A Platinum Flight for $1400

[beardoc]

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

I am impressed! The best I've been able to do is 600SC for USD710, but dates have dried up on that one.

I'm still struggling to find out how people are managing to book these on the aa.com site - I know they're doing multicity bookings, but how are people working out what cities to put in between the origin and destination? I'm able to get 2-stop itineraries easily through the usual AA booking engine (particularly using DFW or ORD and MIA) between West Coast Cities or HNL to Carribean Islands, but I don't seem to be having any luck when trying to add more transfer cities at all through the multicity bookings. Is there something I'm missing about how to do this?

 

[serfty]

Start with ITA.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[gizzard]

I'm still struggling to find out how people are managing to book these on the aa.com site - I know they're doing multicity bookings, but how are people working out what cities to put in between the origin and destination? I'm able to get 2-stop itineraries easily through the usual AA booking engine (particularly using DFW or ORD and MIA) between West Coast Cities or HNL to Carribean Islands, but I don't seem to be having any luck when trying to add more transfer cities at all through the multicity bookings. Is there something I'm missing about how to do this?

I don't know if my posting here would help you:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....y-about-searching-aa-sc-39804.html#post619471

 

[ferni]

Booked some F/J AA tickets for November last night... all up $930USD which should earn me about 470SC. Econ would of cost me ~600USD and earned no SC/Points... so for 330USD seems like a good deal.
LAX-DFW-MIA-CUN
CUN-MIA-DFW-LAX

Interestingly I watched the price drop over the last couple of weeks using yapta to track it. Was originally $1040, then $980, then $930. Thought i'd jump on it before it goes backup. So no doubt it will drop further now

I also didn't have to do anything tricky to get the purchase to go through with my AU Amex card. Put my real AU billing address in.

Also ITA rocks.

 

[QLD'r]

Hi all, anyone got any ideas for status runs from LAX between Aug 13 and Aug 17 or Aug 28 and 31?? I've been playing around with ITA for a few hours today but the website is timing out on some of my attempts - which have worked previously. Probably pushing my luck given the late notice, but these dates have just become available to me.

 

[scheps]

Hi all, anyone got any ideas for status runs from LAX between Aug 13 and Aug 17 or Aug 28 and 31?? I've been playing around with ITA for a few hours today but the website is timing out on some of my attempts - which have worked previously. Probably pushing my luck given the late notice, but these dates have just become available to me.

What budget and how many SC points are do you need? is this purely a SC run? Are you looking at 1 or 2 runs?

 

[serfty]

... Probably pushing my luck given the late notice, but these dates have just become available to me.

You certainly are, given that many of the cheaper fares are need to be booked a minimum number of days out.

e.g.Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Fare Information Search:

Departing LAX on 02/11/12 for SJU
Flying AA  
Purchasing at LAX
Viewing in currency USD

Fare Basis  Airline  Booking  Trip Type   Fare           Cabin  Effective  Expiration  Min/Max  Advanced
                     Class                                      Date       Date        Stay     Purchase Req
MCE5UPZ1    AA       Z        One-Way     457.00 (USD)   B                                      14
KCE7UPZ1    AA       Z        One-Way     547.00 (USD)   B                                      07
KCE3UPZ1    AA       Z        One-Way     682.00 (USD)   B                                      03
INE0C1Z1    AA       I        One-Way     772.00 (USD)   B                                      
YCE3UPZ1    AA       Z        One-Way     935.00 (USD)   B                                      03
DNE0C1Z1    AA       D        One-Way     1088.00 (USD)  B                                      
J1EC1V      AA       J        One-Way     1353.00 (USD)  B                                      30
F1EC1V      AA       F        One-Way     1390.00 (USD)  F                                      30
J           AA       J        One-Way     2009.00 (USD)  B                                      
F           AA       F        One-Way     2010.00 (USD)  F

 

[marks]

I've just booked a US trip for work (last minute!) with a weekend free in late this month, so trying to do a SFO-SJU run. Can't find anything better than $1000 USD for 600 points. Maybe next time.

 

[QLD'r]

I booked a run from LAX to PTY for next week. 1500USD for 720SC, not the best price, but I'm happy with it considering the last minute booking. My company has shifted its travel back to QF so I need the run to retain WP for another year as I will fall just short. Anyone have any tips on a trip like this?

 

[kempvet]

I've just booked a US trip for work (last minute!) with a weekend free in late this month, so trying to do a SFO-SJU run. Can't find anything better than $1000 USD for 600 points. Maybe next time.

Starting from SFO may limit your options, usually out of LAX there is a standard route to the Caribbean which includes the NE of the USA, not so out of SFO, I guess that you are likely to route through DFW, MCO, MSY etc, is this the case? The best SC runs through the US often keep clear of DFW and the south.

ALTHOUGH

I am seeing a 720SC flight SFO to STT for 900 USD August 29th for 2 nights routing through the NE of the USA

 

[kempvet]

I booked a run from LAX to PTY for next week. 1500USD for 720SC, not the best price, but I'm happy with it considering the last minute booking. My company has shifted its travel back to QF so I need the run to retain WP for another year as I will fall just short. Anyone have any tips on a trip like this?

Depends on the routing and how many nights in PTY (I guess at least one as you may not be able to do this as a turnaround in PTY in one day for 720SC, and are you going to try to overnight at the airport in PTY), sounds like you are going through MIA and not DFW with a 720SC run, is this the case?

