AA Help (ORD - SCE - YUL)

[samh004]

My dad just asked me to find him a flight on AA in the US from ORD to SCE (University Park Airport - a great way to get to Penn State Uni) and onwards to YUL. Unfortunately, SCE is not served by AA, nor do any flights go to ORD.

As I’m not great with US airports and routes (only been to HI and that was many years ago), I thought I’d throw it open to the forum and see if anyone has some good suggestions.

He’s a CX Diamond and will be crediting to them, so I’m not sure if a YUPP/KUPP would be that useful, but I’m sure he wouldn’t be a fan of Y, though has to also consider price. The main question though is, what airport is located nearby that AA does fly to and will work out for him.

And before I forget, dates… From ORD is 6th September, up to YUL on the 8th September.

 

[samh004]

Okay, so a bit of research was done and PIT seems like a reasonably close airport, though services there are with American Eagle, does that mean this service would be economy only? It seems to let me book an instant upgrade, would that be useless in this case?

From PIT there are a number of options for getting to YUL, the easiest to me seems like going via JFK on 2 Eagle services, however could a status run be found if going through DFW or MIA? Or will prices be just too high to bother with?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just had a quick look at www.priceline.com - you have the option of selecting flights by lowest price, fastest trip time, departure or arrival time plus bias your search to a particular airline.

Options for ORD/SCE on 06 Sep are:

ORD/DTW/SCE on Delta USD249.00 3 hours 37 mins
ORD/PHL/SCE on USAir USD314.00 3 hours 42 mins
ORD/IAD/SCE on United USD161.00 3 hours 46 mins

Options for SCE/YUL on 08 Sep are:
SCE/PHL/YUL on USAIR USD242.00 2 hours 55 mins
SCE/IAD/YUL on United USD439.00 3 hours 33 mins
ORD/DTW/YUL on Delta USD242.00 5 hours 31 mins

You could book the above via Priceline who say they don't charge any fees or if you're after YUPP fares you might be better off going direct to appropriate website for the airline concerned.

Let us know how he goes.

 

[serfty]

The regional flights from SCE to DTW, IAD and PHL are operated by one of "Pinnacle Airlines", "Colgan Air", "Air Wisconsin" and "Piedmont Airlines".

UA, US and DL have codeshares on some of these flights.

 

[samh004]

The regional flights from SCE to DTW, IAD and PHL are operated by one of "Pinnacle Airlines", "Colgan Air", "Air Wisconsin" and "Piedmont Airlines".

UA, US and DL have codeshares on some of these flights.

I knew that, I just simplified it to the codeshares as they’re not useful for OW earning anyway.

He’s looking at going via PIT on American Eagle. As a OWE, would he get lounge access at ORD, PIT and JFK/MIA depending on which route he takes?

 

[serfty]

...

He’s looking at going via PIT on American Eagle. As a OWE, would he get lounge access at ORD, PIT and JFK/MIA depending on which route he takes?

Note that PIT is over 250Km by road from SCE and a 3+ hour drive.

 

[samh004]

Note that PIT is over 250Km by road from SCE and a 3+ hour drive.

I think he realised that, he chose it, not me. Is there an AA-serviced airport closer? He can drive, so I’m sure he’ll manage somehow.

 

[samh004]

I think he realised that, he chose it, not me. Is there an AA-serviced airport closer? He can drive, so I’m sure he’ll manage somehow.

Quoting myself, I’ve found BWI, AVP and PIT to all be of pretty much equal distance. None of them have lounges, but leaving ORD on AA he will get access, then flying onto JFK he’ll get access there for a flight to YUL.

The main consideration is earning miles and lounge access, plus the fares to PIT are a lot cheaper than to SCE, from what I’ve seen. He’ll just have to live with the drive

I’ll update if some other deal appears.

Thanks for the help.