YUPP/KUPP Queries

[Orca]

Hello,

I've recently discovered the existence of YUPP/KUPP fares with AA but I'm having a little trouble understanding them/finding the answers to my questions. So it's over to you AFFers. I'd appreciate any confirmation/clarification of the following as I'm hoping to use them for a few trips we'll be taking in the US next year on our honeymoon.

1) I can find these fares using ITA Matrix searches for quite cheap prices but cannot find availability (at the same price) on AA website or other sites such as kayak, expedia etc. Where/how do I book the flights that I'm finding available on ITA matrix?

2)To find the best prices, is it best to book early (6 months + ahead) or wait until closer to the departure date?

3) I'm QF WP, so OWE - what, if any, baggage allowance would I get on AA First class flights (US dom legs only)? I understand we should get lounge access too?

4) Is it better to book on B757, B738 or B763 where possible or are they all much of a muchness?

Appreciate any helpful tips & advice!

 

[defurax]

1) I can find these fares using ITA Matrix searches for quite cheap prices but cannot find availability (at the same price) on AA website or other sites such as kayak, expedia etc. Where/how do I book the flights that I'm finding available on ITA matrix?

This should help: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....esearch-book-aa-instant-42433.html#post666533

 

[CaviAck]

Hello,

1) I can find these fares using ITA Matrix searches for quite cheap prices but cannot find availability (at the same price) on AA website or other sites such as kayak, expedia etc. Where/how do I book the flights that I'm finding available on ITA matrix?

2)To find the best prices, is it best to book early (6 months + ahead) or wait until closer to the departure date?

3) I'm QF WP, so OWE - what, if any, baggage allowance would I get on AA First class flights (US dom legs only)? I understand we should get lounge access too?

4) Is it better to book on B757, B738 or B763 where possible or are they all much of a muchness?

Appreciate any helpful tips & advice!

1) A lot of the times you'll have to use the multi-city tool and plug in various combinations of the cities involved.

2) I've found prices to stay the same year round apart from "blackout dates" like holidays. More combinations may open up as the date comes up but that's running the risk of having availability dry up. Also KUPP fares have a 30 day booking minimum IIRC.

3) For domestic F pax, no extra baggage but since you're QF WP you'll be allowed into the various AA lounges.

4) Personal preference really. Personally for me it's 763>MD80>737>(slightly)757>CRJ

 

[madrooster]

3) For domestic F pax, no extra baggage but since you're QF WP you'll be allowed into the various AA lounges.

Allowance is 3 x 32kg from memory for domestic F.

 

[CaviAck]

Allowance is 3 x 32kg from memory for domestic F.

Three bags is correct, but it's only 23kg (50lbs) per bag.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

if you are doing a YUPP mileage run for status purposes you may wish to consider taking any luggage.

if connections are tight, or you are travelling during a known weather period (winter/summer through Chicago, summer in DFW) then you might only make flights with minutes to spare. your bags may not be so lucky.

if you have a tight turn at your destination it can make it hard for your bags to eventually catch up.

 

[Orca]

defurax, thanks for posting that link - it's exactly what I was looking for and has been very helpful!

if you are doing a YUPP mileage run for status purposes you may wish to consider taking any luggage.

if connections are tight, or you are travelling during a known weather period (winter/summer through Chicago, summer in DFW) then you might only make flights with minutes to spare. your bags may not be so lucky.

if you have a tight turn at your destination it can make it hard for your bags to eventually catch up.

MEL_Traveller, good tips -thanks! Alas, it's not a status/mileage run. I think my better half would shoot me if I tried to pull such a thing on our honeymoon. We have a few places we want/need to be in the states so figured we may as well travel in (relative) comfort and the extra SC's should re-qual me for WP for another year

 

[ozbeachbabe]

defurax, thanks for posting that link - it's exactly what I was looking for and has been very helpful!

MEL_Traveller, good tips -thanks! Alas, it's not a status/mileage run. I think my better half would shoot me if I tried to pull such a thing on our honeymoon. We have a few places we want/need to be in the states so figured we may as well travel in (relative) comfort and the extra SC's should re-qual me for WP for another year

What destinations are you looking at eg LAX/LAS, LAS/SJU, SJU/BOS etc?

Note that KUPP's are generally only worthwhile to/from the Caribbean & not on popular routes within the Continental USA eg LAX/JFK.

You could always disguise a status run by flying to SJU & doing a cruise from there so you're not just getting on & off aircraft.

Has your better half got the 4 squiggle flights yet? Reason being as you complete the AA flights you want them so see their progression up the ranks from NB to PS to SG. If they are NB to start with but haven't yet done the requisite 4 QF or JQ eligible flights within their membership year, they'll be stuck on NB - even if they'd earned 1400SC until they've flown those 4 sectors.

