Advice sought - first-time USA/Canada trip, as a QF Gold

[MEL_Traveller]

We have been bumped back to Y on instant upgrade fares and I have status with AA.

There must have been a reason why you were bumped back to Y on instant upgrade fares... like you didn't make a flight for some reason (even if that reason was late arrival due to weather or other issues)? The airline can't just bump you if you were at the gate at the time boarding commences.

 

[flyingfan]

Sounds like a great trip, but you are trying to fit a lot in, particularly if you are planning to take 8 days from YYC to YVR and also visit one or more national parks. I suggest concentrating on a smaller number of destinations, probably starting by leaving out ORD (much as I love Chicago). Do not forget to allow for travel time e.g. LAS to NYC will take all day with the time difference.

Thanks very much for your insights ShaneN, I know it's ambitious and I'm living by the principle that this could be my one and only trip there. Sadly I have had to sacrifice DC from the trip - heard too much about Chicago from all those TV shows to give it up.

I totally agree, I find the trip planning lots of fun. Will try to read up more on YUPPs but if I can't figure it out I'm going to ask in the flight assistance thread. I have not had much luck with finding great routings yet.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Chicago is fun. You might look at Ray's Bucktown B and B - Unique Chicago Bed and Breakfast for alternative accommodation. Very close to train to get into town and airport. Quiet ,lovely room and awesome communal breakfasts. Also access to washing machine and a spa room.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Try to book LAS for Mon-Wed as prices are usually 1/2 price compared to Fri/sat

 

[parsonstrish]

I'm currently in the states. I dropped to gold after I booked current trip. The only difference I've noticed is choice of seating is less than previous as platinum in economy. I still have option to check in at business counter. For domestic & international have priority boarding. There is a difference in sc, points, bonus earned, but for me gold is something to maintain, if possible.

I booked first Dfw-Okc with AA, I always check with check in agent if my qf status shows on their system. As first, you still have priority boarding. I went through usual security, had to take shoes off, no biggie. Last year I had tsa (?) approval & went through security, shoes left on. Again, no problem.

in Dfw admirals, a sign going into lounge says cash isn't used. I read on flyertalk, cash can be used to tip bar staff. I didn't go to the food counter, noticed some folk near me seemed to have different & wider choice choice of food on their plate to my last visit.

You didn't ask questions on dropping to gold but I'm focusing more on you dropping to gold, I've found little differences to booking (other than choice of seating & requesting award or upgrade), checking in, security, etc.

Also, don't know if you are interested, I've switched to airbnb accommodation. I've had 3 different stays this year Australia, New Zealand, & states, not disappointed as yet. Much cheaper, accruing points aren't as important to me now, if it's going to allow me to save money & travel more.

I enjoy planning trip also, makes trip last longer. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[exceladdict]

I'm currently in the states. I dropped to gold after I booked current trip. The only difference I've noticed is choice of seating is less than previous as platinum in economy. I still have option to check in at business counter. For domestic & international have priority boarding. There is a difference in sc, points, bonus earned, but for me gold is something to maintain, if possible.

I booked first Dfw-Okc with AA, I always check with check in agent if my qf status shows on their system. As first, you still have priority boarding. I went through usual security, had to take shoes off, no biggie. Last year I had tsa (?) approval & went through security, shoes left on. Again, no problem.

in Dfw admirals, a sign going into lounge says cash isn't used. I read on flyertalk, cash can be used to tip bar staff. I didn't go to the food counter, noticed some folk near me seemed to have different & wider choice choice of food on their plate to my last visit.

You didn't ask questions on dropping to gold but I'm focusing more on you dropping to gold, I've found little differences to booking (other than choice of seating & requesting award or upgrade), checking in, security, etc.

Also, don't know if you are interested, I've switched to airbnb accommodation. I've had 3 different stays this year Australia, New Zealand, & states, not disappointed as yet. Much cheaper, accruing points aren't as important to me now, if it's going to allow me to save money & travel more.

I enjoy planning trip also, makes trip last longer. Just my 2 cents worth.

Also had very good experience with airbnb, in Texas esp.

 

[ShaneN]

Thanks very much for your insights ShaneN, I know it's ambitious and I'm living by the principle that this could be my one and only trip there. Sadly I have had to sacrifice DC from the trip - heard too much about Chicago from all those TV shows to give it up.

