Maximising Status Credits in the USA.

[ReLoad]

Firstly a huge thanks to all posters, really great info!.

No i havent got any bookings made at this stage apart from the MEL/LAX/MEL which is out of my hands anyways.

But the rest is free for me to sort out.

The LAX-DFW-ORD-DFW-LAX for $1500 isnt a bad option, and as you suggest a bucket load of SC's

The ORD-DFW-ORD as suggested will be in Y, crazy fares there

As for what im looking to achieve, and the budget, Well My highest i've every been is Gold, got close to platinum once, 80 SC's off it, and kicked myself that i never got it, was my own fault really, anyways all this flying im doing and will be doing until the end of the year at least leads me to think just how unamused i am at sitting at airports with delays and no lounge to get a drink, some snacks and weeping at a 53K boarding pass.

The budget isnt an issue within reason of course, and again, this is an ego stroking excercise to achieve something, so i guess that needs to be taken into account.

So ill be gold in about 3 weeks, which takes care of the one equation, but i know on current bookings and plans, that in December, when my SC's roll over, im going to be a few hundred short of platinum, and again ill be kicking myself.

So i've got a great USA trip lined up with some opportunities to earn the SC's needed to go all the way

I hope that doesn't sound too nutty?

 

[serfty]

...

I hope that doesn't sound too nutty?

Not on this forum

May I add my welcome too.

 

[notzac]

So i've got a great USA trip lined up with some opportunities to earn the SC's needed to go all the way

I hope that doesn't sound too nutty?

Not at all exactly how many do you need to hit 1400?

 

[ReLoad]

Not at all exactly how many do you need to hit 1400?

I hit Gold on the 17th of May on QF400 Have a quiet bag of sliced apples in celebration for me

June i have my states trip which means im not doing my weekly mel/syd/mel nor any extras the odd BNE or a second Mel/syd/mel.

So based on the current plans, not including any SC's from America, i will be close to WP at the end of the year (my SC's expire 31 December)

But if when im in the states i do a cool status run, such as discussed above, then ill hit it in September without any worries at all.

So far from the above i am really digging the LAX-ORD via DFW Thats a trip i need to do anyways, and gives pretty good bang for buck

You guys are great on the advice so thanks again!

 

[ReLoad]

Ok, so tomorrow ill book my flights and get organised, so any last things i need to know or should worry about?

Looks like im about to embark on what seems to be a slippery slope!

I dont have access to anyone in the US for addresses, so im going to try the hold booking and ring AA and pay for it. - any pointers?

So to confirm those flights are available and i will actually fly in F, can the AA person do seat assignement? or how does that work?

Again thanks for everyones pointers! im definatly going to have to blog this journey, as I am sure when im sitting in DFW airport waiting for hours i wont be as excited as i am now!

 

[serfty]

Try booking the same routing on the Australian AA web site. (American Airlines | Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations) check the price (adjusting the AUD to compare with USD)

If you hold and call AA in OZ you will be up for an additional $60 for each booking.

If you call AA in the USA they are unlikely to accept an Oz CC.

I have successfully booked on AA.com and paid in USD and travelled using an address like:

150 Lonsdale St
Melbourne, Australia, 3001
El Segundo, California 90245

 

[serfty]

Also, have a look here.

www.centuryinthemaking.com

You can register, pick 5 games and get a 10% fare discount code - note that to use it you cannot hold a booking. You will need to book using an "el segundo" type method above.

 

[notzac]

Also, have a look here.

www.centuryinthemaking.com

You can register, pick 5 games and get a 10% fare discount code - note that to use it you cannot hold a booking. You will need to book using an "el segundo" type method above.

Nice work! That would neatly take care of any currency conversion differences

ReLoad, assuming you book on the US site - when you go through the booking process you'll be able to enter your QFF number and also select seats.

 

[klavdy]

Also, have a look here.

www.centuryinthemaking.com

You can register, pick 5 games and get a 10% fare discount code - note that to use it you cannot hold a booking. You will need to book using an "el segundo" type method above.

