SC Run Ideas

[shellthom]

Hi again,

I am looking at a status run in feb in Hawaii - but will still want a holiday or in May (but would prefer the status before May I guess to make use of the F lounge) when in the US. LAS/JFK/MCO are destinations where we are fully booked out so can't fly on those dates, DFW and ONT are mainly for my parents so myself and my partner can Fly off on our own should we need. But again I think Hawaii is better. I am looking for something under $1000 each. I am open to using the easter long weekend or domestic runs in April.

My year started 1/11/12 and I have 50 Sc and 34000 points at the moment
Partners started 1/7/12 and he has 130 SC and 11000 points

Our Bookings and SC/points I worked out:

26-29 Jan SYD - AKL - SYD / J / LAN / 160 SC / 4,024 points
13-15 Feb SYD - OOL - SYD / Y / QF / 20 SC / 2,000 points
27 Feb - 6 Mar SYD - HNL - SYD / Y / J* plus bundle / 70 SC / 10,148 points
** Nothing in April having withdrawals **
1 - 4 May SYD - ADL - SYD / Y / J* plus bundle / 30 SC / 2,000 points
13 - 31 May SYD - LAX - SYD / Y / QF / 90 SC / 14,982
Ok I booked the below before I found out about this forum and I kick myself every time I think about it because the fare JFK - MCO was better timed and cheaper as a YUPP fare than the travelpass tickets we bought :'(
13 May LAX - LAS / G / AA / 10 SC / 500
16 May LAS - JFK / S / AA / 20 SC / 1124
18 May JFK - MCO / S / AA / 10 SC / 500
23 May MCO - DFW / S / AA / 10 SC / 500
27 May DFW - ONT / S / AA / 10 SC / 594

Intended Travel:

South Africa to pick up a Done4 and return to oz not sure if pre or post my renewal date - might depend on projected status level and if it would get me over the line for the next tier or not
North Korea towards the end of the year not sure on timing yet or if we will have the time to go (flights with OW to Beijing)
RIO of NYE using the DONE4 onward to EU and South Africa depending on funds might points home LONE4 home or renew a DONE4
Want to go to AYQ or DRW before we go to ADL - then I win the all states contest

Can anyone help with suggestions - I looked at STT SJU AUA even CDG - I have a feeling we are catching the start of spring break
My partner could go to a conference in NY while we are in Hawaii but I think he would prefer to go to the Carribean/Mexico
Aiming for Platinum.

 

[Dmac6345]

My goodness. That is FAR too much for me to process on a Sat night. Or maybe even any night!

 

[samh004]

If you need points quickly, and don't already use epiQure, they're pretty good for earning through bonuses.

Unfortunately, I'm not good with the US runs.

 

[shellthom]

If you need points quickly, and don't already use epiQure, they're pretty good for earning through bonuses.

Unfortunately, I'm not good with the US runs.

We pay most things, but i wouldn't pay for Domestic J as I think its too much of a waste - id prefer to have the holiday 4 times that to pay 8x the price Y vs J, epiQure has been mentioned before the problem is that we just don't drink wine. I don't drink any alcohol, and my partner very rarely has wine so I just do see it working for us. Even as gifts it's probably wasted.

I was looking at J* syd-tyo (as it is somewhere we want to go and DONE4 won't include asia so will need to buy flights there anyway on QF website can find JQ Syd-DRW-MNL-TYO return on Easter Long weekend, but for the life of me I can't get J* to replicate it and booking JQ on QF website doesn't give the option of the bundle so would be a waste.

 

[shellthom]

It's too much for me to process at any given time. I was happy that I managed to consolidate it all in one plus that I can now refer back to!!! Thinking about it gives me a headache. Not to mention I'm the traveller and I'll be getting my partner to status before me (I must have been close and not realised, ah so young and foolish)

My goodness. That is FAR too much for me to process on a Sat night. Or maybe even any night!

 

[Grooba]

have a look through these 2 threads for ideas then start playing with the aa website.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/a-platinum-flight-for-1400-a-36111.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-program/aa-status-run-nice-little-34878.html

 

[shellthom]

have a look through these 2 threads for ideas then start playing with the aa website.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/a-platinum-flight-for-1400-a-36111.html
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-program/aa-status-run-nice-little-34878.html

Thanks Vec - I had a look at the second and used the ITA software website and I found something on here which seemed to have sold out before I could replicate it on AA and book it, I don't know what it is but my deciphering skills are lacking so I had a look at a few of the clues and I just have no idea - I think because I generally don't understand pop culture but I will google the clues to see if the internet can make sense of it for me.

We arrive in Hawaii (including the syd-hnl flight) with my partner having 345 SC's (He will get silver on the 13th of Feb - so 2 weeks at silver before going to HNL) and I'll have 265 SC's

currently with what we will have booked we will earn on 215 SC's after leaving hawaii (including HNL-SYD)

Putting my partner on 560 SC within 28 days of his renewal and myself 480 SC with 4 months and 28 days.

Does it sound like a good plan to do a run where HNL - where I can find - is just shy of gold for me, we have a few days holiday at said destination so I can hold silver long enough to get the pack then return to HNL for platinum for my partner?
Does anyone think I should try and squeeze in an excuse to get the extra SC for silver before Hawaii
or that we should wait until mainland US trip to do it?

