Anyone up for a Dec YUP run?

[dfcatch]

Hey all,

So change of plans for SWMBO means I suddenly have a few weeks between Dec 11 and 31st to do a YUP run for around $1000 and ~ 400 SCs.


Was just gonna do LAX-TPA ret.

But I know a few others are doing runs at this time (and may not have posted in the dec thread) so thought I'd ask who's doing what and for how much (always open for new ideas as to best value around).

Also, thought it might be fun to maybe catch up and share some quality Admirals Club beverages if anyone's up for it.

Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post runs publicly.

 

[Danger]

I'm doing two YUPP/KUPPs in early December and have sent you a PM with details.

 

[serfty]

Just make sure your travel has a bit of padding as Snow and Storms often play havoc with flight operations, especially in the Northern regions- generally from around Mid December.

 

[dfcatch]

Just make sure your travel has a bit of padding as Snow and Storms often play havoc with flight operations, especially in the Northern regions- generally from around Mid December.

Great advice Serfty.

Originally I was going the long way YYZ-LGA-MIA-TPA-DFW-LAX, to meet up with QF to BNE.

But I'm thinking might be safer to do the run separate to the QF LAX-BNE for exactly your reasons!

Hoping I still get an A380 on the 23/11 though....

Although if QF feels the need to upgrade me to F/J on a 744 I won't complain

 

[Danger]

My status run, currently in progress, has taken a turn for the worse. While I avoided cities likely to be struck by snow and ice storms, I apparently didn't avoid aircraft that would be operating through such cities. Consequently, my flight from HNL to DFW was delayed (I think because the inbound came from ORD), meaning I missed my connection, throwing high-earning flights out the window. Bugger. I'll write to QF asking for original routing credit and hope for the best.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm flying YYZ-ORD-SEA (in whY) tomorrow on the 6th. Then doing SEA-LAX-SFO-LAX-SEA-LAX-SFO on the 7th/8th.

Already did LAX-DFW-TPA-MIA-LGA-YYZ as part one of my run.

All in for about $2300 and 850 SC's.

 

[drewbles]

My status run, currently in progress, has taken a turn for the worse. While I avoided cities likely to be struck by snow and ice storms, I apparently didn't avoid aircraft that would be operating through such cities. Consequently, my flight from HNL to DFW was delayed (I think because the inbound came from ORD), meaning I missed my connection, throwing high-earning flights out the window. Bugger. I'll write to QF asking for original routing credit and hope for the best.

This is why I just did my YUP flights with carry-on only. Was my first big attempt at no checked luggage. 9 days in the USA, 14 flights, and no checked bags.

Gotta say, that I don't ever want to check luggage again. Everything worked so nicely. I had a set-back on the second leg of my YUP run, where my plane was delayed 4 hours so I was going to miss my 3rd flight. Having no luggage meant that the gate agent at LAS just re-booked me via another path, which resulted in the same SC's but around 800 miles less (I can cope with that, no point claiming ORC for 800 miles).

Also missed connections out of ORD due to a 90 minute delay leaving MIA (on the OneWorld AA 767). Staff in ORD Flagship Lounge re-did my entire routing, keeping me on the same path (so same SC's) and got me into LAX around 45 minutes after I was originally meant to arrive. None of that would have been possible with checked bags.

It's also a bigger benefit around this time of the year, as you're seeing, weather can kill our best intentions (but ORC should be no problem, I had AA do this for several flights I had to credit to them and not to QF).

 

[Danger]

This is why I just did my YUP flights with carry-on only.

I was travelling with hand luggage only. Despite meeting the minimum connection time, my flight was just too late into MIA. Disappointing but oh well.

QF has been kind to me with original routing credit on a YUPP run exactly two years ago when a thunderstorm at Sydney delayed my flight out, resulting in a missed connection.

 

[Grooba]

In complete agreement about doing these runs without checked baggage.

Any delay would/could cause the whole run to be made null. Looking at one in June now for 8 days with carry on only. Not quite the 9 days drewbles just completed however no matter how long the run was (if it was a pure run) I wouldn't even consider checking any bags.

Good luck with your December run dfcatch. Please post back and let us know how you go.

 

[dfcatch]

Whilst in total agreement on the carry on comments... I had to get from LAX-YYZ so checked bags right through LAX-DFW-TPA-MIA-LGA-YYZ.

Took the risk, and also considered my options should it all go pear. All worked out but wouldn't want to push my luck with it.

Will be leaving all my luggage in Seattle tomorrow for the SEA-LAX-SFO ret. run though.

Biggest delay so far has been sitting on the plane at ORD right now for 20 mins as they fix an Emergeny Exit light

 

[JohnK]

In complete agreement about doing these runs without checked baggage.

Any delay would/could cause the whole run to be made null.

Sometimes it is not possible to travel without checked luggage and doing so does not necessarily nullify the value of YUPs/KUPs although it is not easy.

Had some fun a few years ago doing an ORD-LGA-TPA run and the luggage did not make it to TPA. The next day I had a TPA-MIA-ORD run followed by ORD-LHR-ATH. One bag caught up with me in ATH 4 days later and the second bag 7 days later.

 

[dfcatch]

Well, had a very close call, but luckily my big delays were on my last flight of the run.

Successfully did the SEA-LAX-SFO-LAX-SEA run.

Drewbles - this is a great run and I can now see why you were such a fan. AS is great to fly (at least in F), and whilst it's a long day, none of the flights are long, and it's a great earner.

All my flights were actually a few mins early at every point.

Then yesterday went SEA-LAX-SFO for the final legs of my MR. Arrived in LAX, went to print my AA BP and discovered my flight had been cancelled and placed on the 12:05 flight to SFO, 2 hours after my original schedule. No biggie, was my final flight and just needed to drive 3 hrs from SFO to my final destination. Plenty of time I thought.

Went to leave the F lounge and saw that departure was now 1pm, then 1:30, then 1:50. Finally we go on a full flight as the following flight also got cancelled.

Bad weather in SFO was causing havoc all day.

Arrived in SFO finally, but now stuck in traffic due to being late in the day which added another 1.5 hours to my drive time.

Very grateful that the delays didn't happen the day before

 

[Sprucegoose]

This is why I just did my YUP flights with carry-on only. Was my first big attempt at no checked luggage. 9 days in the USA, 14 flights, and no checked bags.

Gotta say, that I don't ever want to check luggage again).

Good advice Drewbes. What carryon did you use and get away with?

Some like this redox air boss stuff??

 

[Bundy Bear]

After flying US domestic you probably could get away with anything.

The rule is one bag up to 22" which is usually what samsonite call their international rollerboard, which is what I use, and 1 personal item; usually a laptop bag or back pack.

The back pack can be stuffed full as they don't care about weight; just be careful so that the back pack can fit under the seat in front of you.

Total weight can be 40 Pounds.

If you can't go a week without checking your bag on US domestic you are taking too much. 2 weeks is also possible but then you need a few hours to wash your clothes at the mid point in your trip.

 

[drewbles]

Good advice Drewbes. What carryon did you use and get away with?

Some like this redox air boss stuff??

I had an Antler "Size Zero" roll-aboard. Was the lightest bag I could find, whilst just being in the limits for carry on (unfortunately the wheel broke catching on a travellator at MIA I think it was (too many airports in my last trip!!) but warranty will cover that).

Any trip I now do up to a week where I need to be in one place longer than a night or two, will be done hand luggage only. Extremely liberating