Planning in advance-2007 Platinum challenge

[Tiki]

We will be doing a OW RTW 34,000 trip next year, I think it is called a LONE4. I know L class doesn't give full miles/EQP in L class for all OW carriers, but the ones that do are LA, AA, and AY (full miles anyway). It doesn't matter because LA would give us the 10,000 to get the platinum challenge by the time we hit LIM-GRU on LP. We will need to use QF BNE-SYD-PPT (code share) and SIN-BNE, even though it only gives us .5 points.

We are not yet members of AAdvantage, so I am wondering if there are any sign-up bonuses like "member get a member"? I'd like you guys to have first crack at it. There is no hurry since the trip will be in July 2007 unless there is some requirement to be an AA member for a certain period of time before they let you do a challenge?

The routing will be BNE-SYD-PPT-IPC-SCL-LIM-PEM (Puerto Maldonado for jungle lodges)-CUZ-xLIM-GRU-surface-GIG-JFK-LHR-HEL-SIN-BNE. If BA weren't so stingy, I would have used their GIG-LHR flight, and CX is worse-no miles/points at all in L class! :evil:

We would be visiting the USA in 2008 so we will still have our platinum status and be able to use the 500 mile upgrades! I am hoping the platinum comes through on LA while we are in Brazil so we can start using the lounges from GIG onwards.

Any advice would be appreciated, also if you see any flaw in my itinerary?

 

[Tiki]

Sorry, the spreadsheet won't post properly.
Miles = actual miles flown-goes to 34,000 RTW tally
Redeem = miles that should be credited to my account (500 minimum for example)
EQP = points that count for challenge
PLT BONUS = what accrues after reaching platinim status which will happen on LIM-GRU leg.

ROUTE.......MILES........REDEEM.......EQP........... PLT BONUS
BNE SYD....461.............500...............500
SYD PPT.....3807..........1904..............1904
PPT IPC.......2645..........2645..............2645
IPC SCL.......2337..........2337..............2337
SCL LIM.......1543..........1543..............1543
LIM PEM.......534 (domestic LP no miles or points)
PEM CUZ......196
CUZ LIM........363
LIM GRU.......2154..........2154..............2154................2154
GRU GIG......219 (surface but counts in 34,000 miles RTW)
GIG JFK........4807..........4807..............4807................4807
JFK LHR........3446..........3446..............3446................3446
LHR HEL.......1146..........1146................573................1146
HEL SIN........5766..........5766..............2883................5766
SIN BNE.......3824...........1912.............1912.................1912
TTL MILES...33,248........28,160............24,704.............19,231.......GRND TTL...47,391

 

[Dave Noble]

AA doesn't tend to offer sign up bonuses

I can recommend considering upgrading to BAs WT+ from GIG-LHR. This will add $600 to the cost of the ticket and will
(a) give a nice comfy flight to Eggland and
(b) give 100% miles plus 100% platinum bonus plus 10% class of service bonus

There is no need to have been an AA member for any length of time before signing up for a challenge

Dave

 

[Tiki]

LOL, Dave, I guess I should have also mentioned that I am just barely out of backpacker type travelling getting my feet wet and slooooowly moving upscale a bit! It's cheaper to knock myself out with Valium for the duration! My husband can sleep on a plane easily, he even falls asleep in the car when I am driving home from work. Seriously, $600 is like 3 nights in the jungle lodge to see the wild macaws for me. That's not to say I'm gonna toss the free 500 mile upgrade thingys in the trash though!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi Tiki...I am a newbie..and am not an AA member but am looking at it.

as a newbie I stand to be corrected but as I understand it you can geta head start in points by joining foir free...and then electing to get the newsletter by Dec of this year..earns 1000 points.

