A Platinum Flight for $1400

[ReLoad]

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

But jeez its cheap

 

[ozdunker]

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.

Back in the USA now. Getting out of SAL was crazy, walked straight up to AA counter again and got my boarding passes, walk up the stairs to departures and there were people everywhere. It took about 45 minutes to go through their migration, just waiting in line, but it was warm and a little stressful since you start worrying about missing flight.
I flew from DFW into and out of SAL. The texas flight crews are always great, except today had a crew from California and they were very very ordinary. Thankfully there was a movie I hadnt seen on the TV on the wall. I was off the flight and through US immigration in about 5 minutes.
If I had a choice to fly business/first class here I would go with United before AA.

I didnt walk around San Salvador, I had a private tour so we drove around the city and only stopped at some lookout and at one of the churches. There were only a couple of seedy looking areas we drove through. There is a lot of graffitti in areas and razor wire on top of fences, military carry machine guns here and there and there is an apparently gang problem there. The only thing which made me feel a little uneasy was driving on the roads, lots of high speed driving, weaving in and out. However on the city is very modern they have a number of large shopping malls, parts of the city feel very much like a small american city. The other sections are full of street side markets, lots of colour and sounds. I stayed at the Sheraton who organised a driver for me, so arrived at airport, exit to see guy holding my name up, arrive hotel. Tour company had a booth at the hotel and was able to arrange a guide. If you were to walk around the city then you would want to blend into the local population, so long pants, shirt/tshirt without logos, and be of a small to medium height. I am 5'10 and I would be taller than 98% of the population there. So if you were taller you are going to stand out. If you were to travel to the SAL airport I would certainly recommend checking out the city, going on the tour was a great way to learn all about the history, culture, geography of the country. The airport is down near the coast because that is the only flat area of land, the rest of the country is mountains, volcanoes. Some interesting points about the country, govt pays for all education costs inc meals etc so no excuse for kids not getting educated, also recently introduced universal healtcare. The roads are also really good. I had to pay $10USD on entry for a tourist pass. US dollar is local currency.

 

[kempvet]

thanks for the info ozdunker, San Salvador appears to be a place that you wouldn't necessarily take the family, I was a little hesitant to stay there so opted for the airport turnaround, know what you mean about SAL itself, they don't waste money on the air conditioning, I think next time will do what you have just done, book a hotel with a guided tour and have a look around, that is if SWMBO will let me.

 

[Wiganmick]

Kempvet.... Can you give me some advice and assistance ? I am due in the uk on the 11th/12th May... Can arrive in either Dallas or LA on the 9th... Using frequent flyer points with QF... Looking to do a cheapish status run over those few days and then leave the US to Manchester.. Again using points. Have got 160,000 frequent flyer points.

I have 200 status credits at the moment and have the double status credit offer so looking for something that will earn 600 status credits to get platinum status.

Would be great to get some assistance. I am pulling my hair out with the AA site.

Thanks v much

 

[gogo419]

Kempvet.... Can you give me some advice and assistance ? I am due in the uk on the 11th/12th May... Can arrive in either Dallas or LA on the 9th... Using frequent flyer points with QF... Looking to do a cheapish status run over those few days and then leave the US to Manchester.. Again using points. Have got 160,000 frequent flyer points.

I have 200 status credits at the moment and have the double status credit offer so looking for something that will earn 600 status credits to get platinum status.

Would be great to get some assistance. I am pulling my hair out with the AA site.

Thanks v much

I think you will find double status only applies to QF flights? Or more specifically only QF metal? Someone else will have to confirm this..

Thanks gogo

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think you will find double status only applies to QF flights? Or more specifically only QF metal? Someone else will have to confirm this..

Thanks gogo

Yes you are correct.
Flights in F on AA will earn as single F SC's only.

 

[serfty]

Eligible travel on QF flight numbers; so "marketed by QF" - the "Metal" does not matter.

