BGI J service is quite similar to AA domestic F.

Only the extra 25% cabin bonus. Personally I would avoid BGI as the BA product BGI-LGW is god awful.

 

[Keith009]

Only the extra 25% cabin bonus. Personally I would avoid BGI as the BA product BGI-LGW is god awful.

I'd be doing AA both ways - JFK-BGI-JFK. I was looking for a nice, and different place to visit that I've not been to, and would incur segments of reasonable lengths. But if anyone can suggest somewhere even better I'd be more than happy (as opinions of BGI thus far have been very mixed, and no Starwood properties there...).

 

[serfty]

Only the extra 25% cabin bonus. ...

I guess in relation to Status this is an issue for the 1MM and 2MM Lifetime types.

 

[Keith009]

Do I need to clear US immigration/customs again coming back to the US from BGI?

What about SJU? I'm guessing not since it's actually US territory?

An alternative routing for the NA segments I'm looking at:
LAX-SJU-xORD-AUS-SEA-xDFW-JFK

Might go for this alternative routing if I don't need to do all the formalities again coming back from SJU rather than BGI.

Plus there's a Sheraton in SJU.

 

[Keith009]

And answering my own question... no US immigration to go through when entering SJU from mainland USA. And i'm assuming this is the same of exiting to the mainland as well.

Puerto Rico Visa and Passport entry requirements, Puerto Rico Travel Guide

Entry requirements for Puerto Rico are the same as for the United States of America. When arriving from mainland USA there is no immigration control.

 

[drron]

JFK-BGI-JFK is a 757 fitted out exactly the same as for domestic service.The premium cabin though is sold as J.Everything is the same as a domestic service.Barbados runs on Island time-along with the whole carribbean.Ok for a couple of days if you havent been before.If you like rum maybe a few extra days-then visit the Mt.Gay distillery which I did before boarding BGI-JFK,slept all the way and have no memory of arriving at JFK!
In December travelled to CUR which was very different and a couple of days there are enjoyable-Especially the place that produces curacao liqueur.However no direct from NYC so we did LGA-MIA-CUR-MIA-LGA.It means you have to go through Immigration in MIA which can be the pits.There are a few other AA directs from JFK to the Carribbean but I have not done any others.

 

[Keith009]

Cheers mate - BGI sounds interesting again... now I might have to flip a coin.

Any thoughts on DOH vs MCT? Friends have been trying to hard sell MCT; it looks really "different."

 

[Keith009]

Hmm...the total amount came up to A$8900ish (base fare A$8200ish), which is significantly more than last time even taking into account the Sept fare increase.

So I looked around other places with AA GSAs, and with some hints on FT...guess what I found:

ex-Vietnam: A$6911
ex-Phillippines: A$7022

DONE5 South Africa: A$6077.50 Cheap cheap!! :shock:

It's impractical for me to reposition myself all the way to South Africa, and for a variety of other reasons. I reckon NRT-MNL/SGN would be a whole heap easier.

I think I might look into SGN or MNL. The problem of course is the nitty gritty that needs to be sorted out with the AA GSAs at those cities, and whether they'd even want to issue the tickets.

Did someone say Musical Chairs? :mrgreen:

 

[Keith009]

Don't forget TPE ...

A$8349....more expensive than NRT base fare.

 

[serfty]

I had deleted that post; late last year ex TPE was ~80% of ex NRT for a DONE4.

Of course, there's ex MRU ($6410 for a DONE4 and $7250 for a DONE5).

 

[docjames]

DONE5 South Africa: A$6077.50 Cheap cheap!! :shock:

It's impractical for me to reposition myself all the way to South Africa, and for a variety of other reasons. :mrgreen:

Which airlines do you fly in/out/around Sth Af?? May be the reason it's cheap.....

 

[Keith009]

I had deleted that post...

Whoops.

MRU is certainly interesting but leaves me with the same problem of having to reposition to Africa. Plus there isn't an AA presence there. And i'm kinda hoping to do something like xx_-Asia-SWP-EUR-NA-xx_ which seems a bit problematic if starting from Africa. I don't want to end up in those random African places where it's possible to use the 2nd free European entry/exit either. I don't like safaris that much... :shock:

I will suss out the AA GSAs in MNL and SGN when I'm free and see what I come up with.

 

[Keith009]

Which airlines do you fly in/out/around Sth Af?? May be the reason it's cheap.....

A variety of airlines fly into SA actually - the usual suspects BA/QF/CX all fly into JNB, and BA flies into CPT. Plus you can end the ticket anywhere in Africa. BA offers a limited intra-African network through its ComAir franchise.

The reason why it's so cheap, even cheaper than MRU when this wasn;t the case before, is that the Rand is dropping like a lead balloon.

 

[Keith009]

They both spoke v good English. The MNL person seemed a lot more enthusiastic.

It was hard reaching the Philippines for some reason but I finally got through:

AA MNL:

Ticket Sales Centers - Phillippines

1) Does not take credit card payment over the phone BUT
2) Accepts wire transfers
3) Willing to issue paper ticket in advance once payment is received without the pax's physical presence
4) Indicated a preference for holding the ticket and passing it to me on arrival; EDIT: They are willing to mail the ticket if I paid for the courier - simply include the courier charges along with the total fare and wire it across.

Sorry I forgot to ask if they'd issue it without AA segments as that's not normally an issue for me given that I do want AA segments for the bonuses.

And according to others there's a special Philippines local fee but it isn't much. (not more than A$43 when i last checked)

AA SGN:

Ticket Sales Centers - Vietnam

If anyone has ever done a NRT the process is pretty much the same. But do contact the ATW desk first before contacting the GSA as they don't organise itineraries like NRT, they only issue tickets.

1) They are able to take credit card payment over the phone if eticketing is possible.
2) They do not issue paper tickets in advance and they require your physical presence in their office to issue paper tickets.

Looks like The Philippines is next on my list of countries to visit.

 

[Keith009]

Back from the drawing board:

MNL
xNRT JO
DPS JO
xNRT JO
MEL QF
CNS QF
MEL QF
xLHR QF
MCT BA
xLHR BA
IST BA
LHR BA
LAX AA
SJU AA
xORD AA
AUS AA
SEA AA
xDFW AA
JFK AA
NRT AA
MNL JO

- 63 009 miles according to GCC

- Is there anything I can do to max my miles in North America? I only want to visit LAX, AUS, SEA and NYC. The NA portion will occur in July 2009. Hopefully somewhere remotely habitable though as I'd want to stop in wherever you send me for a day or 2.

- NRT-MEL QF136 is a one stop flight - where does it stop? SYD I'm presuming? There's a huge connection in NRT for the DPS-xNRT-MEL bit but I might take the time to check out the neighbouring town of Narita. (and yes I'm aware that HKG might offer a better connection)

I think people are sick of me now...