Hi All,
Need to pick the brains of the experts on here for some DONE4 advice, sorry for another thread!
In December this year we need to visit New York and goto Paris on the way home,
We are based in BNE but starting SYD to see friends and so that I can (hopefully!) use some sectors in return.
Current plan is: SYD-LAX-JFK, 2 weeks in NYC, JFK – CDG, 2 weeks in Paris, CDG-LHR-SIN-BNE.
2 questions:
I am wondering what sort of status credit run I could do from NYC? Willing to spend 2 days doing a run.
How many flight can I take when I get back to BNE? What would be the best to get status credits?
I am currently Qantas gold (with 435 credits) and need 965 status credits to make platinum, my renewal year will happen 2 days after arriving in Paris. Any tips to make platinum?
I'm no expert, but I'll offer my thoughts until the real ones show up.
Qantas won't comp you up to WP on a gain, though it seems fairly common on retain, so you need to get those 965 credits before Paris.
If you can squeeze them in, I'd be looking at flying BNE-SYD the long way to begin the trip. You are only allowed one transcontinental hop, but Qantas treats Canberra as being in the middle of the island, so BNE-CBR-PER-SYD will get you 40+80+80 = 200 SC and still have one flight over for SYD-BNE to get your tired but happy bones home.
Be careful on the BNE-SYD sector. You want a jet, not a Dash-8 or QF400 with no Business cabin. I think these little propjobs are a lot of fun, but you're not doing this for fun.
I'm assuming that you're bringing your partner with you, and she won't hold still for status run malarkey, so perhaps you could leave a day earlier while she flies direct, or alternatively do the Perth trip one weekend earlier and fork out for SYD-BNE (return?) as a positioning flight to get you back home to start out again. On the other hand, if your partner fancies a quick Business Class jaunt over to Perth as an effective freebie before the main event, then that's all positive. You should be able to find a good but cheap hotel room in Perth for a night if you go hunting on wotif.com or similar.
SYD-LAX-JFK is one intercontinental sector, earning 240 points, so that gives you 515 SCs to make up in North America and Europe. JFK-CDG is another intercontinental sector, and that should get you 120 SC, leaving you 395 SC to make up in the six flights allowed in North America. Given that a DONE4 maps into First on 2-class domestic AA flights, earning bulko bonus points, this isn't real difficult. JFK-Seattle is 150 SC alone, looking at my activity statement. You'll need the real brains to max out six flights in two days under DONE4 rules, but so long as you don't mind wedging your bum into a comfy seat for two days straight, I'd say you can get a reasonable total.
JFK-CDG-LHR-SIN-SYD-BNE is the most efficient routing home for you via Paris, but hardly optimum for status earn. Maybe you can talk your partner into some wacky excursions, maybe not. Anyway, it's probably pointless shooting for PG, as she'll certainly get SG out of the trip, and keeping your partner sweet is extremely important.
Assuming you make WP by Paris, it could be tricky getting that platinum card before you leave. You'll need to have the flights posted, and AA isn't as quick off the mark in that department as they could be. However, your boarding passes should reflect your shiny new status, and that's all you need to get into First lounges on the way home.
Two weeks in NYC and two weeks in Paris! Now there's a pleasant way to spend a month. I crammed a lot into a day in Manhattan week before last, so I've got some ideas there, and I had five nights in Paris with my wife in April, so even more notions there.
Not sure about NYC, but in Paris if you are looking for a well-situated hotel that is reasonably cheap, take a look at
Hotel-Hospitel, right beside Notre Dame on Ile de la Citie. Certainly not grand luxury, but clean and comfortable, quirky and convenient.
And finally, give you joy of your trip!