 

[QLD'r]

I'm doing LAX-DFW-IAD-MIA-PTY-MIA-IAD-DFW-LAX. I'll get 1 night in PTY with 1 night either side in IAD.

 

[kempvet]

I'm doing LAX-DFW-IAD-MIA-PTY-MIA-IAD-DFW-LAX. I'll get 1 night in PTY with 1 night either side in IAD.

If you went through BWI it would be an extra 60SC, was this an option? If you are staying in hotels it makes the overnight easier, I can't say that I have been to PTY but if it is like any of the other CA airports, I would give yourself 2 hours to just to get through immigration on the way back, when these places decide to be drug detection in general for all passengers, they often don't care when your flights departs. I know what CBP is like in MIA, so you need
1. The QF SC page printed out and show the CBP what the SC sectors mean
2. A printout of your current QF status and where you want to be in the future.
3. Printout of your AA run so that they can see that you are on a run.
Don't try to explain this orally to the CBP, they tend to think that you are strange staying in a CA city one night, because they probably don't come across it that much. You could probably get through by talking about what you are doing, but it is ten times easier when you can show them what you are doing, understand the MIA CBP officer deals all day with CA and SA documentation, so they get a little fatigued and perhaps a little short at times.
Finally check that your QF number IS on your BP, also ask for system verification from the ticketing officer that this is the case and check your QF account to make sure that they are crediting these SC by about 48 hours.
Also if you don't have lounge access with AA, simply purchase a 100 dollar 30 day pass, it could be worth it.

 

[QLD'r]

Thanks for the advice kempvet, I will print all that stuff out... I was rehearsing my story the other day, I'm sure they will love me! I was not aware of BWI, I will remember that for next time. I'm already QF WP, so AA lounge access is sorted. I'm thinking that the best way to d this trip is to ensure that all I have is carry on, as that would just be a pain. I won't need much, just 5 days worth of gear.

 

[kempvet]

yes, carry on is the THE way to go, but also expect to show the same printed documents to the US customs officer as well as you are sure to be asked as to why you only have carry on, once they see what you are doing, there is no problems, just remember that MIA officials are often fatigued with all the questions and drug issues they need to ask daily JUST to keep their jobs.
FYI AA has now closed the lounge in PTY at the end of June 2012.

 

[beardoc]

yes, carry on is the THE way to go, but also expect to show the same printed documents to the US customs officer as well as you are sure to be asked as to why you only have carry on, once they see what you are doing, there is no problems, just remember that MIA officials are often fatigued with all the questions and drug issues they need to ask daily JUST to keep their jobs.
FYI AA has now closed the lounge in PTY at the end of June 2012.

Unless you're on Amex Platinum Insurance and you get big payments for delayed baggage - then checking bags are a pleasure...

 

[scheps]

Dont expect too much from the lounge at PTY. And you have to buzz to get in.

When you are approaching the immigration section, there are two stairs going down. If there are a lot of people, just take the other stairs, but requires you to walk around but its totally worth it.

PTY customs english arent any good so paper is a good way to communicate. Esp if your papers look official and crumpled up

Good luck, bring some stuff to do on the plane or otherwise you might go nutz !

Regarding luggage, IIRC you can only check in 6 cities in adv or something like that.

 

[QLD'r]

Yeah, I know PTY does not have an AA lounge... As long as I can find cold margaritas I'll be happy. Hopefully I don't run out of books to read on the trip!

 

[kempvet]

Thanks for the advice kempvet, I will print all that stuff out... I was rehearsing my story the other day, I'm sure they will love me! I was not aware of BWI, I will remember that for next time. I'm already QF WP, so AA lounge access is sorted. I'm thinking that the best way to d this trip is to ensure that all I have is carry on, as that would just be a pain. I won't need much, just 5 days worth of gear.

Another advantage that I just remembered with carry on luggage is that often on these flights, if you miss a connection or they try to route you through another area to your destination it is 10 times easier if you only have carry on luggage, I missed the flight by a few minutes (remote gate issue and early close to check in) LAX-SFO-DFW in F and was able to re route LAX-DFW in F at the very last second at no extra charge to connected with the remainder of the flights on the SC run in AA F, simply because I only had carry on.

 

[DC3]

Sitting in the flagship lounge at LAX, awaiting my first flight to DFW. I have 6 first class and 2 business class flights a head of me!! going to be an interesting a couple of days!

Slightly O/T, but I'd like to try out the Flagship lounges at LAX (and JFK) if a planned trip to the USA comes off in 2013. However, I find the access rules to be confusing:

• First Class on an American Airlines marketed and operated international* flight
• Full-fare in the First Class cabin (F and Z inventories) on an American Airlines marketed and operated three-class nonstop transcontinental flight
• American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum® customers on an international* flight, operated and marketed by a oneworld® airline, regardless of cabin flown
• oneworld First Class international* customers when departing on or connecting to a oneworld marketed and operated flight
• oneworld Emerald customers** when departing on or connecting to any oneworld marketed and operated flight, regardless of cabin flown. Access is valid on a same day itinerary that includes an international* qualifying segment

*For the purpose of Flagship Lounge access, eligible international cities include flights traveling to or from Europe, Asia, Central and South America and Mexico City only. All other international destinations are excluded from the benefit of lounge access.

**American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum/Emerald customers traveling on solely North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Which part of the rules, above, would get me access to the LAX Flagship lounge (as a QF WP/OWE) by flying LAX-DFW, as the OP has done?

Edit: Would it be the 5th listed rule, above, and only on the same day as arriving in LAX? It does not mention Australia.