Yupp/Kupp

[Henk]

It's my first post, though I've been a faithful, but quiet reader of the FF community for a very long time.

As part of my RTW trip I will spend 5 days in Chicago and thought, I might take advantage of it and maximise my QF status by doing a Yupp/Kupp out of Chicago. I will be there between 22-26 May 2006 and could go anywhere in US, just to get some extra SC.

I've never done it before and to be honest don't know where to start/how to search for it etc. I would appreciate you help

Henk

 

[dede]

Go to www.AA.com and search for flights using the PRICE AND SCHEDULE option.

For instance you could fly:

23 May 1:35pm ORD-DFW-SEA for US$749 and get 210 SCs (2641 miles)

The trick is to connect via DFW or elsewhere. Seattle is good because of the distance from Chcago. Also try BOS, MIA, ATL - all good hubs for KUPPs

 

[beardoc]

I've never done it before and to be honest don't know where to start/how to search for it etc. I would appreciate you help

Henk

Check out http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/yupps-and-kupps-16648.html for details.

And Discounted First Class and Flyer Talk Fares is where you can search for them - choose "American" only as the carrier, and consider Destinations as North America and The Carribean.

There's aren't a lot of cheap KUPPs from Chicago, though.

 

[Henk]

Thanks Dede and Beardoc; you comments are most helpful.
Any airport in the neighbourhood of ORD better for KUPPs?

 

[serfty]

... Any airport in the neighbourhood of ORD better for KUPPs?

Maybe MKE (Milwaukee) .

Presumably you mean May 2009, not May 2006?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Maybe MKE (Milwaukee) .

Presumably you mean May 2008, not May 2006?

What year are we in again.

 

[Henk]

:shock:Oooops... I meant May 2009.

Next time I'll take it easy with the wine:mrgreen:

 

[notzac]

Depending on how much time/patience you have, you might find it cheaper to take a cheapie return flight from ORD to somewhere that isn't an AA hub (i.e., not DFW/ORD/LAX/JFK) and then start the YUPP fare from there.

When I was looking at YUPP fares for myself a little while ago, I was surprised at how much cheaper starting a fare at ONT was, compared to starting from LAX. Amazing what a drive across town will achieve!

It would also be helpful to know how many SCs you have at present and what you'd like to get out of doing one of these runs.

 

[Henk]

Thanks for some good suggestions. I agree that ORD might not be the best place to start a YUPP. I would be happy to get a cheapie o another airport and start a YUPP there, as suggested by notzac.

I've been SG for 3 years now, comfortably getting what's required for a SG renewal + 200 SC extra each year. This year, (May-June 2009) I'm on a RTW fare, (MEL-LAX-ORD-LHR-MUC-LHR-BKK-SIN-MEL,) which will give another 200 extra SC. By the end of November 2009 I will have enough SC to renew my SG + 400 SC. This means, I would be short of some 450 SC towards a WP, which would be a wonderful thing to have, (for the first time.) I thought, a KUPP while in US might be a way to go.

 

[notzac]

This means, I would be short of some 450 SC towards a WP, which would be a wonderful thing to have, (for the first time.) I thought, a KUPP while in US might be a way to go.

An excellent goal

450 SCs is really transcon material - given you're nearer to the east coast, one possibility is to go down to TPA, then TPA-(MIA-DFW)-ONT and return again. One of a few good value runs out there, I'm sure others have good suggestions also

 

[Danger]

Booking through aa.com.au, if you click on 'Fare basis' on the payment page, it shows KUPPK (in fact, it shows the same on the US site). Which is the code for QFF earning? K does nothing for me; P does.

 

[NM]

Booking through aa.com.au, if you click on 'Fare basis' on the payment page, it shows KUPPK (in fact, it shows the same on the US site). Which is the code for QFF earning? K does nothing for me; P does.

The important thing is the class into which the fare books. The fare rules will include the booking class. While the first letter of the fare basis is often the booking class, it is not always the case.

In most (all?) cases, these fares book into P or A if the specified class is available, otherwise it books into Y/K.

 

[serfty]

You can see the fare class against each segment of the booking on AA.com before even selecting an option, it will generally show as (P), (A), (Y). The (Y) is normally for AeAgle flights. (I have also seen (N), but this is rare)