I totally agree, I find the trip planning lots of fun. Will try to read up more on YUPPs but if I can't figure it out I'm going to ask in the flight assistance thread. I have not had much luck with finding great routings yet.

I now work on the principle that I will be back in the future to experience the things I miss this time. After 6 holiday visits to the US in the last 10 years there are many cities and places I am still looking forward to seeing.

I love Chicago. Working as I do in urban planning, the home of the skyscraper is a must see. I thoroughly recommend the Chicago Architecture Foundation tours, particularly the river cruises. I also liked Washington DC, not just for the museums and monuments, but also as a city with interesting neighbourhoods like U Street.

You will find that the best value in upgrade fares on American Airlines is between cities which are not AA hubs e.g. SFO to LAS, where the flight will be via LAX or PHX but the price is based on the direct distance. AA hubs are LAX, DFW, ORD, JFK, DCA and MIA, plus the former US Airways hubs of Phoenix, Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Fairly early in the planning it is worth checking if AA fly the routes you wish to travel. Some routes may be code shares or regional jets (American Eagle) with no first class. In particular plights to YYC appear to be code shares with Westjet, while there do not seem to be any AA flights from YVR to SFO - only regional jet via LAX.

I endorse the advice to visit Las Vegas mid week. The same applies to the national parks, which are cheaper and less crowded during the week. Large city hotels may be cheaper on weekends.

 

[flyingfan]

Chicago is fun. You might look at Ray's Bucktown B and B - Unique Chicago Bed and Breakfast for alternative accommodation. Very close to train to get into town and airport. Quiet ,lovely room and awesome communal breakfasts. Also access to washing machine and a spa room.

Try to book LAS for Mon-Wed as prices are usually 1/2 price compared to Fri/sat

Thanks. A laundry is important - when on the road travelling I often get anxious about when I'll next be able to find a laundry and when I'll have time to do my washing. Hotel services are so expensive and sometimes need a good two-day stretch.

Yes, aiming to book LAX-LAS on a Monday as I'll arrive into LAX on a Monday and planning to head to LAS straight away. Hope 3.5 hours or so is enough to connect - the earlier flight allows a little over an hour which seems like a gamble to me.

 

[drron]

Laundry is important which is why we schedule Hilton Garden inns along the way.Yes they are all virtually identical but most have a laundry,rooms are large and they do have a microwave.

 

[flyingfan]

I now work on the principle that I will be back in the future to experience the things I miss this time. After 6 holiday visits to the US in the last 10 years there are many cities and places I am still looking forward to seeing.

Sadly I think I'll be in a different position, with my personal circumstances and the way house prices are, I don't want to have major regrets if this is the only trip there i ever get.

You will find that the best value in upgrade fares on American Airlines is between cities which are not AA hubs e.g. SFO to LAS, where the flight will be via LAX or PHX but the price is based on the direct distance. AA hubs are LAX, DFW, ORD, JFK, DCA and MIA, plus the former US Airways hubs of Phoenix, Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Fairly early in the planning it is worth checking if AA fly the routes you wish to travel. Some routes may be code shares or regional jets (American Eagle) with no first class. In particular plights to YYC appear to be code shares with Westjet, while there do not seem to be any AA flights from YVR to SFO - only regional jet via LAX.

Thanks for the tips. Hopefully my LAS-NYC sector will be a good opportunity to squeeze some SCs out. Great to know about the code shares and American Eagle - I saw them pop up in some searches and was wondering if they were a good deal. I didn't see AA YVR-SFO flights either, wondering if it's possible to use oneworld. Had pencilled in AC for that leg.

 

[flyingfan]

You didn't ask questions on dropping to gold but I'm focusing more on you dropping to gold, I've found little differences to booking (other than choice of seating & requesting award or upgrade), checking in, security, etc.

Also, don't know if you are interested, I've switched to airbnb accommodation. I've had 3 different stays this year Australia, New Zealand, & states, not disappointed as yet. Much cheaper, accruing points aren't as important to me now, if it's going to allow me to save money & travel more.

I enjoy planning trip also, makes trip last longer. Just my 2 cents worth.

I'll miss platinum, maybe if my job changes it's attainable again one day. I really wish my +1 and I could go into the F lounges in MEL and LAX, that's my main tangible loss for this trip. Bonus points etc not so much.

