How to maximise SC for trip between MEL - PBI?

[straitman]

Help would be appreciated with how to maximise Qantas Status Credits using a D class ticket between Melbourne and West Palm Beach Florida. Preferred stops are SFO, PBI (obviously), BOS, and HKG.

Any gems of wisdom out there :?: :roll:

 

[NM]

Its a shame you are starting in MEL :cry: . Not only because MEL is MEL, but because you cannot fit MEL-PBI and return to MEL into the 22,000 mile limit of a OneWorld Circle Pacific fare. So that would need a DCIR26 fare costing about $1500 more, but giving more options for maximising SCs.

For a DCIR26 fare from MEL, try something like this:

MEL-SYD-AKL-LAX-LAS-SFO-DFW-PBI-DFW-YVR-HKG-SYD-MEL

or

MEL-SYD-LAX-LAS-DFW-PBI-DFW-ORD-SFO-HKG-MEL

Both of these have the advantage of using Cathay Pacific over the North Pacific routing. Using AA to NRT is shorter, allowing more advantage to be taken on the AA domestic flights in First Class earning F SCs.

If you can start and finish in BNE, and use FLL or MIA instead of PBI (PBI is only serviced from DFW, while FLL and MIA are services from DFW and ORD), you could do:

BNE-LAX-SFO-DFW-FLL/MIA-ORD-NRT-BNE and fit under 22,000 miles. Then spend the $1500 saved on a MEL-BNE-MEL fare from the current D class fare sale.

 

[straitman]

NM

Thanks for your response. Is there a difference between a 'One World Circle Explorer' & a 'One World Explorer' and their associated fares :?:

It looks to me that your tracks actually include some back tracks, although your much more the expert here than me. Could you please clarify:?:

For info the fare structure is based upon MEL-PBI business class (D) or equivilent. Anything cheaper is good and anything dearer I pay the difference.

 

[NM]

NM

Thanks for your response. Is there a difference between a 'One World Circle Explorer' & a 'One World Explorer' and their associated fares :?:

Oop, sorry. That should have been OneWorld Circle Pacific fare. I have edited my original post to avoid confusion for others who read later. The Circle Pacific fare is cheaper than a OneWorld Explorer (RTW) fare. With the Circel pacific you are limited to a max number of miles, either 22K, 26K or 29K. You must cross the South Pacific in one direction and the North Pacific in the other direction. All travel on OneWorld airlines. Max 2 stopovers in each region (SWP, NA, Asia). Max 20 sectors. Travel on AA domestic is in A (First) class, rest is D if available.

It looks to me that your tracks actually include some back tracks, although your much more the expert here than me. Could you please clarify:?:

You can backtrack within the continent. Restrictions are as I listed above (simplified somewhat). The real limiting factor is the mileage restriction, and that affects the fare. For example, a DCIR22 fare costs A$7029 plus charges, while a DCIR26 costs A$8579. So there is a good incentive to stay under 22K miles.

For info the fare structure is based upon MEL-PBI business class (D) or equivilent. Anything cheaper is good and anything dearer I pay the difference.

So how does the DCIR22 and DCIR26 I listed above compare to your D fare? It will certainly be cheaper than the J fare.

 

[straitman]

So how does the DCIR22 and DCIR26 I listed above compare to your D fare? It will certainly be cheaper than the J fare.

NM,

The good folks at the travel service provider looked at this a little differently. Our entitlement is for Business class from MEL - PBI - MEL. Other cheaper variations are acceptable. They looked at pricing and came up that the 34,000 mile OWE fare was cheaper than any of the DONEX fares. - Works for me.

This has given me a fare (pun) bit of lattitide with what I can do. I've managed to go where I need and a few other places. Unfortunately time has limited the posibilities a little.

Travelling MEL-BNE-LAX-SFO-DFW-IAH-MIA-BOS-LHR-HKG-SIN-PER-MEL with a side trip of IAH-LFT-IAH.

 

[NM]

The good folks at the travel service provider looked at this a little differently. Our entitlement is for Business class from MEL - BPI - MEL. Other cheaper variations are acceptable. They looked at pricing and came up that the 34,000 mile OWE fare was cheaper than any of the DONE fares. - Works for me.

That is interesting. The fare is actually the OneWorld Global Explorer, which is the mileage-based RTW fare, and has the fare code GLOB34. The OneWorld Explorer (DONE4) is the continent-based fare.

But in my experience, the 34,000 mile Global Explorer (GLOB34) and the 4-continent OneWorld Explorer (DONE4) are listed as exactly the same base price ($9,539). The same goes for the First Class version of these fares ($13,269). Its unusual to get different discounts for these two fares.

And the DONE4 is more flexible and less restrictive, with the only exception being that the GLOB34 fare permits travel on certain south-Pacific codeshare flights operated by non-OneWorld airlines. So of you need to get to places like Fiji, then it is the only choice.

Just remember that with DGLOB34 you only get 3 stopovers in North America, while DONE4 permits up to 6 NA sectors giving you up to 7 stopovers.