The next DONE4 planning thread

[NM]

Given that NRT-DFW is NE , DFW-JFK is NE and JFK-LHR is NE , then I would have thought that you could have legitimately upgraded both sectors using 1 upgrade. Perhaps the agent you spoke to assumed that there was a fare break in there

Not that it makes any real difference to the argument, but I would not have described NRT-DFW as being North-Easterly travel. Perhaps the initial direction of travel when departing NRT will be North-East, but later in the journey its going to be very much South-East.

Given that NRT is at 35º45' North, and DFW is at 32º53' North, I posit that the latitudinal component of travel is going to be south and not north.

 

[Dave Noble]

Not that it makes any real difference to the argument, but I would not have described NRT-DFW as being North-Easterly travel. Perhaps the initial direction of travel when departing NRT will be North-East, but later in the journey its going to be very much South-East.

Given that NRT is at 35º45' North, and DFW is at 32º53' North, I posit that the latitudinal component of travel is going to be south and not north.

Ahh... I just read the initial direction rather than reading the locations. Given the overall directtion being south then it seems reasonable that they require 2 eVIPs

Dave

 

[NM]

Ahh... I just read the initial direction rather than reading the locations. Given the overall directtion being south then it seems reasonable that they require 2 eVIPs

Dave

NRT-ORD-LHR would be continuing both North and East.

 

[simongr]

I am just tainted by you guys - but I dont see much difference in a 1000 miles or so north or south...

It is all essentially east...

 

[Dave Noble]

NRT-ORD-LHR would be continuing both North and East.

NRT-ORD-LHR would be valid by virtue of being a connected sector and so would be valid in its own right as would NRT-DFW-LGW

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

I am just tainted by you guys - but I dont see much difference in a 1000 miles or so north or south...

It is all essentially east...

It matters when working out the eligability to use the eVIP .. the rules allow it to be used for a 1 way journey of 3 segments; it is pretty generous that they allow it to be non-contiguous and not unreasonable that a journey that is 3 degrees south and 137 degrees east is not classed to be the same as a journey that is 10 degrees north and 70 degrees east

Dave

 

[NM]

NRT-ORD-LHR would be valid by virtue of being a connected sector and so would be valid in its own right as would NRT-DFW-LGW

Dave

And by virtue of being reasonably direct connected sectors would also be least likely to run into delayed luggage problems

 

[Dave Noble]

And by virtue of being reasonably direct connected sectors would also be least likely to run into delayed luggage problems

Heh . that would indeed seem to be an obvious benefit

Dave

 

[simongr]

You know that bit where I said this wouldn't change again....

The thought of getting a bus to LGW and the queues/security at LGW are beginning to fill me with dread. So... I am now thinking of getting an earlier flight into LHR and transferring to the LCA flight (currently D2) out of LHR.

That would mean a 6:30PM flight out of JFK landing at 6:30AM into T3 with a 8:50AM flight out of T1 to LCA. I will be checking bags through I think (given I am thinking of buying some kitchen knives in NYC I thnk checked luggage might be the go - I also might have some toiletries for my little nephew so I might have to check luggage from SYD anyway...) so will just have a single piece of cabin baggage.

The question is can T3-T1 be done in 2 hours 20 mins?

The advantage of this would be that I could then get down to 15/16 segments and potentially e-ticket... It would mean another call to the ATW desk as well - but at least I havent been to the airport to reissue the ticket yet ...

 

[Dave Noble]

.

The question is can T3-T1 be done in 2 hours 20 mins?

The advantage of this would be that I could then get down to 15/16 segments and potentially e-ticket... It would mean another call to the ATW desk as well - but at least I havent been to the airport to reissue the ticket yet ...

It's a valid connection and perfectly doable

Dave

 

[simongr]

I think a quick sms to the folks then to see whether they can be bothered to pick me up from the airport (LCA is a two hour drive each way from PFO) as that might colour the decision

 

[Dave Noble]

I think a quick sms to the folks then to see whether they can be bothered to pick me up from the airport (LCA is a two hour drive each way from PFO) as that might colour the decision

If its a 2 hour drive , then I would just stick with the LGW connection; the inter airport connection isnt bad and better than having someone have to do a 4 hour r/t to pick up methinks

Dave

 

[simongr]

But I am their favourite son

It is a toss up between a 1-2 hour transfer for me LHR-LGW followed by 3 hours in the F lounge at LGW and getting in at 9PM+ or getting into the village at 6PM in time for dinner...

 

[simongr]

Well having confirmed my status as favoured son™ My parents have elected to take a day trip to Larnaca with their grandson visiting the beach on the way and hopefully testing the newly finished flyovers (which have already taken 20 mins off the journey and will take 30 mins off when finished) to collect the favoured son™.

