Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise SC's

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re: Researching/booking AA "Non-ref "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise status

Well don't delay too much more; check the fare rules for advance purchase timings as some of the offerings cease to be available once you get within 2 or 3 Weeks of the date.

(not to mention the availability of A/P/I classes.)
 
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re: Researching/booking AA "Non-ref "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise status

On the NYC thing - see if you can get into NYC via LGA, it's much closer (and better transport options) to Manhattan than arriving into EWR.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

reubenhills said:
Hi All

Sorry i am fairly new to all this so I apologise in advance for my incompetance etc ..
I have just gone QF gold (700 points) and aiming to go platinum by Sept 1 .I was looking at doing an SC run with AA through the states (im from AUS) .. I would be arriving in the states with QANTAS in LAX . I need to be in MEX ( the purpose of this trip) Id be keen to go via NYC as havnt done it in a few years .. So planning on doing an sc run with AA first class doing LAX-LAS-ORD-EWR then stop over for a day or two in NYC and head down to MEX doing EWR-DFW-MEX Ive calculated a total of 450 scs for a total of AUD1462.54 ..not bad I thought doing my research on AFF although If anyone has any helpful suggestions on any better routes that would be appreciated !!! I just want to check out NYC for a few nights starting out of LAX then head down to MEX ,
Thanks in advance any help appreciated - Russ
Click to expand...

If I was doing this I'd end up boooking 3 different PNRs, I'm also assuming you'll be flying out on the 8th to NYC from LAX with 3 nights in NYC.

LAX-LAS
Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS) - Wed, May 8
AA.png
American 448Dep: 9:40AMArr: 10:50AM1h 10mBoeing 737First (P)

US$190.90

LAS-LGA
Las Vegas (LAS) to New York (LGA) - Wed, May 8

AA.png
Las Vegas (LAS) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Wed, May 8
American 494Dep: 1:15PMArr: 6:05PM2h 50mBoeing 757First (P)
Layover in DFW1h 0m
AA.png
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Charlotte (CLT) - Wed, May 8
American 1912Dep: 7:05PMArr: 10:30PM2h 25mMD-80First (P)
Layover in CLT7h 35m
AA.png
Charlotte (CLT) to New York (LGA) - Thu, May 9
American 4581Dep: 6:05AMArr: 7:50AM1h 45mCanadair RJ 700First (P)


US$611.69

LGA-MEX
New York (JFK) to Mexico City (MEX) - Sun, May 12
AA.png
New York (JFK) to Boston (BOS) - Sun, May 12
American Airlines Inc. 1850Dep: 12:45PMArr: 1:50PM1h 5mBoeing 737First (A)
Layover in BOS0h 55m
AA.png
Boston (BOS) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Sun, May 12
American Airlines Inc. 1281Dep: 2:45PMArr: 6:00PM4h 15mBoeing 737First (A)

Layover in DFW1h 45m
AA.png
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Mexico City (MEX) - Sun, May 12
American Airlines Inc. 559Dep: 7:45PMArr: 10:15PM2h 30mMD-80Business (I)

US$598.40 (There are other options out of LGA for similar pricing but isn't as great on the mileage return or SC)

Brings it to a grand total of US$1400.99 for 540SC.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

I just wanted to give a big Thank You to serfty particularly, & the other contributors to this thread. I'm posting this sitting in the AA lounge at LAX waiting for my flight to CHI. Thanks to this thread I was able to do an Instant Upgrade, am flying First Class, & collecting enough SCs to grab the 8k Loyalty Bonus (just in time) & qualify for another year as an SG. So thanks for sharing all that knowledge!
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Either I'm looking at the wrong things, or most AA instant upgrade fares have significantly gone up in price recently. Not to mention, I can't seem to any longer route SFO-SJU through LAS, ORD, LGA....wants to keep sending me direct to MIA and then onto SJU.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Chris82 said:
Either I'm looking at the wrong things, or most AA instant upgrade fares have significantly gone up in price recently. Not to mention, I can't seem to any longer route SFO-SJU through LAS, ORD, LGA....wants to keep sending me direct to MIA and then onto SJU.
Click to expand...
You're probably looking from the wrong locations. Starting in SFO to SJU will not get you the value you seek. I suggest you fly from the delay by the bay to sin city via hollywoodville on one ticket, and then sin city to the caribbean ;)

Also, EF and matrix are your friend. Remember the best fares are 14-21 days out too. And be sure to tweak the right buttons on aa.com (the new website is nowhere near as YUPP friendly but the info/fares are still there).
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

I can assure you I feel they've gone down in price significantly since I booked some a few months ago. A west coast to mid west routing for me is now about $500 cheaper so as drewbles says you're probably just looking at the wrong dates. My recent experience would suggest waiting to about 2-3 months before you want to travel might see you get the best deal.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Thanks! I think I was being to restrictive in my search options...managed to get it working now. :)
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

isn't the multicity page still the same?
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Another easy way to pay with an Aust credit card is to select the pay later option. Re-enter and all field are now valid and so it is easy to pay with an Aust address and CC. At least this has always worked for me.
 