Then join mypoints to gaina minor 100 points....which gives you a small head start. These points will not help witha challenge but wil of course contribute to any redemptions.



cheers

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So Dave ( as I am thinking of a similar flight in a year or two)..the $600 extra cost with extra comfort is in part offsett by the redemption value of the extra points earned....so comfort on the cheap

 

[vt]

AA doesn't tend to offer sign up bonuses

I can recommend considering upgrading to BAs WT+ from GIG-LHR. This will add $600 to the cost of the ticket and will
(a) give a nice comfy flight to Eggland and
(b) give 100% miles plus 100% platinum bonus plus 10% class of service bonus

There is no need to have been an AA member for any length of time before signing up for a challenge

Dave

Hi Dave,

Is this a *ONE* ticket? I didnt think SYD-PPT was a valid routing as no OneWorld metal fly there. Or am I sadly misinformed? :mrgreen:

 

[Tiki]

I am pretty sure that the mileage fare allows the codeshares. There is a continent based fare that doesn't allow codeshares. QF codeshares on TN for SYD-PPT.

I would be flying on AA GIG-JFK-LHR so my routing will get me 100% miles and points. For me, it's not worth $600 extra to be "comfortable". I have flown all my life in economy and am used to it. I'm an accounts clerk, hubby is a labourer with a simple lifestyle so we am not used to luxury, actually we don't want to get used to luxury because unless we win Lotto, we can't maintain it. Going into the fancy lounges when we get the platinum will be a real novelty for us!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I am pretty sure that the mileage fare allows the codeshares. There is a continent based fare that doesn't allow codeshares. QF codeshares on TN for SYD-PPT.

I would be flying on AA GIG-JFK-LHR so my routing will get me 100% miles and points. For me, it's not worth $600 extra to be "comfortable". I have flown all my life in economy and am used to it. I'm an accounts clerk, hubby is a labourer with a simple lifestyle so we am not used to luxury, actually we don't want to get used to luxury because unless we win Lotto, we can't maintain it. Going into the fancy lounges when we get the platinum will be a real novelty for us!

Okay - you are on a Global Explorer, not a One World Explorer. As you point out, Global Explorers allow certain codeshares.

 

[serfty]

Sorry, the spreadsheet won't post properly....

One trick is to edit your table in NOTEPAD then cut and paste the text into your post between CODE & /CODE tags.(you will lose any font/size/color formatting however)

ROUTE        MILES        REDEEM       EQP          PLT BONUS

BNE SYD        461           500       500
SYD PPT       3807          1904      1904
PPT IPC       2645          2645      2645
IPC SCL       2337          2337      2337
SCL LIM       1543          1543      1543
LIM PEM        534 (domestic LP no miles or points)
PEM CUZ        196
CUZ LIM        363
LIM GRU       2154          2154      2154               2154
GRU GIG        219 (surface but counts in 34,000 miles RTW)
GIG JFK       4807          4807      4807               4807
JFK LHR       3446          3446      3446               3446
LHR HEL       1146          1146       573               1146
HEL SIN       5766          5766      2883               5766
SIN BNE       3824          1912      1912               1912

TTL MILES   33,248        28,160    24,704             19,231

 GRND TTL   47,391

 

[NM]

Note that one oif big advantages of upgradeing BA sectors to WT+ is that it then earns 1.5 EQP/mile flown, rather than 0.25 EQP/mile flown. That is a big difference.

Tiki's trip will be a Global Explorer fare (fare basis LLGOLB34 or LHGLOB34 depending on the season of the first interational flight). Global Explorer is more restrictive in terms of total earning capability, nut does open up some QF codeshares in the SWP region. Global Explorer does not allow travel to continue beyong the point of origin.

 

[Tiki]

Serfty, thanks for fixing up my table, it's so much easier to read now! Other than recommending the WT class, no one has said I did the math wrong, so I guess I got it right the first time? I'm still waiting to see what JL gives when they officially join One World, if they are generous, I would use them instead of AY/QF to get home from LHR. The real focus of the trip is Tahiti, Easter Island, Peru and Brazil. London is just a one night stopover to have a quick peek around. I've been there before, my husband hasn't.

