A Platinum Flight for $1400

[kempvet]

These fares come and go, and are very date/route specific.
If you missed the boat now, don't worry, there will be another one soon...

100% correct, it may take many hours or sometimes days to find them, and you have to take into account the miles between the airports and the SC segments, you might find a great fare, but if you continually fall a few miles short of a SC segment on each leg (eg LAX SLC 560 miles, LAX MIA a little less than 2400 miles), then although you have done the miles, you do not maximise the SC's, for example, DFW to either DCA or IAD falls short of the 120 SC's but BWI does make this segment. I think that Feb to early March are the hot months for finding these fares, most US people are back to work after Christmas break and the weather is still a little bleak.

the recent 780 SC flight earned 22702 QFF miles with cabin and status (then platinum) bonus and 12480 pro rata loyalty bonus, really a QFF 35182 miles for the flight for $860A with all the SC's as well.

 

[kempvet]

To answer the question, the flight is still there, I checked for april 2012 and it is about $1450A for 1200 SC's and the 780SC flight is still there for about the same price.

I worked out the 1200 SC's flight as follows.
44,000 QFF miles with cabin bonuses (mostly first) and also status (platinum) bonus,
pro rata loyalty bonus is 19,200 QFF miles
total miles QFF miles 63,200
that's not bad, if you can stomach the flight you get a free return ORD-LHR in Y or a one way flight in J.
if you are really having a bad time, leave off the foreign leg and stay at the gateway, you still get 1080 SC'c

 

[pmdg7444]

for anyone who has done a coast to coast-latin am status run on AA, just wondering if you have ever been flagged down by the US CBP for suspicious travel patterns- ie staying in a foreign city for only a very brief period and then returning.

 

[medhead]

Second issue is print something off the Qantas website so that you can show then what you are doing. The first run, I simply tried to explain what I was doing, no matter how I tried, the passport control guy just did not get it and to some extent became confused about the issue. Guess that in MIA, all these guys do most of the day is deal with central and south American passports and visas and documents so they are a little drained at the best of times. The second run was a lot easier, I printed the SC page off the Qantas website and my actual account and what was needed to attain these levels. The second time that I went through passport control, it was far easier and to some extent the officer was interested in the concept and how it worked. In short, I don't think that these passport control officers are the sharpest tool in the shed.

I thought the key was that they understand mileage run but not status run. At least I'm sure I read on AFF that Mileage run is understood and hence avoids questions.

 

[kempvet]

I thought the key was that they understand mileage run but not status run. At least I'm sure I read on AFF that Mileage run is understood and hence avoids questions.

No, not all CBP seem to understand mileage runs, talking to many of the AA FFliers in F, the vast majority of them do these runs within the US and never cross a border, yes, ticketing staff are more (but not always) familiar with the term, but not so CBP and I tried the mileage run issue on the first CBP who was a little annoyed when I explained that I did not cross a border and insisted that I fill in the country that I visited (who actually thought I was a little strange for not staying there - so I guess that he has never heard of a mileage run). Eventually he filled in the country, so I guess to the US it appears on their system that I did visit this country.

In short I guess the CBP expect that even if you do a mileage run, why would you not stay in the overseas city a while, this is what happens with AA members, there is often little incentive to rush back as they are after miles, and their fare may be the same, even if they stay a few days in the overseas city (if they need to do this at all). The fact that in this case, a quick turn around and continuing journey dramatically drives the flight cost down would be completely lost on this CBP.

End result, print the Qantas SC page and your summary and what you need (as CBP may not understand even a mileage run), your flight booking page and it is likely to work 100% of the time to appease any CBP..

 

[medhead]

No, not all CBP seem to understand mileage runs, talking to many of the AA FFliers in F, the vast majority of them do these runs within the US and never cross a border, yes, ticketing staff are more (but not always) familiar with the term, but not so CBP and I tried the mileage run issue on the first CBP who was a little annoyed when I explained that I did not cross a border and insisted that I fill in the country that I visited (who actually thought I was a little strange for not staying there - so I guess that he has never heard of a mileage run). Eventually he filled in the country, so I guess to the US it appears on their system that I did visit this country.

In short I guess the CBP expect that even if you do a mileage run, why would you not stay in the overseas city a while, this is what happens with AA members, there is often little incentive to rush back as they are after miles, and their fare may be the same, even if they stay a few days in the overseas city (if they need to do this at all). The fact that in this case, a quick turn around and continuing journey dramatically drives the flight cost down would be completely lost on this CBP.

End result, print the Qantas SC page and your summary and what you need (as CBP may not understand even a mileage run), your flight booking page and it is likely to work 100% of the time to appease any CBP..

Sound like you issue wasn't the mileage run but being pedantic about "crossing the border". But point taken I should have written more likely to understand.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[kempvet]

Sound like you issue wasn't the mileage run but being pedantic about "crossing the border". But point taken I should have written more likely to understand.

No, the first CBP at Miami may have heard of a mileage run, but couldn't grasp the concept of only staying one hour in the foreign country and not crossing the border, he thought that it was a little weird to go to the effort of visiting the foreign airport and not seeing anything and coming directly back to the US, the more I explained, the more irritated he became, I think if I just pointed to the Qantas printouts and the printed flight times and my SC's needs it would be a lot easier.

 

[medhead]

No, the first CBP at Miami may have heard of a mileage run, but couldn't grasp the concept of only staying one hour in the foreign country and not crossing the border, he thought that it was a little weird to go to the effort of visiting the foreign airport and not seeing anything and coming directly back to the US, the more I explained, the more irritated he became, I think if I just pointed to the Qantas printouts and the printed flight times and my SC's needs it would be a lot easier.