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Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

I'm heading on my first trip to the USA with my girlfriend in September and am looking for some assistance achieving max SC.

I am looking at flying from Cancun to New York on 25 September and I can see CUN-DFW-BNA-LGA for $502USD (all legs in first except CUN-DFW).

After NY I was planning on heading to DC then Miami before making our way over to the West Coast to see Vegas, SFO and LA where we fly out.

I'm aiming to make platinum during the trip - I'll be around 300SC's short of WP by the time I arrive in Cancun on the 22nd.

Any advice from my fellow AFFers?
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Dudditz said:
I'll be around 300SC's short of WP by the time I arrive in Cancun on the 22nd.
Click to expand...

CUN-x/DFW-x/MIA-LGA would net you 240 SC's assuming CUN-DFW is in J. Obtaining 60 SC's given the rest of your trip shouldn't be too difficult.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Dudditz said:
I'm heading on my first trip to the USA with my girlfriend in September and am looking for some assistance achieving max SC.

I am looking at flying from Cancun to New York on 25 September and I can see CUN-DFW-BNA-LGA for $502USD (all legs in first except CUN-DFW).

After NY I was planning on heading to DC then Miami before making our way over to the West Coast to see Vegas, SFO and LA where we fly out.

I'm aiming to make platinum during the trip - I'll be around 300SC's short of WP by the time I arrive in Cancun on the 22nd.

Any advice from my fellow AFFers?
Click to expand...

Cancun with a girlfriend? Noooo. Haha.

If you're going to LAS, you're in a good spot for an SC run. Something as simple as LAS-xLAX-SFO will get you more than you need for a pittance.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Danger said:
Cancun with a girlfriend? Noooo. Haha.

If you're going to LAS, you're in a good spot for an SC run. Something as simple as LAS-xLAX-SFO will get you more than you need for a pittance.
Click to expand...

Speaking from experience, Danger?
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Danger said:
Haha. I wish. Cancun is on the list for a visit in the future, however.
Click to expand...
Having just got back to LOTFAP from CUN, I would say this..

Don't bother :)

Mind you, i'm not one for oppressive heat and humidity. We were pushing high 30ºC temps and 85% plus humidity (was down there for a wedding). It's really a town for the college students. It also recently rated in one of the 10 most expensive tourist cities in the world. They love USD down there, but they also price everything in Pesos and USD, using a terrible currency conversion (and ripping you off on both currencies).

I can see why it's "spring break" central though. Cheap cerveza :)

If you're looking at a SC run, i'd say skip Mehico and investigate other 'off-shore' US islands ;). They can be quite profitable (although the weather is still just as terrible!) and avoids the need to explain to customs why you're there for a short period (as it's technically a domestic route).
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Danger said:
Cancun with a girlfriend? Noooo. Haha.

If you're going to LAS, you're in a good spot for an SC run. Something as simple as LAS-xLAX-SFO will get you more than you need for a pittance.
Click to expand...

If I were a single man I'd quite possibly being staying in Cancun but we will actually be spending our time in Playa Del Carmen with a day trip to Tulum.

I've already booked my flight from Lima to Cancun so that's my point of origin to the USA.

I'd be very keen for an SJU run but I'd say I'd be doing that solo!

Thanks for the info everyone, should be a cracking trip heading from Aus to Argentina, Brazil and Peru before Mexico and the USA.
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Thanks Serfty for this information. it will be very helpful on my next trip to the States.
Mods - any chance of making this a sticky?
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Danger said:
If you're going to LAS, you're in a good spot for an SC run. Something as simple as LAS-xLAX-SFO will get you more than you need for a pittance.
Click to expand...

Just be careful with that routing and/or make sure you make the stop in LAX. I booked LAS-LAX-SFO straight through in F on seperate flight numbers (AA1308 into AA1967) about 3-4 months ago for a trip in August and got an itinerary change a fortnight ago saying that it has all become one flight number now (AA1967 FWIW). It has cost me 60 SC's :mad:
 
Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

ncraigm said:
Just be careful with that routing and/or make sure you make the stop in LAX. I booked LAS-LAX-SFO straight through in F on seperate flight numbers (AA1308 into AA1967) about 3-4 months ago for a trip in August and got an itinerary change a fortnight ago saying that it has all become one flight number now (AA1967 FWIW). It has cost me 60 SC's :mad:
Click to expand...

Ooooh. Don't count your losses just yet. Submit an original routing credit claim to QF and you'll be more than likely credited its the 60 SCs.
 
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