USA airpass

[ike]

Going to USA in October 08 - After some help in reagrd to airpass's can you buy them? and if so which is a better dea? or is it best to buy tickets on LCC?
any help will be good!

 

[clifford]

Hello Ike,

I'm a Star Alliance person, so I have no idea what One World airlines are offering.

That said, UA has an airpass which costs USD 439 (I think) for 3 flight coupons, with each extra coupon costing USD 100, up to a maximum of 10 coupons. To be eligible for this pass at this fare, you have to fly to the US on a Star Alliance airline.

I've used it many times, and it can be a great deal, depending on your itinerary (not such good value if you're looking at mainly short hops). For short flights, LCC's (such as Jet Blue, Southwest, Virgin America and Air Tran) probably provide better value.

If you want to know more, give UA a ring on 131 777, or speak to your travel agent.

 

[serfty]

There's a product called the "oneworld Visit North America".

You can get one if you fly to N/A on oneworld.

You can fly from 2 to 10 segments at rates based on segment distance.

It may be good value; not sure really.

 

[Vivien]

There are american air passes for anywhere in the americas, you can buy one or ten, the only proviso is that you have an international ticket into the country, I have just bought some and they are cheap compared to the individual airline's prices. allairpass.com - About Hahn Air they are also available for travel in Europe or Asia. There is a local agency that deals with bookings Aerius Travel ph.1300850006 (Jessica).

 

[straitman]

There are american air passes for anywhere in the americas, you can buy one or ten, the only proviso is that you have an international ticket into the country, I have just bought some and they are cheap compared to the individual airline's prices. allairpass.com - About Hahn Air they are also available for travel in Europe or Asia. There is a local agency that deals with bookings Aerius Travel ph.1300850006 (Jessica).

Vivien,

Welcome to AFF.

This is something I certainly have no knowledge of prior to you post. Thanks.

 

[trooper]

As already mentioned it depends on just WHAT travel you are doing domestically.... I used Airpasses in the past... but have found that booking each flight online - even on the airlines own website - can lead to better deals....especially as a package of flights booked on one PNR.... they often seem to get cheaper per flight as you add more flights... (Does that make sense??)

That might be due to most of my intra-US flights being relatively short...AND some are on routes with lots of competition.. so good fares are regularly available....

I think you really need to sit down and compare the two methods....

Example? I booked a package of 13 domestic flights for a trip last October... came to less than AUD$1300.... Sure, some flights were short (and on traditionally cheap routes) but it also included two "mid cons"....

 

[clifford]

As already mentioned it depends on just WHAT travel you are doing domestically.... I used Airpasses in the past... but have found that booking each flight online - even on the airlines own website - can lead to better deals....especially as a package of flights booked on one PNR.... they often seem to get cheaper per flight as you add more flights... (Does that make sense??)

That might be due to most of my intra-US flights being relatively short...AND some are on routes with lots of competition.. so good fares are regularly available....

I think you really need to sit down and compare the two methods....

Example? I booked a package of 13 domestic flights for a trip last October... came to less than AUD$1300.... Sure, some flights were short (and on traditionally cheap routes) but it also included two "mid cons"....

Well, that's very interesting, Trooper.

I've recently booked a UA Airpass for about $1300, which gives me 10 flight coupons and an aggregated mileage of about 21,000. It's in August so the triple miles promo will kick in. Quite a good return, I think.

PS. I've been following your travails on Flyertalk. Pity the South American Tango didn't work out.

All the best,
Clifford.

 

[trooper]

Triple miles... WOW!!!! :mrgreen:

I'm with NZ so don't get promos like that.... although I got a nice surprise with my most recent LAX-AKL.... it got a 50% Airpoints bonus.... (and my standby upgrade from Y+ to Business Premier cleared......yay!)

Yeah.. shame about the "Tango".. I was really looking forward to flying it!

I have used the refunded $$ to book a far less interesting (but high crediting) US domestic first "run".... Ah well...... Maybe next time....

 

[aybee]

As already mentioned it depends on just WHAT travel you are doing domestically.... I used Airpasses in the past... but have found that booking each flight online - even on the airlines own website - can lead to better deals

Totally agree - the airpasses aren't the value they once were. The trick is to actually divide the total cost of the airpass against the number of coupons you have, to get a per flight cost. (One coupon equals one flight number). Then hit the airlines websites - you will very often get better pricing per flight, more so if you plan ahead and if you keep abreast of the sales and specials they release. Because the North Am FF schemes are so liberal and easy, even the dirt cheapest of web sale fares will still earn miles. Each time you get rid of one coupon, re-divde the new airpass cost against the new number of total coupons to get a new benchmark figure.
Also look at airports in the same area - for an upcoming 15 internal segments North Am itinerary, I found a flight to BWI from MSY on US via CLT for USD72 rather than the USD220 they wanted for MSY-DCA or IAD. Not much more hassle getting into downtown D.C. from BWI than it is from IAD really. That USD72 was way better than the coupon cost of USD143 on the airpass.

It's slightly easier being a Star flyer as there are 3 partners within North Am to choose from, so you usually don't have to fly the LCC's or niche carriers to find the good prices. Can normally find "something" on AC/UA/US that fit's the bill - and usually can find connecting flights for the same fare to pad the mileage earn!
Where the 2 Star passes come into play are their ability to use them for Carribbean flying and the trans-Con flights. That and the ability to do free date and time changes as opposed to change restrictions on any web/sale fares.