 

[kempvet]

I am due in the uk on the 11th/12th May... Can arrive in either Dallas or LA on the 9th

that is a tight timetable, and May to Sept are not the really cheap months for low cost F fares as most Americans tend to be out of hibernation with the warmer months. Can you tack LAX-SLC onto your ff point award flight. Try booking SLC-BWI and look for the connection through LAX (three flights instead of two for 300 SCs for about $550 and then book BWI-SLC and again look for connection through LAX, same fare $550. They have to be booked as 2 separate flights in most cases, as the option through LAX may not appear in both legs if booked as a return flight. And again see if you can go SLC-US Gateway-Manchester. You should be able to work the SLC-BWI (through LAX and DFW) into your timetable for 600 SCs for about $1100, I think that this is the best that you are going to get with such a tight timetable, the cheaper and greater SC fare usually involve a stop over in a CA or Caribbean country and you probably will not have the time (or recovery time) for this option. Hope that this helps

 

[sandgroper]

I did a SC run in Feb BWI-DFW-LAX-SLC returning back same way.. Overnight SLC was cheap at a Candlewood Hotel and got the double points offer for that thru IHG was about $80 for 1200 QFF points.. The fare was about USD550 each way and had to be booked as two sep tickets.. So pretty good for First class and 600SC.. No lounge in SCL and early starts but was well worth it.. Just did it with a wheelie as left suitcase in htl in BWI and collected after my night away..

Chose my seat at booking and did checkin on machine at airport and got BP for all three flights of the day.. Much better service on 767's if you get one on the itinerary..737 crews very average on my flights.. The CRJ crew LAX-SCL vv were very good.. One of the crew even put a blanket around me when I was asleep.. Nice touch!.. Ps board early as always a prob with trying to stow hand carry on 737's etc.. Lockers over 1st row left tiny but are bigger on the right side and 2nd and third rows..

Picked up this status run info from you guys so appreciate that muchly..

Will try and do another one in Sep on my way to Europe for holidays...

 

[Wiganmick]

Thanks ever so much.... Will maybe go for that...can add the slc onto my award booking. One query though... Will it get double status credits
?

 

[serfty]

Unlikely for double SC's as only QF flight numbers are eligible.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Wiganmick]

Thanks.. Would not have liked to have booked this and found out later that the double sc did not count. If I were to extend the timings. Say go to the US on the 7th May and leave on the 12th... Does that give me more options?

The other idea o have is just to cancel my J trip to Manchester. Cost me 146,000 and either book an economy ticket for 64,000 points less or pay for a one way economy. Maybe putting up with a direct trip in economy would be easier...

I would then have 84,000 points or 146,000 free (less any cancellation fee) to do some locally based Jasa flights.

Platinum would be useful as I am traveling at least once a month if not twice to Auckland... I have all of my flights locked in till my eoy date 31/7/12... Will see me at 320 status credits

 

[kempvet]

Unlikely for double SC's as only QF flight numbers are eligible..

think the issue is more to do with the economics or points burn if XASA, the flights exists, but for Y only max 20 SCs in discount economy (double SCs), would cost more for full economy to get 40 SCs, they don't have J on this route. Think that the poster is better spending money on the SC run in the US.

 

[Wiganmick]

Thanks kempvet... Any idea of a better run if I allocate more time .
?

 

[serfty]

Thanks kempvet... Any idea of a better run if I allocate more time .
?

From LAX you can fly to SJU travelling AA First (business in the sector to/from SJU) for USD503 and earn 300 SC's each way. If you can squeeze in LAS it's 60 SC's more each way for the same price.

It would take 2½ days minimum with an overnight in SJU. PM me for more

 

[kempvet]

Thanks kempvet... Any idea of a better run if I allocate more time .
?

Because I am self employed, I am able to work my time around the best SC run for the dollars involved, last February I did a SC run 780 SCs for $A850, I guess that your timetable is defined by others, if this is the case, then ANY SC run where you get less than $2 a SC should be considered good.
Yes, if you want to take the 7th to 12th of May, then for max SCs you should start at HNL, there is a flight over these days for 1050 SCs for about $A1500

 

[kempvet]

From LAX you can fly to SJU travelling AA First (business to/from SJU) for USD503 and earn 300 SC's each way. If you can squeeze in LAS it's 60 SC's more each way for the same price.

While my 1050 SC flight is possible, think that this one is more practical, especially going to SJU.

 

[Wiganmick]

Tried to pm you serfly... Unsure if you got it

 

[kempvet]

Just found a 720SC flight for 682 dollars, less than 95 cents a SC. Somewhere from the USA west coast to the Caribbean return. Good to know that these flights still exist

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Just found a 720SC flight for 682 dollars, less than 95 cents a SC. Somewhere from the USA west coast to the Caribbean return. Good to know that these flights still exist

Thats a great find!