SYD-ADL via Melbourne for status credits?

[SBD]

Good evening,

I'll be flying Sydney to Adelaide return for work, and need status credits to maintain platinum.

(Heaps of flying last year; not as much this year.)

I don't mind stopping in Melbourne each way, but VA's website wants to charge me almost double -- $513 flexi for SYD-MEL-ADL, instead of $296 flexi direct, and the same return.

Fair enough, but in the past I've stopped in BNE when going SYD-LAX, and not paid a penny more.

Any hints, tips, or advice?

Many thanks.

Regards,

SBD

 

[serfty]

it's the filed routing for the fare bring used for ADL/SYD.

ADL-MEL-SYD is not listed so is not permitted.

For LAX-BNE, the filed routing could be something like LAX-MEL/SYD-BNE which indicates an optional transit at MEL or SYD can be used in formulating the booking.

 

[SBD]

Thanks, Serfty.

You know many, many things.

SBD

 

[serfty]

Here's the routing rules for an VA SY-ADL fare:Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Routing Search:
Departing SYD on 13/11/13 for ADL
Fare basis code LZDA
Flying VA
Routing via Eastern Hemisphere

    V FARE BASIS     BK    FARE   TRAVEL-TICKET AP  MINMAX  RTG
  1   LZDA           L‡X   239.00     ----      -/‡  -/  -    1
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT                 AUTO PRICE-YES              
FROM-SYD TO-ADL    CXR-VA    TVL-13NOV13  RULE-1330 IPRTPFD/302
FARE BASIS-LZDA              NORMAL FARE  DIS-N   VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-ERT      OW-3RD LEVEL ECONOMY RESTRICTED
AUD   249.17  0001  E22AUG13 D-INFINITY   FC-LZDA  FN-     
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 21AUG13/1023  EXPIRES INFINITY
 
PUBLISHED RTG SYD-ADL/VA1   /TAR-TGRG    EF-22AUG13 DIS-INDEF
 
/WITHIN THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE/
[COLOR=#ff0000][B] TRAVEL MUST BE DIRECT[/B][/COLOR]
.

And an SYD-LAX fare:Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Routing Search:
Departing SYD on 13/11/13 for LAX
Fare basis code LLE0OVUR
Flying VA
Routing via Pacific

SYD-LAX       CXR-VA       WED 13NOV13                     USD
...
AUD CONVERTED TO USD USING BSR 1 USD - 1.0447 AUD              
VA     SYDLAX.PA       13NOV13          MPM  8994
    V FARE BASIS     BK    FARE   TRAVEL-TICKET AP  MINMAX  RTG
  1   LLE0OVUR       L X   895.00     ----      -/‡  -/12M PA01
  2   LLE0OVUR       L X   895.00     ----      -/‡  -/12M PA02
 
*** YY REQUESTED FARES NOT PERMITTED SYD-LAX ON VA *** 
 
PA01*  /VIA THE PACIFIC/ PUBLISHED RTG 3500
       1. [B][COLOR=#ff0000]SYD-BNE-VA/DL-LAX[/COLOR][/B]-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-
          VA/DL-LAX
       2. SYD-HNL-VA/HA-OGG/LIH/KOA-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/
          MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       3. SYD-MEL-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-
          VA/DL-LAX
       4. SYD-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/
          DL-LAX
       5. SYD-BNE-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-
          VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       6. SYD-HNL-VA/HA-OGG/LIH/KOA-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/
          MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/
          CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       7. SYD-MEL-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-
          VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       8. SYD-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/
          DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       9. SYD-BNE-VA/DL-LAX
      10. SYD-HNL-VA/HA-OGG/LIH/KOA-VA/DL-LAX
      11. SYD-BNE-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      12. SYD-HNL-VA/HA-OGG/LIH/KOA-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      13. SYD-MEL-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      14. SYD-VA/DL-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      15. SYD-MEL-VA/DL-LAX
      16. SYD-VA/DL-LAX
PA02*  /VIA THE PACIFIC/ PUBLISHED RTG 1000
       DOM ROUTE VALIDATION APPLIES WITHIN ORIG/DEST COUNTRIES
       1. SYD-BNE-LAX
       2. SYD-BNE-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-
          LAX
       3. SYD-MEL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-
          LAX
       4. SYD-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       5. SYD-BNE-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-
          SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       6. SYD-MEL-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-
          SLC/NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       7. SYD-LAX-VA/DL-SLC/NYC/MSP/LAX/DTT/BOS/ATL-VA/DL-SLC/
          NYC/MSP/MEM/LAX/DTT/CVG/ATL-VA/DL-LAX
       8. SYD-BNE-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
       9. SYD-MEL-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      10. SYD-LAX-VA/DL-LAX
      11. SYD-MEL-LAX
      12. SYD-LAX
.

 

[erkpod]

it's the filed routing for the fare bring used for ADL/SYD.

ADL-MEL-SYD is not listed so is not permitted.

For LAX-BNE, the filed routing could be something like LAX-MEL/SYD-BNE which indicates an optional transit at MEL or SYD can be used in formulating the booking.

I did a status run SYD - ADL via MEL both ways at the end of May & that was allowed as per the VA website. So it's not allowed now?

 

[quick_dry]

I did a status run SYD - ADL via MEL both ways at the end of May & that was allowed as per the VA website. So it's not allowed now?

the allowed routings seem to have changed since then, during that run period earlier this year I did MEL-OOL via ADL but that doesn't seem to be a valid route now either.

 

[erkpod]

I just did a search for an upcoming date within the next fortnight. There were 5 direct services SYD - ADL, 25 services via MEL & 1 via CBR. Prices & durations did vary widely but it does seem like it is possible.

 

[samh004]

I did a status run SYD - ADL via MEL both ways at the end of May & that was allowed as per the VA website. So it's not allowed now?

Wasn't that around Sabre when things were all over the place?

 

[erkpod]

Wasn't that around Sabre when things were all over the place?

I remember the first weekday of the Sabre changeover, it was January 14. It was the day this year that I flew SYD - LAX.

 

[quick_dry]

Wasn't that around Sabre when things were all over the place?

it was Feb 23, so I think thats a month or so after the changeover. It was only a booked a few days beforehand, not sure how much of the SABRE cutover issues this one had.

 

[serfty]

You will notice the rule for ADL in the post above was created 21AUG13 .