Quickfire West Coast status run on AA?

[Gold Member]

Well it seems we can now all max out the multi-city tool with 14 legs traversing North America's farthest reaches while earning over 1,000 SCs for just over a grand. But what if I just want something with half the SCs/travel time and offering close to $2 per SC? Am I asking too much?

I've exhausted my paper thin levels of patience playing with AA's search engine over the past few days trying to find a return fare that:

- offers a minimum of 350 and up to 700 SCs originating on the West Coast
- commences in LAX (but OK with SFO, LAS or SAN if the positioning flight cost is taken into account of overall run time/value)
- commences evening of March 30th or morning of 31st
- can travel up to 3.5 days
- is under $800
- ideally can stay at the destination or stopover point for a full day to atleast make something of it

I've got a couple in my back pocket for roughly $1000 and 600 SCs but I'm hoping y'all can suggest something better. Anyone?

 

[grussellt]

I can save you a few dollars. Try
March 31 AA1040/546 SFO-DFW-MIA
April1 AA925/926 MIA-SAL-MIA
April2 AA1979/399 MIA-DFW-SFO

A little under $850 (F/J) for 540SC (If my sums are correct)

 

[Limewood]

I can save you a few dollars. Try
March 31 AA1040/546 SFO-DFW-MIA
April1 AA925/926 MIA-SAL-MIA
April2 AA1979/399 MIA-DFW-SFO

A little under $850 (F/J) for 540SC (If my sums are correct)

Going US Aug. what would I get as SG and pay for.

LAX/SFO/DFW/MIA/LAS/LAX (with stopover each city)

as Y or J (as yupp)

 

[kempvet]

commences in LAX

Unfortunately, I have never seen a good SC flight that starts in LAX (or any other hub), and as you say, starting in SFO, LAS etc is needed.

I know that there is a flight starting in SLC (think that it is 120 dollars rtn economy to get there from LAX) then fly SLC-LAX-DFW-BWI return for about $1100 if the booking engine throws up this flight, seems to be there all the time regardless of the date.

The good part is that it is a 2 days flight, stop over in BWI, it may be a quick was to get 600 SCs at about $2 per SC,

Just a thought. I checked for March, flight is still there, this could be a good flight if you just wanted a couple of days, but I am not sure of the connection times to SLC from LAX, could leave too early or arrive too late to connect, may mean hotel in SLC which may make the flight useless. Maybe you can find a flight to arrive at SLC and then use this journey.

Would be very surprised if you can find a flight on the west coast for under $1.80 per SC, seems to be mandatory that a trip on business outside the US needs to be included to drive down the cost.

Maybe easier to do LAS-LAX-SEA-LAX-LAS twice for $1500 stay in inexpensive hotel in LAS, fly Alaskan, they will book you into F, can then enjoy the lounge in SEA (I think?) and better planes and F class on plane (So I have heard). I think that it is better to pay a little more for comfort and practical reasons. I am thinking of booking a 1050 SC flight for 1250 dollars, but it is all over the place, likely sleeping in the airports, but would rather do the SLC-BWI run a couple of tmes and have a decent break in between, costs more, but more practical.

By the way, the SLC-BWI flight is the same cost if you take a break and want to look around Washington, not many SC run flights will let you do this.

 

[kempvet]

I can save you a few dollars. Try
March 31 AA1040/546 SFO-DFW-MIA
April1 AA925/926 MIA-SAL-MIA
April2 AA1979/399 MIA-DFW-SFO

A little under $850 (F/J) for 540SC (If my sums are correct)

there is a slight variation of this flight, same dates, and same origin (Destination), 780 SCs for $986 (F/J)

 

[serfty]

There is a newish fare alluded to here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....es/the-great-sc-chase-29553-2.html#post546719

In respect to that post I have sent the OP a PM.

 

[kempvet]

just a question off topic, my partner lives in the US most of the time, what is the easiest way for her to qualify for the 4 qantas flights which are needed to obtain status, there may be no point her taking any SC run in the US, if she has to fly to Australia to qualify.

