DONE4 SC optimising advice

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Stoopidsteve

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Hi all you SC run gurus.
I do a couple international flights a year to UK or USA in discount Y (been Silver few years). I now have the opportunity for a DONE4 trip in May and had a few questions. I have to get BNE-Washington in a shortish time frame (ie can't spend too much time getting there), and then onwards to Europe (couple days UK) and then 1 day in Sing.

Thanks to this site, I now know I can get to Platinum in one trip. Need about 1100, which is not to difficult for all the way round, and don't really want to accumulate more than that. Just wanted to check that on a DONE4, do I get SCs for a D or an A seat when flying US sectors on AA in A? I was also wondering if I can make it to WP before I get to Sing. If the SCs accumulate by then, will that enable immediate FLounge access in Sing and HKG, or will I need to get wait to get the WP card?

Anyway, here's my first itinerary attempt:

BNE-SYD-LAX-DFW-DCA 40-180-120-90 =430 (SYD-HNL not available dates I want)
DCA-ORD-SEA-ORD-LHR-MAD-LHR 90-120-120-120-60-60 570
LHR-SIN 180

(If I've got the sums right, that takes me to WP...will all those be credited to allow FLounge access after 1 day in Sing?)

SIN-HKG-ADL-BNE 80-120-60 260

(I could just head straight home to BNE from SIN, but have to be in SIN, and wanted to try CX D class. I also looked at LHR-FRA-AMM-DXB-HKG-SIN-BNE, but won't have time for sightseeing eg in Petra, so as I won't make WP1 this year, don't want to accumulate more SCs than I have to)

Could someone check my sums, and/or suggest alternates for racking up the SCs before getting to SIN?


thanks
 
Hi all you SC run gurus.
I do a couple international flights a year to UK or USA in discount Y (been Silver few years). I now have the opportunity for a DONE4 trip in May and had a few questions. I have to get BNE-Washington in a shortish time frame (ie can't spend too much time getting there), and then onwards to Europe (couple days UK) and then 1 day in Sing.

Thanks to this site, I now know I can get to Platinum in one trip. Need about 1100, which is not to difficult for all the way round, and don't really want to accumulate more than that. Just wanted to check that on a DONE4, do I get SCs for a D or an A seat when flying US sectors on AA in A? I was also wondering if I can make it to WP before I get to Sing. If the SCs accumulate by then, will that enable immediate FLounge access in Sing and HKG, or will I need to get wait to get the WP card?

Anyway, here's my first itinerary attempt:

BNE-SYD-LAX-DFW-DCA 40-180-120-90 =430 (SYD-HNL not available dates I want)
DCA-ORD-SEA-ORD-LHR-MAD-LHR 90-120-120-120-60-60 570
LHR-SIN 180

(If I've got the sums right, that takes me to WP...will all those be credited to allow FLounge access after 1 day in Sing?)

SIN-HKG-ADL-BNE 80-120-60 260

(I could just head straight home to BNE from SIN, but have to be in SIN, and wanted to try CX D class. I also looked at LHR-FRA-AMM-DXB-HKG-SIN-BNE, but won't have time for sightseeing eg in Petra, so as I won't make WP1 this year, don't want to accumulate more SCs than I have to)

Could someone check my sums, and/or suggest alternates for racking up the SCs before getting to SIN?


thanks
Your calculations are correct.You are allowed 2 more sectors on a DONE and 1 can be another NA sector so my suggestion is DFW-BWI(instead of DCA) as that takes you over 1200 miles so 120 SCs instead of 90.Then in one direction ORD-SEA-ORD fly via DFW so ORD-DFW-SEA-ORD.Unfortunately that would leave you 10SCs short of 1100 when you leave LHR.But by flying SYD-DFW you gain an extra 20 SCs over the SYD-LAX sector.But you have lost the LAX-DFW sector.
So I suggest BNE-SYD-DFW-BWI-ORD-DFW-SEA-SFO-ORD-LHR-MAD-LHR.Gives you an extra 90SCs and so you will have your 1100 SCs before you leave LHR.So another Flounge can be added.
 
Your calculations are correct.You are allowed 2 more sectors on a DONE and 1 can be another NA sector so my suggestion is DFW-BWI(instead of DCA) as that takes you over 1200 miles so 120 SCs instead of 90.Then in one direction ORD-SEA-ORD fly via DFW so ORD-DFW-SEA-ORD.Unfortunately that would leave you 10SCs short of 1100 when you leave LHR.But by flying SYD-DFW you gain an extra 20 SCs over the SYD-LAX sector.But you have lost the LAX-DFW sector.
So I suggest BNE-SYD-DFW-BWI-ORD-DFW-SEA-SFO-ORD-LHR-MAD-LHR.Gives you an extra 90SCs and so you will have your 1100 SCs before you leave LHR.So another Flounge can be added.

drron lost me a little but I did note the bit about being 10 SC shy. What about starting in CNS rather than BNE (so CNS-SYD-DFW rather than BNE-SYD-DFW)? That's an extra 10 right there.

