USA SC Run Questions

[thebaron83]

Hi All, First timer here.

I have a few general questions about doing a AA SC run later this month. I have been sitting at gold now for a few years and missed out on WP last year by around 100SC's, at that time I didn't expect to be doing that much travel this year but have since been really disappointed I didn't do anything to attain (and ended up doing a bit of travel after all that). I'm currently sitting at 750SC's (so need 650 by 31st Jan) and I have a short two week trip to the US (LAX/LAS) later this month.

I've never done a status run before, sure i've done a few JASA's in the past but never anything to fill in gaps in the earnings though. After doing the last few years on gold I really want to go for WP.

Obviously, I've seen most of the links in the forums about the US runs and i'm sure I can dig up the information but I just had a few general questions before I went too far.

1- My return QF flights to LAX will net me 90sc's and I don't have any international travel planned for the rest of the year. Maybe a few domestic flight but I would like to try and get as close as possible to qualifying for WP while i'm in the US. Would it be reasonable to assume over one or two days I could earn around the 560 credits I would need?

2- In past experiences what SC yield have you all been looking for and what has it cost you (and how far in advance did you book)?

3- How would you rate a particular routing good value? Is this comparing dollars to SC?

4- My timing probably isn't great. Is it going to be prohibitively expensive given the time of year and the fact that I'm booking in the same month i'm going to be traveling?

I would really appreciate any responses from the wealth of knowledge here. Like I said, i'm not trying to get a list of routings and instructions - I want to try and work out that on my own (which will probably be hard... lol). Just trying to get started.

Thanks!

 

[moa999]

If only doing the trip for SC's , $/SC is the only way to evaluate routes, as well as times and connections of course.
Booking only a month out will limit choices, but there may still be good deals.

Would start search from LAS as it depends to be better value, and look towards the Caribbean for options.

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard thebaron83, you'll need to be creative with your routings and timings. Flying in peak hour will be expensive especially on Monday morning and Friday evening.

Have a look at routes like LAS-DFW-PHL then onto SJU. Think outside box. For example PHL is only an hour from New York by train where you can often get a cheap run to SJU.

Oh and don't forget to ensure you only book in to A, F or P class to ensure you get first class SCs.

Happy travelling and please let us know how you go. The AFF community works best when people give feedback and contribute where ever possible.

 

[serfty]

Welcome!

See this thread for some booking tips: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/how-research-book-aa-instant-42433.html

 

[madrooster]

If you are going to LAS, then LAS is the best place to originate from for such a run.

<routings removed>

 

[drewbles]

If you are going to LAS, then LAS is the best place to originate from for such a run. The following example routings are possible:

Departing LAS on Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon:

<removed>.

May I respectfully suggest these runs are not posted too publicly? It's been known for this kind of thing to just 'vanish' from GDS's when found that people are using them extensively.

I suggest we share this kind of thing more quietly or in code like over on FT

(and the routes you suggested can actually be bettered significantly for the same price )

 

[CaviAck]

May I respectfully suggest these runs are not posted too publicly? It's been known for this kind of thing to just 'vanish' from GDS's when found that people are using them extensively.

I suggest we share this kind of thing more quietly or in code like over on FT

(and the routes you suggested can actually be bettered significantly for the same price )

Any codes or hints to the bettering? Or should I ask in person whilst on some other form of transport? hahahh