Status run help please

[Rebekkap]

Hi folks

having found myself in the unfortunate position of no longer having a job that involves constant travel (but luckily having some consulting work that pays rather well) I find myself needing to maintain Platinum, because let's face it, once you've been WP it's hard to go backwards.

I currently need 1050 SCs before October 31.

I'm figuring most of this can be sorted out by the trip to Orlando I'm planning in May with my sister.

What I've got so far: Jetstar star class MEL-SYD-HNL return with a max bundle (MEL-SYD is in Y but according to the Qantas website should give me fully flex SCs) for a total of 320 SCs.

Then HNL-LAX-DFW-MCO AA in first, for 360 SCs.

So I still need 430 (or actually 410, as I still need a QF sector, so I will at some point get a red edeal before the end of the year). I need to get back to HNL for the flight home. I also want to go to LA for a few days to see a friend (she lives 15 mins from LAX so would prefer to fly into LAX rather than another nearby airport). Could also spend a couple of days somewhere else (open to suggestions). AA isn't giving me terribly useful suggestions for MCO-LAX - seems like there are too many direct flights. My current thinking is to fly somewhere else, spend a couple of days, then to LAX, then a couple of days, then back to HNL?

Any suggestions for a location to maximise SC earn from MCO and then back to LAX?

 

[Hvr]

Have you considered doing the LAX-SFO-SEA run? Earns 300 SC for a return trip. You may need to look around a bit for a good value fare though.

 

[bosox76]

Don't plug in MCO-LAX direct. Use the multicultural tool to plug in some intermediary cities eg. MIA, ORD, DFW etc. Or if you get to LAS or SFO could consider a LAS-LAX-SFO (vv) run for 240 SC return. Alternatively you could go from MCO to SJU and start a one way run to HNL (others may have more info on this as I'm not very familiar with this, just what I've gathered from previous threads). Should be able to easily get the required credits or at the very least close to, prior to your return trip home on JQ.

 

[Rebekkap]

Have you considered doing the LAX-SFO-SEA run? Earns 200 SC for a return trip. You may need to look around a bit for a good value fare though.

Only 200? Mileage monkey says 150 each way in first - if it's inaccurate I'll have to reassess the HNL-LAX-DFW-MCO flights to make sure the earn rate is as much as mileage monkey says!

For the dates I'm looking at, AA is quoting me $1400 one way - I'd like to get a little more bang for the buck if possible

 

[Hvr]

Only 200? Mileage monkey says 150 each way in first - if it's inaccurate I'll have to reassess the HNL-LAX-DFW-MCO flights to make sure the earn rate is as much as mileage monkey says!

Whoops, you're quite correct, the old memory failed me.

And $1400 is way too much as you've noted.

 

[Rebekkap]

Don't plug in MCO-LAX direct. Use the multicultural tool to plug in some intermediary cities eg. MIA, ORD, DFW etc. Or if you get to LAS or SFO could consider a LAS-LAX-SFO (vv) run for 240 SC return. Alternatively you could go from MCO to SJU and start a one way run to HNL (others may have more info on this as I'm not very familiar with this, just what I've gathered from previous threads). Should be able to easily get the required credits or at the very least close to, prior to your return trip home on JQ.

Great suggestions, thanks. If I plug in MCO-MIA, overnight in Miami then MIA-ORD-LAX mileage monkey says that's 300 SCs, and by the time I fly from LAX back to HNL with one stop in another Hawaiian Island, I should be requalified (if mileage monkey is correct!)

MCO to SJU to HNL not such a great option for me as I do want some time in LA.

ETA: I am getting better and much cheaper options if I plug the flights into the AA flight planner individually - it will give me ORD-LAS-LAX for example, and the cost is about half because the multi city tool doesn't give YUPP option whereas the flight planning tool does.

 

[Rebekkap]

Whoops, you're quite correct, the old memory failed me.

And $1400 is way too much as you've noted.

You mean you don't have the SC earn for every possible combination of flights in the US memorised?! What is the world coming to!

 

[Hvr]

Actually I've been known to use two sites, one shows the distance between airports and the other shows the mileage required for SC earn.

Flight Distance from SEA to ORD

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Status Credits

Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[bosox76]

Great suggestions, thanks. If I plug in MCO-MIA, overnight in Miami then MIA-ORD-LAX mileage monkey says that's 300 SCs, and by the time I fly from LAX back to HNL with one stop in another Hawaiian Island, I should be requalified (if mileage monkey is correct!)

MCO to SJU to HNL not such a great option for me as I do want some time in LA.

ETA: I am getting better and much cheaper options if I plug the flights into the AA flight planner individually - it will give me ORD-LAS-LAX for example, and the cost is about half because the multi city tool doesn't give YUPP option whereas the flight planning tool does.

Glad to help. It took me some time to work it all out too but that's what sites like this are for. If it weren't for AFF I'd still be out with the masses in the terminal rather than sitting in the Golden Lounge in KK. As they all say "why fly direct....."