circle pacific - trip planning

[DTM1]

After several years of point to point travel, I finally have an opportunity to make some use of my knowledge from this forum (although, due to time constraints, I can't make as much use as I would like...

I have to travel to Washington and Boston in March for work, so I thought I'd see what I could do with that, particularly as I wanted to go and visit family in Toronto.

The ticket (in J) was going to be over $12k, so I had a look at what I could achieve for the same or less - and thank you very much, the pacific circle fare was there to help out (funnily enough, a DONE4 would have been cheaper than a DCIR26, but I don't have the time).

I had a look at my itinerary and the maximum time I can be away and came up with the following itinerary.

MEL - SYD - JFK - BOS - DCA - ORD - YYZ - LAX - HKG - MEL

While there are direct flights from DCA to YYZ, they don't offer D, so I wasn't so keen on that (why give away the SCs and mile bonus ?). I am pressed for time on the way to BOS and then DCA, so don't have much of an opportunity to spread that trip, and anyway, I think I'd need my mind read to add extra hours and miles to that first leg to BOS when I have a mtg about 12 hours after landing :shock:

I was originally planning on flying direct from DCA to BOS, but then noticed that it was single class and that DCA - BOS - YYZ leg could be done in D and would only take an extra 30 minutes, so I was on to that in a flash (although I realise it increase the chance of something happening to my luggage...)

I know I have many more unused legs, but just don't have the time to use them, which is a real shame, as time permitting, I could have usefully spent a 12 hours or so in a number of cities along the way.

Will update as trip approaches.

 

[serfty]

... While there are direct flights from DCA to YYZ, they don't offer D, so I wasn't so keen on that (why give away the SCs and mile bonus ?). I am pressed for time on the way to BOS and then DCA, so don't have much of an opportunity to spread that trip, and anyway, I think I'd need my mind read to add extra hours and miles to that first leg to BOS when I have a mtg about 12 hours after landing :shock:

I was originally planning on flying direct from DCA to BOS, but then noticed that it was single class and that DCA - BOS - YYZ leg could be done in D and would only take an extra 30 minutes, so I was on to that in a flash ...

You should look for 2 class domestic AA flights where F and Y cabins are operated. A DCIRnn books into A (first) class in theses cases, so DCA-ORD will book into First - being over 600 miles it should earn you 90 SC's.

 

[simongr]

Just in terms of the lack of timing to do a DONE4 could you not do something like:

YYZ-JFK AA4768 Dep 14:40 Arr 16:30
JFK-LHR BA176 Dep 19:30 Arr 07:30
LHR-SYD QF32 Dep 11:15 Arr 19:35 +1

So overall from leaving YYZ at say 2PM on Wednesday - you get into SYD at 7PM Friday evening? Is the other route much faster?

Cheers

S

 

[NM]

Note that on 2 class domestic AA flights, F and Y cabins are operated. A DCIRnn books into A (first) class in theses cases, so DCA-ORD will book into First - being over 600 miles it should earn you 90 SC's.

Some DCA-ORD services are operated by AA Eagle as single class, so avoid them and book the AA mainline services on MD80 aircraft for A class.

 

[DTM1]

Thanks for that. I have made sure that the DCA - ORD and ORD - YYZ flights are on an MD-80.

Does that mean that my flight from YYZ - LAX (on a 738) will also be treated as A an therefore first class for SC earning ?

 

[NM]

Does that mean that my flight from YYZ - LAX (on a 738) will also be treated as A an therefore first class for SC earning ?

yes. All 2-class AA domestic flights should book into A class if its available (not already sold out). Its worth looking for 767 operated flights where they exist since the F seats are so much nice. But an F seat on an MD80, 737, 757 is better than a Y seat on the same plane!

 

[DTM1]

thanks, but I don't think there are any 767s flying the routes that I'll be travelling or, if there are, they're not at times I can usefully use.

Has anyone found baggage issues/limits etc to be a problem when you have to fly a couple of flights on a single class American Eagle (particularly when not checking straight through from an earlier flight) ? eg I'll be checking in in BOS for the flight to DCA after being in BOS for a couple of days.

thanks

 

[Petch]

Does that mean that my flight from YYZ - LAX (on a 738) will also be treated as A an therefore first class for SC earning ?

Check that; I think that even though Canada is often thought of as "domestic" in the sense of Canada/Caribbean/Mexico/USA for some AA products (most notably Admirals Club entry), Canada is considered "International" for "Class determination" - so even though it is the exact same aircraft/seat at the front of a 738, you will be in "Business Class" on your flight across the border, with respective Satus earned with Qantas FF.