I'll have to also find out what this airbnb thing is people keep talking about Thus far I usually book on Expedia or similar with the best hotel according to TripAdvisor can afford. Trip planning is important to me and winging things is something that strikes fear into me.

 

[parsonstrish]

I discovered airbnb this year. I'm only interested in looking at a place that isn't share but the whole house or apt. I also look for investment properties and not a place where person moves out while renter moves in. I also look for a place that has reviews. I too need to plan trip down to where I want to sleep on a particular night on trip. I was a bit skeptical about airbnb as I was either b&b or hotel earning points. Place needs booking a fair way ahead on airbnb. A friend looked at site 2 weeks before trip to NYC & only 5% availability. Most were out of city. I looked for a place this week in sydney & 9% availability again not in or near city. A suggestion is to put in an area you may be interested in, tick option for own place (can't exactly remember exact wording but first option), dates & have a look around.

 

[ShaneN]

I didn't see AA YVR-SFO flights either, wondering if it's possible to use oneworld. Had pencilled in AC for that leg.

A bit more research shows that it is possible to use oneworld from YVR to SFO. As well as the American flights via LAX (or DFW at great expense) there is a Qantas codeshare with QF flight numbers on Alaska Airlines flying via Seattle (regional jet on the short hop from Vancouver to Seattle) - QF3720 and QF3788. I knew about the AS codeshare to Seattle, but not to Vancouver.

 

[kiwitripper64]

But getting into the Akaska lounges was always difficult/ impossible unless flying F as they "are not part of one world" so do not recognise gold or platinum. Unless it's recently changed

 

[RooFlyer]

Regarding SFO-YVR.

The "Air Canada" flight will be on Air Canada Rouge, their LCC, otherwise known as Air Canada Rogue. Sort of like Jetstar - most of the time perfectly OK, its only when there is a delay or cancellation, you get lonely very quickly. Watch baggage allowance / charges.

WestJet I was surprised to find doesn't have a direct service or even one on their own metal. You can get QF code shares on WestJet on many of their services, probably not this one. WS is a LCC but one of the better ones, in my experience.

The Alaska service is usually pretty good. Small planes (eg Q400s SEA to YVR) but OK for a short hop. They have some of the most consistently cheery FAs of any airline! SEA isn't a bad airport to transit through. Interestingly, I see that Alaska departs from all 3 airports in the Bay area - SFO, San Jose and Oakland. If you get a QF code-share you might avoid the baggage charge.

 

[Pushka]

May I butt in? As WP and SG we have booked on AA.com, flights using Alaska Airlines from Honolulu to SEA then onto Anchorage, then Vancouver to Honolulu. Any lounge access or priority for us? Only Y booking. No QF flight codes.

 

[kiwitripper64]

May I butt in? As WP and SG we have booked on AA.com, flights using Alaska Airlines from Honolulu to SEA then onto Anchorage, then Vancouver to Honolulu. Any lounge access or priority for us? Only Y booking. No QF flight codes.

Interesting permutations. It seems that neither AA or Alaska have a lounge in Honalulu. But AA site says you can use Qantas or Sakura lounges. As WP/SG you can use these but I am not sure of the opening hours. I have been able to get into the LAX Alaska lounge on QF code share flight, but we have been turned down every time getting into SEA. But the AA site says that AA members can access SEA Alaskan boardroom...
Not much help sorry but I am also interested in any answers

 

[RooFlyer]

There are a couple of threads on AS lounge access. On phone so can't get to now, but will later if still needed.

 

[flyingfan]

The Alaska service is usually pretty good. Small planes (eg Q400s SEA to YVR) but OK for a short hop. They have some of the most consistently cheery FAs of any airline! SEA isn't a bad airport to transit through. Interestingly, I see that Alaska departs from all 3 airports in the Bay area - SFO, San Jose and Oakland. If you get a QF code-share you might avoid the baggage charge.

Ta I'll look out for the codeshares. Could try to do YVR-SEA-SFO. I've just started playing with ITA Matrix and haven't been able to transfer them to bookable itineraries on aa.com yet, will do more reading.

 

[ausfox]

Have a look at aa.com (US site) where you can see many permutations with the carriers displayed. Important if you are wanting the status credits. The AA lounges are ordinary to be polite, in keeping with the F seating/catering on aircraft. However the points do accrue nicely.