People in my office think I'm strange... but it makes perfect sense to me!

[BensAdventures]

I needed to get from Melbourne to Orlando late in November. I'm currently hunting points and SC's to get myself as quickly to LTG as possible, so I can start building with another alliance, so I decided to be creative with my booking!

With QF J seats to USA currently sitting near $10K, I was never going to pay that, plus my nominal budget was closer to $7.5K. So I had a few options, island jump via Fiji in J, fly PE with QF, or get more creative.

I can justify (just) a bit of business in Asia, so I started looking at options. Originally I was going to do a circle pacific fare out of HKG, but that not overly complicated. The on the weekend I found (while playing with my ITA app on iPad) an AA fare (codesharing with JL from BKK-NRT-BKK & NRT-ORD) that went BKK-NRT-ORD-MCO-DFW-NRT-BKK for $4150 AUD. It's AA flight numbers the whole way, so I'll get cabin and status bonus. The internal US flights are in First, so nice bonuses there too. I'll probably fly Y to BKK, but I'm considering JQ in 'J', but boss knows I oringally pitched Y for $1300 return, so we'll see...

So the point here is this. For around $5.5K, I'll get to and from the US mostly in J, some in F, plenty of points & SC's and probably an extra 16 hours in the air. This compares to PE to LAX, then Y to MCO for almost $5K, or J all the way for almost $10K. This makes perfect sense to be me, so why is everyone looking at me strangely??

 

[spudwa]

Because apart from all the points and SC's if you haven't flown J/F internationally and had access to lounges you don't realise that flying can actually be comfortable and fun.

 

[tuapekastar]

Having received similar looks for much less convoluted routings in the past, I think it is sometimes better not to tell them.

 

[BensAdventures]

Having received similar looks for much less convoluted routings in the past, I think it is sometimes better not to tell them.

Good plan! All my pride in finding this fare has been evaporated here a little....

I still get mocked for flying to Europe via RGN, but hey $700 return with BA F from Yangon to Copenhagen, worth it any day of the week! Plus I got 160,000 QFF points out of it after family transfers! GOLD!

 

[Hvr]

Ben, you need to keep 'the worlds' apart. Those of us here understand, appreciate and even admire you for your routing. People in the 'other world' simply don't understand and therefore do not need to know of what we do.

 

[cove]

If you drop into Los Angeles just check Costco to see if they are selling $300 US AA gift cards for $269.99. May as well save 10% seeing they are valid at all times.

Now of course the office folks are battling with some AFF concepts because our behaviour is being monitored!

 

[ozmille]

Ben, you need to keep 'the worlds' apart. Those of us here understand, appreciate and even admire you for your routing. People in the 'other world' simply don't understand and therefore do not need to know of what we do.

Until you take them in the Flounge... Than they go "now I get why you do these weird routings"

 

[Boris spatsky]

I just did JL and AA to ORD for $7000 in J, a good $3500 less than QF. Such a good way to go, for the price of QF PE (or at least it was for last week).

So i understand your needs - good luck!

 

[Deleted member]

All sounds perfectly sane to me


It is I, Leclerc !

 

[cove]

The office folks started to pay attention when we started booking them on business class flights to America from Perth in business class for about $1,500 return using frequent flyer points. I don't think anyone wants to go back so that is a bit weird.
Then the domestic sectors in business and now the business class lounges.....before you know it they are strange too when they start talking to their friends......

 

[drewbles]

If you drop into Los Angeles just check Costco to see if they are selling $300 US AA gift cards for $269.99. May as well save 10% seeing they are valid at all times.

Now of course the office folks are battling with some AFF concepts because our behaviour is being monitored!

Alas Costco have ceased to sell these. They depleted their stocks and will not be doing them any longer

 

[Newk]

Not quite so mad but we are going Adelaide to Brisbane tomorrow via Canberra and back via Sydney on Sunday. All JASA legs.
I DO understand. But I also notice (most) people's eyes glazing over when I try to discuss it. Not everybody...I now have three friends playing the game and another very interested.

Indeed I knew about this forum for many years before I used it. I was told by someone who used to make MY eyes glaze over. So I have an understanding of both sides.

Have a wonderful trip

 

[cove]

Drewbles you know that hurts about AA. Hope they still do Flemings $100 vouchers for 79.99. Last time I bought six and loved the discount dining. We love Costco in the US.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ben, you need to keep 'the worlds' apart. Those of us here understand, appreciate and even admire you for your routing. People in the 'other world' simply don't understand and therefore do not need to know of what we do.

They are all muggles

 

[whatmeworry]

I know a few people who could make a lot of points from paying their taxes online and become the next "cove", however most thought it was too hard and not worth it! However, if you ask cove whether it was all worth it, I don't think you even need to know what his answer would be!

 

[cove]

Our Hollywood AFFer told me he really enjoyed going in First on AA to both New York and London. AA has some new 777s and he got them both on promos and gift cards. The AA gift cards seem to be over according to Drewbles so that is a bummer.
Travel at the speed of thought seems to be working out nicely.

 

[BensAdventures]

Until you take them in the Flounge... Than they go "now I get why you do these weird routings"

Great point! Took our Admin manager into the SYD Flounge last month, then she experience J for the first time long haul. I haven't been asked since "How much did that fare cost?!"

 

[JohnK]

No need for work people to know about convoluted routings as they simply do not understand. Most people do not want to connect. Most people do not care about airline lounges including First Class lounge.

When I first started in my current job the IT Director could not understand how I was Platinum flying economy and he was only Gold flying business class.

 

[orangehenry]

I still get mocked for flying to Europe via RGN, but hey $700 return with BA F from Yangon to Copenhagen, worth it any day of the week! Plus I got 160,000 QFF points out of it after family transfers! GOLD!

Wait! $700 BA F? Where did you find that??

 

[BensAdventures]

Wait! $700 BA F? Where did you find that??

Just search the International Cheap Airfares section for the thread about cheap fares from RGN. All will be explained there... I wonder if I'll even book anything that cheap ever again!