Yes and as you wrote in your previous post the point of contention was the country visited, he ended up writing in the country, you wrote. So I'll stand by my comment that the problem sounds like that pedantic point. FWIW even if you don't leave the immigration zone, you have still visited the country, IMO, and hence writing a country name on the form is not incorrect.

There are 3 issues that the guy is probably worried about:
1. Not understanding mileage runs, but you've now said he probably understand that
2. You not having a proper holiday, maybe he would be confused but I doubt he really gives one
3. You refusing to properly complete the form.

This last one I can see as a potential source of irritation to someone who collects those forms and has been told they must include a country. Trying to explain a mileage run as an excuse for not giving him what he has been told to collect is hardly going to reduce that irritation.

Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[arraitch]

No, the first CBP at Miami may have heard of a mileage run, but couldn't grasp the concept of only staying one hour in the foreign country and not crossing the border, he thought that it was a little weird to go to the effort of visiting the foreign airport and not seeing anything and coming directly back to the US, the more I explained, the more irritated he became, I think if I just pointed to the Qantas printouts and the printed flight times and my SC's needs it would be a lot easier.

Perhaps there is some correlation here between the officer's degree of comprehension and the inability to do this trip in reverse? IOW, if you fly to LOTFAP, you enter LOTFAP.

 

[kempvet]

So I guess on the Australian Immigration Card, - have you visited a CA or SA country in the last 7 days you still say NO. Given the above scenarios mentioned about the airport stopover being a visit to the country, everyone transiting though B Aries on LAN to pick up the AA flight to MIA should say YES (if they return to SYD within 7 days). !! If they have been at the airport only, then have been in SA, I wouldn't consider a transit in SIN as visiting Asia.

BUT maybe I am wrong, never needed to do this, SYD-SIN (airport transit) -SYD, wonder what you would write on the immigration card!

Help me out, does the AUS immigration card say where did you board this flight and this is missing on the USA immigration card (only which country did you visit).

 

[Fifa]

Last year I did an AA SC run to SKB and was very pleased with the results.
I would like to do another to a different airport in September this year and started looking at options a couple of months ago.
The prices have now gone up substantially and I was wondering if the website can tell how many times particular routes are looked at and so jack up the prices accordingly.
Anyone have any insight into this?

 

[kempvet]

There are good SC Runs out of LAX to eventually turn around in PTY and return to LAX for about $950A for about 780 SCs during the month of April for those willing to find them and work out the routing. The amount of time that you spend in PTY seems to be unlimited (doesn't affect the fare), but PTY seems to be the flavor of the month for low F fares so you may be able to fashion your own SC run around this fact. Good luck to all.

 

[scheps]

very nice

 

[kempvet]

i assume this is not a LAX-PTY return is it?

Yes this is correct. You have to work you way over to the east coast and then to PTY, the fact that PTY is added seems to dramatically reduce the fare, just like SAL did a month ago, I guess AA may have a sale to these foreign places every now and then to try to build up numbers, I remember in March I went on 2 runs both through SAL and the plane was nearly empty both times.

But understand that for every one member there may be 10 lurkers who do not contribute to this site, therefore the exact route will have to be worked out by the reader, as has been the policy with this thread at least.

What I like about this run is that the positioning costs at the beginning and end are nil for me as I also live near LAX, but also starting and ending at LAX may also suit many Aussies on their way into or out of the USA. I have not check other cities, but the run may be possible from where a person normally would be in the USA for work or vacation to start with, and they can then link to LAX on the way home.

I just checked this flight as ex SEA through PTY arriving in LAX for 780SC for $1200A so turning around in PTY may be the flavour of the month at the moment, turning around in PTY may not be a bad option for anywhere in the USA ending at LAX.

Just saw that AA has a special on the front page of the website LAX-PTY-LAX for about $275A in Y, point proved I suppose, there are specials to PTY at the moment

 

[scheps]

yep, i just added that destination to where i needed to go in the first place anyway and its pretty good return.t

Thanks a lot for this tip

 

[kempvet]

yes, it is always great to find a SC run that collects you from where you already are, to where you need to be anyway, no positioning flights or hotels, can save quite a bit off the real cost of the SC run.

 

[kempvet]

Last year I did an AA SC run to SKB and was very pleased with the results.
I would like to do another to a different airport in September this year and started looking at options a couple of months ago.
The prices have now gone up substantially and I was wondering if the website can tell how many times particular routes are looked at and so jack up the prices accordingly.
Anyone have any insight into this?

Think that it has more to do with actual bums on seats, supply and demand (as measured by bookings), when demand for a route picks up, so do the fares, and they may or may not return to lower levels again in the future. Some routes, especially to CA rather than the Caribbean often have deeper and more frequent discounts as they are likely not as popular.

 

[ozdunker]

Currently in SAL in the middle of my run. Staying 2 nights. Glad I visited very interesting city. Points/SC posted the following day. The lack of inflight entertainment on AA really sucks. Have requalified for Gold and on my way towards platinum. Thanks to OP for all their orginal Status run recommendations and advice.

 

[kempvet]

Let us know what San Salvador is like, I just stayed at the airport for an hour or so, (didn't even realise that I could have stayed at the airport lounge using my Diners Club card). Would be interesting to know if San Salvador is safe for families, or just a blokes city, was a very rough country a few years ago, I guess things may have changed. I liked the drop into SAL, the way the plane has to meander over the ocean to shed the height after coming over the mountains to the coast. I also liked the trip down, looking at the sea and coast of Cuba and Belize and the hillsides of Honduras down into SAL.

 

[kempvet]

The lack of inflight entertainment on AA really sucks.

I would go further and say that apart from a few 2 aisle planes, flying F in AA sucks, not
really even up to J standard in AUS