And also, is SEA-SFO operated by AS? If so, it's not eligible.
 
A very commonly employed tip to maximising SC's is to change the port of entry to, and exit from, each continental area to maximise the distance flown on the intercontinental segments.

So when flying SWP-N.America, by flying to the East coast (SYD-JFK on QF107, rather than SYD-LAX) you will net an extra 60 SC's. This will also preserve your transcontinental segment.

You can then make your way back to the west coast, and leave from there to head to Europe. This will have less of a gain, but, for example, LAX-LHR nets 140 SC's, ORD-LHR 120 SC's, and JFK-LHR is 100SC's. Another option is DFW-FRA which is 140SC's.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions...so much useful experience here. I'll have a play with routings, otherwise I'll just add another side trip in Europe to use up those 2 sectors (should be another 120 SC) and net me WP before leaving LHR for Asia.

I was surprised that Washington-Seattle was allowed as by my books that's a transcontinental, but the Oneworld RTW booking system seems happy enough. Can't do SEA-LAX on the oneworld rtw booking engine with this itinerary..it's all AA codeshare on Alaska metal.
 
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Plug your routing into MM; One World Validator and tick Ignore errors.

MileageMonkey

If you use this method you'll need to allow for additional SC's on the two class USA domestic AA flights that book into A class.

Also avoid QF flight numbers on these segments a they can often be booked into D class.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...
 
drron lost me a little but I did note the bit about being 10 SC shy. What about starting in CNS rather than BNE (so CNS-SYD-DFW rather than BNE-SYD-DFW)? That's an extra 10 right there.

And also, is SEA-SFO operated by AS? If so, it's not eligible.

Yes I was just going on the AA codeshare which we have used on YUPPS for SFO-SEA.No problem,just use SEA-JFK-ORD or SEA-MIA-ORD.Now that gets even more SCs so could go nback to DCA instead of BWI.
Unfortunately the routing is just over 34000 miles using the SFO option so a DGLOB34 fare is not viable as an alternative to a DONE4.
 
Excellent options. thanks drron and others for helping this newbie.

BNE-SYD-LAX-DFW-BWI 40-180-120-120 =460 ​(dep BNE and arrive BWI 3rd June)
BWI-DFW-SEA-DFW-MIA (stopover)-LHR-MAD-LHR 120-120-120-90-140-60-60 710 (depart BWI 8th June, arrive LHR 10th)

>with existing SCs, that's WP<

LHR-SIN(stopover) -HKG-ADL-BNE 180-80-120-60 420

(There's still one sector allowed which could include HKG-PER-(MEL or SYD or ADL)-BNE if i wanted to add superfluous SCs)

Interestingly the system allows only 45 mins from arriving DFW-SEA to departing SEA-DFW. This strikes me as unusually short..is it because the system "knows" it's the same plane, so if arrival is delayed then so will departure be?

 
...

Interestingly the system allows only 45 mins from arriving DFW-SEA to departing SEA-DFW. This strikes me as unusually short..is it because the system "knows" it's the same plane, so if arrival is delayed then so will departure be?

¾ hours would be within the MCT for AA Dome to AA Dom connections.

It'sd hidden in here:
Code:
...
AA-AA DD   .25
...
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Connecting Cities:
Connecting at SEA
Incoming airline AA
Outgoing airline AA
Flight type Domestic to Domestic

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE   1.10  1.10  1.30  1.30
OFFLINE  1.10  1.10  1.30  1.30
** OR * ARE ALL
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 ANC - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 BLI - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 BOI - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - ANC 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - BLI 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - BOI 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - EUG 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - FAI 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - GEG 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - JNU 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - KTN 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - PDX 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - PSC 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - YEG 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - YKM 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - YYJ 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 EUG - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 FAI - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 GEG - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 JNU - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 KTN - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 PDX - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 PSC - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 YEG - DFW 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 YKM - DFW 
AA-AA DD SUP   FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 2699 ALL - DFW 
AA-AA DD SUP   FLT    1 - 2699 - FLT 5100 - 8399 DFW - ALL 
AA-AA DD SUP   FLT    1 - 8399 - FLT    1 - 8399 
  CANADA - CANADA  
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT    1 - 5099 - FLT 5100 - 8349 
AA-AA DD  1.10 FLT 5100 - 8349 - FLT    1 - 5099 
AA-AA DD SUP   FLT 5100 - 8399 - FLT 5100 - 8399 
[COLOR=#0000ff][B]AA-AA DD   .25 [/B][/COLOR]
**-AA DD SUP   ALL  - FLT 5100 - 8399 
AA-** DD SUP   FLT 5100 - 8399 - ALL  
**-** DD  1.15 INTER BFI - SEA 
**-** DD  1.15 INTER SEA - BFI
 
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I recall seeing a thread on maximum DONE4 SC (>2000SCs) but can't find it now...can someone please provide link?
thanks
 
With the two left over segments why not do LHR-DXB it should give you 100sc each way if you are chasing SC.:)
 
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I recall seeing a thread on maximum DONE4 SC (>2000SCs) but can't find it now...can someone please provide link?
thanks

I may be mistaken but since the advent of 16 segments instead of 20 and the restrictions on DFW-ANC, I don't think it's possible to get greater than 2000 SCs in one DONE4.
 