Hahaha!

Good onya , that is a beauty.

Wish I'd got onto it when I booked those flights yesterday on the Australia Section of A.A.

 

[ReLoad]

Way cool, everyone loves a promo code, bloody well spotted!

[/sarcasm on]
Man how good was that 99 yard pass back in '82
Or when OU beat Texas with the last play fo the day?
So tough finding my 5 favourite memories......
[/ Sarcasm off]

thanks heaps, oh and BTW, i am moving into El Segundo some time today seems like quite the place to live!

 

[ReLoad]

OK - Update on the status run and needed flights all sorted out for June.

MEL/LAX whY (non mile-SC earner)
LAX/DFW F 1233miles 120SC
DFW/ORD F 802miles 90SC
stopover - work related
ORD/DFW F 802miles 90SC
DFW/SLC F 988miles 90SC
SLC/DFW whY 988miles 15SC
stopover- work related
DFW/ORD whY 802miles 15SC
stopover - work related
ORD/DFW F 802miles 90SC
DFW/LAX F 1233miles 120SC
LAX/MEL whY (non mile-SC earner)

Total costs:
LAX-ORD return (both ways via DFW) in F = $1238 USD (420SC)
ORD-SLC (via DFW) in F = $379 USD (180SC)
SLC-DFW in whY = $206 USD (15SC)
DFW-ORD in whY = $235 USD(15SC)

so all up 630 SC's for just over $2050 USD. the only real extra journey that didnt need to be made is the SLC leg (via DFW), the rest are on my way to the right destination, just via DFW every time.

A HUGE thanks to everyone here for their help and guidance, much appreciated, (and especially the 10% vouchers) and ill let everyone know how i go

Hopefully sometime after all this ill be sitting back sipping a ice cold one with all you WP's

 

[Voyages]

And American Eagle flights are single class.

No, if you fly an American Eagle service that’s just 1-class… economy… you’ll get economy SC’s. I believe.

Not quite true anymore. From 02 July, American Eagle will introduce first class service on all routes for which they're using CRJ-700 aircraft.

 

[Blackadder]

Not quite true anymore. From 02 July, American Eagle will introduce first class service on all routes for which they're using CRJ-700 aircraft.

Given the size or more precisely lack there of for a CRJ-700 how would they manage the seating for F?? 1 seat per row for 3/4 rows at the front?

 

[Voyages]

Given the size or more precisely lack there of for a CRJ-700 how would they manage the seating for F?? 1 seat per row for 3/4 rows at the front?

The first 3 rows, 3 seats each, 1-2 config.

 

[serfty]

A/P class availability may be problematic.

 

[blueflamenco]

Do you earn status credits on Alaska Airlines flights?

 

[notzac]

Do you earn status credits on Alaska Airlines flights?

Only if they are booked using the AA codeshare flight number (and are ticketed in a fare bucket that earns miles/SCs).

 

[blueflamenco]

How would I book using the codeshare number?

I can book through aa.com is this what you mean? And the fare is a first class fare so I am guessing that it will earn the same status credits as published on the Qantas table?

Also.. When you do book with AA how long does it take after the flight completion to receive the credit for it on your Qantas account?

 

[Voyages]

Also.. When you do book with AA how long does it take after the flight completion to receive the credit for it on your Qantas account?

My experience is between 3-5 working days

A/P class availability may be problematic.

serfy, can you please explain the difference(s) between A class and P class? I understand that most of the UPP fares have P class, but have recently noticed A class on some.

 

[serfty]

... serfy, can you please explain the difference(s) between A class and P class? I understand that most of the UPP fares have P class, but have recently noticed A class on some.

A and P class are both discounted First Class fare buckets on AA. Som YUPP fares may book into A and others into P.

Given relatively few seats on the CRJ's, AA are less like to release as many seats for these buckets as thay may in larger aircraft.