We usually start our USA trip on the West Coast working our way East then a sortie down to the Caribbean before KUPPing it back to HNL for a few days then flying back on HA using a VA partner award. If you are flying Caribbean to HNL I'd recommend taking advantage of a permitted overnight transit in LAX because it's too tiring flying all in the one day with 6 time zone changes - even in F!

 

[Orca]

What destinations are you looking at eg LAX/LAS, LAS/SJU, SJU/BOS etc?

Note that KUPP's are generally only worthwhile to/from the Caribbean & not on popular routes within the Continental USA eg LAX/JFK.

You could always disguise a status run by flying to SJU & doing a cruise from there so you're not just getting on & off aircraft.

Has your better half got the 4 squiggle flights yet? Reason being as you complete the AA flights you want them so see their progression up the ranks from NB to PS to SG. If they are NB to start with but haven't yet done the requisite 4 QF or JQ eligible flights within their membership year, they'll be stuck on NB - even if they'd earned 1400SC until they've flown those 4 sectors.

We usually start our USA trip on the West Coast working our way East then a sortie down to the Caribbean before KUPPing it back to HNL for a few days then flying back on HA using a VA partner award. If you are flying Caribbean to HNL I'd recommend taking advantage of a permitted overnight transit in LAX because it's too tiring flying all in the one day with 6 time zone changes - even in F!

Thanks for the suggestion ozbeachbabe, we were going to do a roundtrip cruise ex MIA but perhaps out of SJU is a better idea. A quick search just returned plenty of options cruising from San Juan to Miami which would work perfectly. We haven't cruised before, any suggestions as to the best operator to go with? Royal Caribbean seems quite good...? Any advice is appreciated!!

Ideally in the US we'd like to spend a bit of time in SFO, LAS & MIA as the main culprits. Time permitting, perhaps NYC but we've done that so not so fussed.

(Future) Mrs Orca will have plenty of squiggle flights so that's no drama.

 

[Dalek]

I have a question about a KUPP Fare I have bought for a flight SLC to LAX in November. Having bought the KUPP it now appears that the aircraft has a one class cabin

How can they sell a KUPP when there is no other class to upgrade to???

 

[defurax]

I have a question about a KUPP Fare I have bought for a flight SLC to LAX in November. Having bought the KUPP it now appears that the aircraft has a one class cabin

How can they sell a KUPP when there is no other class to upgrade to???

Not sure I understand. Has there been an equipment change since you booked? Was the SLC-LAX part of a multi flights booking? What is the fare code for the SLC-LAX segment? For example if you book a KUPP/YUPP SAN-LAX-DFW,it it not rare that the SAN-LAX book in G or K (most flights are Y only) and the LAX-DFW in A or P.

It seems that most SLC-LAX direct flights do not have premium cabin:

 

[Dalek]

Hi Defurax
No equipment change and it's not part of a multi flight booking. I can still see Instant Upgrade fares available for this flight. Looks like it books into K.

There are some flights that have first class but I can only see them on the US AA website, the Au site where I booked implies they are all 2 class as they have the instant upgrade option???

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd be booking any YUPs through the US site only. Australia has too many restrictions (only showing bits and pieces or less complicated itineraries) and are sometimes more expensive.

 

[Dalek]

I'd be booking any YUPs through the US site only. Australia has too many restrictions (only showing bits and pieces or less complicated itineraries) and are sometimes more expensive.

I have reached the same conclusion and will only use the US site from now on. Just spent time on the phone convincing them to move me to another flight, in first class, as they should not offer instant upgrades on flights that only have one class. It seems it is only a problem with the AU website. On the US site you can could also purchase a First Class flight (where offered) for less than the price of the Instant Upgrade on the AU site. You live and learn.

 

[Kef]

Three bags is correct, but it's only 23kg (50lbs) per bag.

Incorrect, its (70lbs) per bag. For AA F domestic.
3 bags is correct. Just returned from US and flew F on AA domestic..

 

[CaviAck]

Incorrect, its (70lbs) per bag. For AA F domestic.
3 bags is correct. Just returned from US and flew F on AA domestic..

I guess things have changed... I was limited to 50lbs when I flew in December last year in F, not to mention it's listed on the website as 50lbs.
I stand corrected then.

 

[madrooster]

It's 3 x 32kg for domestic F, unless OWE which apparently gets you 4 x 32kg for yourself.

 

[defurax]

It's 3 x 32kg for domestic F, unless OWE which apparently gets you 4 x 32kg.

Great! I'll tell SWMBO that we can carry 256 kg of clothes from LAX to JFK, that should be just about the right amount...

 

[CaviAck]

Great! I'll tell SWMBO that we can carry 256 kg of clothes from LAX to JFK, that should be just about the right amount...

I don't even....

 

[madrooster]

Great! I'll tell SWMBO that we can carry 256 kg of clothes from LAX to JFK, that should be just about the right amount...

Sorry I should probably clarify that it would be 4 x 32kg for you, and 3 x 32kg for the other pax.