 

[TimB]

Unfortunately, I have never seen a good SC flight that starts in LAX (or any other hub), and as you say, starting in SFO, LAS etc is needed.

I have seen a good SC flight starting in LAX - and I was surprised to find it. There are clues in this thread and elsewhere, but I don't want to reveal much more.

It almost meets the OP's requirements: 720 SCs, one day travelling each way with a day (or more) at the destination, but the price is (at the moment) about $955, so somewhat over the desired cost.

In my experience it's very hard to find return YUPP-type fares for much less than $1000.

 

[serfty]

The OP was aware of the journey I PM'ed him (and that I alluded to herevia TimB's post in another thread). It's currently USD1005 r/t (~AUD950).

As indicated, it's tough to get that many SC's for under $1k, especially if you are time restricted.

 

[Gold Member]

Thanks to all that responded, and via PM. As I suspected, the West Coast is fresh out of good short runs.

For those booking one-way or return fares (not multi-city), see if you can score a 5-10% discount with your dates - Promo / Discount Code(s) Requests and/or Offers [2012 - onward] - FlyerTalk Forums

GM

 

[dfcatch]

Dammit!

I just purchased three sets of flights today

 

[djfuzz]

Damn it Gold Member, I still haven't figured out your original puzzle! Nothing I throw at the page seems to bring up quite the magical results everyone else seemed to have found.

 

[dfcatch]

FWIW I just booked the run that Serfty refers to above for next month ex-LAX.

$1.28/SC.

After factoring in positioning flights, accommodation during and after.... Still comes in at $2.16/SC

 

[serfty]

Dammit!

I just purchased three sets of flights today

Relax!

none of these codes work with multi-segment searches and subsequent bookings thereof.

 

[Gold Member]

Damn it Gold Member, I still haven't figured out your original puzzle! Nothing I throw at the page seems to bring up quite the magical results everyone else seemed to have found.

Lol, well now that the fare has gone (50%) higher, I am happy to publicize the routes for the 'special remedial' class out there

LGA-STL-ORD and vv (150 SCs)
JFK-BOS-ORD and vv (150 SCs)

Both were $300 back when I posted. WRT to my riddle, 'two Queens' are the two airports in the Queens district of NY (LGA and JFK), and 'Hare in a knot' refers to Chicago O'hare (ORD). Kicking yourself yet??

I can recommend a very good counsellor that specializes in AA status run shame if interested? Through a friend of a friend, of course... :shock:

 

[dfcatch]

Hmmm i never picked the STL connection..... But then I never looked beyond the BOS option

 

[Princess Fiona]

lol !! I have spent a good chunk of the afternoon on the iPhone watching kids swim whilst I work out my run ex-West Coast.
Love those three class trans-cons and thinking of a trip to the house of mouse

 

[djfuzz]

Lol, well now that the fare has gone (50%) higher, I am happy to publicize the routes for the 'special remedial' class out there

LGA-STL-ORD and vv (150 SCs)
JFK-BOS-ORD and vv (150 SCs)

Both were $300 back when I posted. WRT to my riddle, 'two Queens' are the two airports in the Queens district of NY (LGA and JFK), and 'Hare in a knot' refers to Chicago O'hare (ORD). Kicking yourself yet??

I can recommend a very good counsellor that specializes in AA status run shame if interested? Through a friend of a friend, of course... :shock:

I got the clues - just didn't get the routing!

 

[Gold Member]

A lazy Saturday morning has inspired me to replenish the Multicity tool patience tether. With ongoing therapy, I'm hopeful I can overcome this affliction.

Given that there aren't any decent runs on the West Coast, small or large, you'll have to forgive me for only serving up a 170 SC run at $427 inc (USD $2.5/SC). It doesn't have the convenience of the old SFO-LAX-LAS (vv) return day trip, but it might suit those wanting to kick back and relax in a beautiful city/state while Trail Blazing around.