Thanks for suggestions, booked DONE4 today:

BNE-MEL-LAX-DFW-BWI (2 days in DC)
BWI-DFW-SEA-DFW-MIA (overnight in Miami)
MIA-LHR-MAD-LHR (1 day in London)

LHR-SIN-SYD-BNE.

total 1490 SCs. Obviously that's not maximum SC I could get after London (decided not to use up last two sectors), but it gets me to WP by time I leave for final leg home (which was one aim).

Further question for the gurus:
How quickly do SCs get credited? Transpacific takes me to SG, and MAD-LHR gets me to WP. Is it likely that status will be updated quickly enough to get Flounge access in London if I leave next day LHR-SIN, or will I actually have to wait to get a WP card to pass the dread gatekeepers at LHR and/or SIN?

 
Thanks for suggestions, booked DONE4 today:

BNE-MEL-LAX-DFW-BWI (2 days in DC)
BWI-DFW-SEA-DFW-MIA (overnight in Miami)
MIA-LHR-MAD-LHR (1 day in London)

LHR-SIN-SYD-BNE.

total 1490 SCs. Obviously that's not maximum SC I could get after London (decided not to use up last two sectors), but it gets me to WP by time I leave for final leg home (which was one aim).

Further question for the gurus:
How quickly do SCs get credited? Transpacific takes me to SG, and MAD-LHR gets me to WP. Is it likely that status will be updated quickly enough to get Flounge access in London if I leave next day LHR-SIN, or will I actually have to wait to get a WP card to pass the dread gatekeepers at LHR and/or SIN?


Nice routing. :)

Speed of crediting seems to vary depending on the airline. QF usually quickest (obviously I guess), AA/BA a day or two generally, others up to a week or more. I don't think, based on experience, that you will get the necessary credits in time for WP for the ex-LHR flight (and the BA lounge people tend to be sticklers in general for wanting to see the card), but am happy to be proven wrong. The J lounges at LHR T3/T5 are quite OK anyway. :)
 
I may be mistaken but since the advent of 16 segments instead of 20 and the restrictions on DFW-ANC, I don't think it's possible to get greater than 2000 SCs in one DONE4.

With the proviso of an Australian start point, doing a theoretical route I've managed to make it to 1980 SC...is more than 2000 possible on a DONE4 without extra side trips?

syd-lax-dfw-bwi-dfw-sea-dfw-lax-lhr-dxb-lhr-nrt-del-nrt-sin-nrt-syd
 
With the proviso of an Australian start point, doing a theoretical route I've managed to make it to 1980 SC...is more than 2000 possible on a DONE4 without extra side trips?

syd-lax-dfw-bwi-dfw-sea-dfw-lax-lhr-dxb-lhr-nrt-del-nrt-sin-nrt-syd

That sounds like fun :p

Alas I think DONE4's etc will be out of my reach for quite some time :(



 
With the proviso of an Australian start point, doing a theoretical route I've managed to make it to 1980 SC...is more than 2000 possible on a DONE4 without extra side trips?

syd-lax-dfw-bwi-dfw-sea-dfw-lax-lhr-dxb-lhr-nrt-del-nrt-sin-nrt-syd

Switch SYD-LAX to SYD-JFK and LHR-DXB to LHR-MCT will get you 2080.
 
Thanks for suggestions, booked DONE4 today:

BNE-MEL-LAX-DFW-BWI (2 days in DC)
BWI-DFW-SEA-DFW-MIA (overnight in Miami)
MIA-LHR-MAD-LHR (1 day in London)

LHR-SIN-SYD-BNE.

total 1490 SCs. Obviously that's not maximum SC I could get after London (decided not to use up last two sectors), but it gets me to WP by time I leave for final leg home (which was one aim).

Further question for the gurus:
How quickly do SCs get credited? Transpacific takes me to SG, and MAD-LHR gets me to WP. Is it likely that status will be updated quickly enough to get Flounge access in London if I leave next day LHR-SIN, or will I actually have to wait to get a WP card to pass the dread gatekeepers at LHR and/or SIN?


If you keep the second london stop to <24hrs you'll save some $$$ in taxes (UK Carbon tax). You could also go LHR-MAD-LHR-FRA (24hr stop) then head to SIN and save some tax also.
 
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