However having spent yesterday morning on the phone to my chums in NYC my two weeks in HKG may in fact be 1 day in HKG followed by 10 days in PVG/PEK - so let's not go to the airport just yet to get that ticket reissued...

To quote Sheryl Crow "No-one said this would be easy, but no-one it'd be this hard..."

Three weeks is a long time in the business

At least now I have confirmed (potentially) an early CircleAsia in February, a low potential of NYC (that will be a very very simple DONE4 - four segments max!) at the end of Jan and a probable DONE4 in March. EXP sewn up by Easter

 

[simongr]

PVG just confirmed by one of my bosses (just need another boss to agree with the other boss).

One question - if anyone is still following this

To make this work now I am dropping the HKG-SIN-NRT in favour of ... drum roll please... HKG-NRT!

I am going to fly to NRT Thursday afternoon and then fly NRT-DFW on the Friday (another Hilton stay - I am now aiming for threeway Diamond status with HHonors - $, stays and nights )

My options on flights to NRT (as I would like to leave late afternoon) are:

JL 732
20/09/07 2:50 PM
20/09/07 8:00 PM
744
F0 A0 J4 C4 D4 I0 Y4 B4 H4 K4 X4 M4 L4 V0 S0 N4 Q4 G4

CX 500
20/09/07 3:00 PM NRT
20/09/07 8:25 PM 773
97% / 10m J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M8 L9 V5 S6 N0 Q0 O0

CX 508
20/09/07 4:10 PM NRT
20/09/07 9:25 PM 773
J9 C9 D9 I8 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N0 Q0 O0

I dont really care about not getting full credit on JL - I would just like the better product. Is this a regional JL seat or a proper one? I didnt rate the CX 773 I was on recently so if the JL seat is better I will grab that.

Any thoughts?

S

 

[simongr]

Well I just got an email from AA showing me in F NRT-DFW - I assumed that they had an equipment switch and had gone to coffins rather than suites but checked the seat map and it is stil showing suites - very very nice.

Now how likely is it that the suites will stick....

 

[simongr]

in my quest to make this thread a living legend I was just having a quick estimate of the chances of J -> UG coming through on my final (well sort of final) flight on this trip HKG-SYD and EF is giving an interesting result. This is a Tuesday flight out of HKG and this is teh availability:

QF 128

HKG 02/10/07 9:10 PM
SYD 03/10/07 7:55 AM
744
Daily
81% / 18m

F4 A3 J9 C9 D0 I0 B0 H0 K0 M0 R0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0 X0 E0

Now the few things that are vexing me are:

1 - No Y at all not even a mention. Is that normal?

2 - This looks like being a solid flight - not a seat in the house even though J is empty. Is there an expectation that the Wallabies will be exiting the RWC in the group stages and the support teamn will be taking over this aircraft

In terms of UG chances I am currently think average to slim - I put the request in on about day 85 before the flight (I think) and am SG so my chances must be up there somewhere

 

[serfty]

Not having any WHY availability generally indicates that Yield Management have reached the limit at which they can sell further seats in the WHY cabin - it's almost certainly oversold.

It's the middle of the NSW school holidays - that may have something to do with it.

It should make the chance of upgrades somewhat more likely; indeed Qantas almost certainly have factored your upgrade request (and those of others) into their yield management.

Now, I know that seat maps are not a perfect guide to sales, but the First Class seat map for that flight is showing only two seats preallocated, leaving another 12. However, it's showing F4 A3. This indicates to me that Qantas are planning to have at least ½ a dozen PAX currently booked in J, ensconced in F by flight time.

FWIW, 35J seats are unallocated and of the 47 'premium' WHY seats' in rows 34 to 38, 27 are not allocated. These are available for those of status QP & higher. This is very unusual and suggests to me there are relatively few 'elites' booked on this flight.

 

[simongr]

Thanks serfty - although I have now done a fair amount of flying and can give me own advice on routes/airports/aircraft/carriers - this is the reason I still come to AFF - for info like this.

Obviously I wont be counting my chickens before the uG comes through but this is going to be a tricky to handle. Fly J overnight from LHR-HKG on BA I will undoubtedly sleep a lot of that flight so I might be wide awake on this one so can max my F experience - although that will then mean I am knackered the next day - ahh the trials of flying in J/F

 

[simongr]

OK - a slight technical problem. I have my flights left over from my DONE4 - being syd-adl-per-syd. Now I have reason to go to PER and there is D availability SYD-ADL-PER but nothing PER-SYD.

I am looking at 4/5 Dec and all I can see is D0 (except for the 11:45AM flight which is not practical as my meeting in PER is at 10AM).

Is it worth calling QF to see if they can release a D seat? There is availability on 6 Dec but the hotel cost (unless I sued points would outweigh any savings from the "free" flights...

Any thoughts?

S