NM, thanks for clearing up exactly what kind of fare it is, it will be high season unfortunately because we will be going to the Heiva Festival in Tahiti which happens in July every year, plus it will be dry season in Peru and Brazil for better bird watching.

NM, what do you mean Global Explorer is more restrictive in earining capacity? They are both booked in L class, right?

 

[NM]

NM, what do you mean Global Explorer is more restrictive in earining capacity? They are both booked in L class, right?

Global Explorer is limited to a certain number of miles - 34,000 in your case. Its easy to get a lot more than 34,000 miles flown using a OneWorld Explorer fare for the same cost, hence being able to earn more FF points/miles. For example, my last 4 continent OneWorld Explorer was 40,000 miles flown, and I could have made it well over 55,000 miles if wanting to maximise earnings.

 

[Tiki]

Thanks, NM! You had me worried that I would get less than the points I had calculated in the spreadsheet! I used L class for each airline involved.

Hey, one more question! How many 500 mile "stickers" will I get out of this? Do I get them on miles, EPQ and do I get them on the Platinum bonus too?

 

[NM]

Hey, one more question! How many 500 mile "stickers" will I get out of this? Do I get them on miles, EPQ and do I get them on the Platinum bonus too?

You get 4 upgrade certs (500 mile upgrades) for each 10,000 Qualifying base miles flown (including guaranteed minimums). Qualifying base miles are different to Qualifying Points.

Since my last DONE4 was just under 40,000 flown miles, I earned 12 UCs (3 lots of 4).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Global Explorer is limited to a certain number of miles - 34,000 in your case. Its easy to get a lot more than 34,000 miles flown using a OneWorld Explorer fare for the same cost, hence being able to earn more FF points/miles. For example, my last 4 continent OneWorld Explorer was 40,000 miles flown, and I could have made it well over 55,000 miles if wanting to maximise earnings.

You can, if you wish, route a DONE4 to over 70,000 miles flown!

 

[Tiki]

You get 4 upgrade certs (500 mile upgrades) for each 10,000 Qualifying base miles flown (including guaranteed minimums). Qualifying base miles are different to Qualifying Points.

Since my last DONE4 was just under 40,000 flown miles, I earned 12 UCs (3 lots of 4).

OK so I will get 2 lots of 4 based on 28,000 base miles? Pity I won't get miles on the LP domestic, that would just about put me close to 30,000. Or maybe JL will give a good rate when they join OW.

 

[NM]

You can, if you wish, route a DONE4 to over 70,000 miles flown!

I am sure it can be done. But I had some must-visit locaitons that would have limited to me to around 55-60K miles flown.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Have you looked at prices yet??

Out of curiousty I just hada look at one discount flights provider...

29,000 Miles
Melbourne - Auckland - Papeete - Easter Island - Santiago - Buenos Aires - London - Dublin - Helsinki - Singapore - Bali - Melbourne

Though I note you are going for 34K

Low Season High Season
26,000 Miles $2539 $3089
29,000 Miles $2949 $3199
34,000 Miles $3449 $3669
39, 000 Miles $4019 $4189


and by continents..

Basic Season Peak Season
4 Continents$2949 $3199
5 Continents$3449 $3679
6 Continents$4019 $4189


And so if you wanted to chase points and status the continent based fares could be cheaper.....


Plus taxes for all....minimum extra $300 plus

 

[Dave Noble]

And so if you wanted to chase points and status the continent based fares could be cheaper.....


Plus taxes for all....minimum extra $300 plus

The OWE fare ( the continent based ATW ticket ) would not allow the person to do the itinery that they are planning since the flight to PPT is operated by a non OW carrier. The GLOB fare, as mentioned before, does allow use of some additional carriers so can allow travel on routes that OWEs doesn't permit.

Dave