I guess its not just advice about a SC Run itself - I can look at options and pull my hair out for days, ITA software makes it easier as I can search all Bahama/Caribbean ports at once and find the cheapest (its with United BTW so super unhelpful) but my conflict is also when we should squeeze it in.

What would you guys -the experts do (as in when given the above SC's to be earned already etc)

 

[shellthom]

I've got HNL SC Run .. 860 SC for AU$1160 Instant Upgradeable per person or AU$1260 for Business (confirmed first and business on respective legs).
The $700 run from LAX appears to be available at about the time we want to go HNL being further away I can understand it costs more - but am sad about it.
I think it is a good price and I am trying to book but AA website keeps crashing.

420 SC over, 20 SC to island hop, 420 SC back
2 day post trip break in HNL to relax - might change it to OGG if the cost is the same. 4 days relaxing on other random islands, more stamps in my brand new passport - the other was full so this one feels pretty naked. 2 days additional travel.

SC run plus travel booked will put my partner on 1420 for the year - not a bad way to end his year!
I myself will end up on 1340 but I will have a few months to get the extra 60SC and with all the flights booked, and the SC run being a cash run, I'm going to guess with the points we have it wont be too hard or costly to get those extra 60SC. Now to save for taxi costs.

-- is there anyone out there that thinks I did something wrong with my calculations? please tell me now so I don't have to cry later

 

[shellthom]

We are both Gold... waiting for some points and SC's to post..
We have a bag full of Bacardi, I got sick coming back from SJU to LIH... trying to get into a doctors as the flight is to HNL tomorrow and my ear wont pop. In so much pain when we drove around sightseeing so I am not sure I can stand to fly, but can't get in to the Doctors so I might have to. I tell myself it will be ok because it is a very short flight so the plane will be quite low, but the flight on JQ back to sydney I don't think I can tolerate. At 3400 feet I was deaf from the pressure. I wouldn't mind an extra few days but can only do so based on doctors orders so will enjoy some sun now then tonight maybe wait at emergency to see a doctor.
But yay both gold and close to platinum ... closer by the time we are home

 

[Grooba]

I love the fact you are worried about finding doctors, in excruciating pain, deaf from pressure in your ears, but still manage

But yay both gold and close to platinum ... closer by the time we are home

True AFF style, well done.

 

[shellthom]

Hahaha my two biggest concerns - getting the $14.22 bacardi 151 home and getting platinum before May so we can go into Flounge on the way to USA and we will be so close....
Ear is the next - don't want to loose hearing, don't like the face or swollen face but being told I cant fly so I can holiday longer would be a good thing (I mean arrival back on a Thursday and working on friday is lame compared to holidaying until saturday)

I love the fact you are worried about finding doctors, in excruciating pain, deaf from pressure in your ears, but still manage



True AFF style, well done.

 

[straitman]

We have a bag full of Bacardi, I got sick coming back from SJU to LIH... trying to get into a doctors as the flight is to HNL tomorrow and my ear wont pop. In so much pain when we drove around sightseeing so I am not sure I can stand to fly, but can't get in to the Doctors so I might have to. I tell myself it will be ok because it is a very short flight so the plane will be quite low, but the flight on JQ back to sydney I don't think I can tolerate. At 3400 feet I was deaf from the pressure. I wouldn't mind an extra few days but can only do so based on doctors orders so will enjoy some sun now then tonight maybe wait at emergency to see a doctor.

Be very careful as it is the first couple of thousand feet that do the damage :!:

 

[shellthom]

Be very careful as it is the first couple of thousand feet that do the damage :!:

Its feeling a bit better now - I am not sure if it cleared or I am just at a level where the pressure is not bad... we are going to go for a drive and test it shortly via Kauai costco for a hotdog and pizza...
If theres pressure pain its either emergency tonight or clinic at 8am because i need to see the doctor before the midday flight for the insurance cover to kick in and if I don't have a doctors certificate (even for 1 day) I will get fired as that is the strict company policy

 

[markis10]

We have a bag full of Bacardi, I got sick coming back from SJU to LIH... trying to get into a doctors as the flight is to HNL tomorrow and my ear wont pop. In so much pain when we drove around sightseeing so I am not sure I can stand to fly, but can't get in to the Doctors so I might have to.

Unlikely to get any instant relief from a Doctor, recommend some decongestants and the pursuit of a pair of ear planes!

Ear Planes in-flight ear protection - travelgear.com.au

I should note I am no doctor!

 

[shellthom]

Unlikely to get any instant relief from a Doctor, recommend some decongestants and the pursuit of a pair of ear planes!

Ear Planes in-flight ear protection - travelgear.com.au

I should note I am no doctor!

I have been taking nyquil and dayquil (yesterday and today)
i have read about the ear planes, i haven't seen them here yet but if all else fails im sure i can get them at the medical centre pharmac_
I am more after a doctors professional opinion on if it is safe to fly
We went for a drive and I didn't pass the test
I'll take more american tablets now and line up at 8am to see the doctor.

Hawaii made me ill we should have stayed longer in San Juan, we remember it fondly as the part of the holiday that wasn't part of the holiday but was now the best part of the holiday because i wasn't tired cranky and sick the whole time we were there.
(and its even better because it as the place that took me from Bronze to Gold - my partner doesn't quite understand these the significance of this yet, but for the first time he has enough points of his own to be able to book his own flights)