 

[DTM1]

ok, will check.

one further question re lounge access. AA has a lounge at YYZ, but if my memory serves me correctly, it's a pretty average Admiral's Lounge.

However, BA has terraces and First lounges there, which it also offers to CX passengers.

I'm connecting with a CX flight in LAX on the same date. On my reading of the rules for partner lounge access, that should mean that I can access the "CX" lounge as I have onward travel that day on CX ?

Is this right ?

 

[serfty]

... Does that mean that my flight from YYZ - LAX (on a 738) will also be treated as A an therefore first class for SC earning ?

yes. All 2-class AA domestic flights should book into A class if its available (not already sold out). ...

Not to/from Canada; 2 class AA flights will have J and Y cabins. (Same seats, virtually the same service - but Business Class, not First Class SC's will be earned.)

Generally, the F/Y configuration is for solely US domestic travel.

 

[serfty]

... one further question re lounge access. AA has a lounge at YYZ, but if my memory serves me correctly, it's a pretty average Admiral's Lounge.

However, BA has terraces and First lounges there, which it also offers to CX passengers.

I'm connecting with a CX flight in LAX on the same date. On my reading of the rules for partner lounge access, that should mean that I can access the "CX" lounge as I have onward travel that day on CX ?

Is this right ?

As a oneworld Emerald, you will generally have access to any F/J or equiv. lounge operated by a oneworld carrier.

There's some info on the oneworld web site:

• oneworld - Lounge Access

NB, This is conditional on you being able to access the terminal area in which the lounge operates.

i.e. If you can't reach the front entry of a lounge you will not have access.

 

[NM]

Not to/from Canada; 2 class AA flights will have J and Y cabins. (Same seats, virtually the same service - but Business Class, not First Class SC's will be earned.)

Correct. I was assuming US Domestic and didn't look closely enough at the YYZ, which is not US but Canada. My apologies to all the canucks. Books into D as noted by others.

 

[Petch]

I have just checked my Priority Pass guide, and it notes, that while the Toronto (Pearson International) Terminal 3 Admirals Club is "airside", i.e. after security and Canadi>n immigration, it is (oddly) located before US Customs pre-clearance.

So once you pre-clear for the USA, you no longer have lounge access!

 

[DTM1]

That's pretty ridiculous, b/c the biggest queue at Pearson is the queue for US immigration.

All the more reason to check and see if the BA lounge is past US immigration.

 

[NM]

That's pretty ridiculous, b/c the biggest queue at Pearson is the queue for US immigration.

All the more reason to check and see if the BA lounge is past US immigration.

The only thing past US immigration is a sterile gate area that is dedicated to US flights. So the BA lounge is not going to help.

 

[DTM1]

how annoying.

Oh well, I guess I'll just arrive a bit later at the airport and make up for it at the new lounge in LAX. And it's not as if the J service on an AA 738 is anything to rave about (although it is markedly better than the Y service).

I haven't been through LAX since early last year (and the temporary lounge, which was pretty average). Has anyone been through the new Oneworld F lounge in LAX ? What's it like ?

 

[dajop]

I have just checked my Priority Pass guide, and it notes, that while the Toronto (Pearson International) Terminal 3 Admirals Club is "airside", i.e. after security and Canadi>n immigration, it is (oddly) located before US Customs pre-clearance.

So once you pre-clear for the USA, you no longer have lounge access!

Unless it has changed since late October, the Admirals Club at YYZ isairside of US Customs pre-clearance, albeit slightly difficult to find. You head off to the right after passing through security (which is not in the general direction of most gates). Not a huge Admirals Club though (probably comparable to Hobart QP).

 

[Petch]

Unless it has changed since late October, the Admirals Club at YYZ isairside of US Customs pre-clearance, albeit slightly difficult to find. You head off to the right after passing through security (which is not in the general direction of most gates). Not a huge Admirals Club though (probably comparable to Hobart QP).

Does that mean no showers as well then? LOL

I haven't been, and can only relay what Priority Pass says Non-Members Lounge Details -

Additional Information: Passengers flying to or through the US cannot access the Lounge once they have cleared US customs.

I of course, remain hopeful they are wrong, and they have just (incorrectly) duplicated the KLM lounge information for the Admirals Club.

It would make sense for it to be located on the other side of US customs.