Considering a status run out of PDX

[TimB]

Hi all,

I'm a freshly-minted FF member, and fairly new to the status game as well. I don't fly a great deal, and a lot of it's on my own dime, so I've been a NB for most of my QFF career. But last year I had enough trips that it just took a holiday to Darwin/Kakadu to get me up to PS.

I'm off to PDX next month for a conference: QF434, JQ3 (*C), HA26 (HNL-PDX); the conference ends on Sep 10, then on Sep 12 I have AS568 (PDX-LAX) followed by QF94 in PE (with seating in J, I believe - 30K), the last one on points.

Anyway, I've been reading these forums too much , because instead of doing a national park road trip out of PDX for the two days I have free, I'm thinking about a status run to get me up to SG instead. The flights I already have booked take care of retaining PS, so I'll only need another 380 to reach SG.

I've never booked or flown YUPPs before, but based on past posts from serfty and others, and some time spent with MileageMonkey and FareCompare, I've come up with this plan (on AA):

PDX-SEA (on AS, so no SC, but AA don't fly that leg, and there are better YUPP options out of SEA)
SEA-DFW-PBI (stay overnight)
PBI-DFW-SEA, then SEA-PDX on AS again

I think I should be able to fit this in and get back to PDX for my already booked flight to LAX and home. If I've worked it out correctly, the qualifying legs should get me 420 SC, at least that's what MileageMonkey says when I enter it as SEA-DFW-PBI-DFW-SEA. But the fares I checked on the American Airlines site were for SEA-PBI (1 stop) -- does that mean that they only get 300 SC, i.e. SEA-PBI-SEA? As I said, I'm a newby at this, so I don't know whether they credit SCs per leg or for the flight as a whole.

The cost looks to be AU$462 for each leg of SEA-PBI return (without taxes), which is not out of the question for me.

Are there other options out of PDX (or SEA) that are worth considering? Particularly if my calculations are wrong, and SEA-PBI-SEA won't get me the 380 SCs I need. And what other resources do people here use to plan their status runs, apart from years of experience?

Of course, the other question I have to answer myself is whether I want to spend around AU$1000 to $1200 (including accom) just to reach SG. I expect I'll be doing at least one international flight next year, so lounge access will be nice. And the higher rate of points earning is nice too. But I read more about people doing status runs to retain WP than reach SG, so what do other people think -- is it worth it?

Sorry for the long (first) post, but thanks for any tips you can offer. I think this could quickly turn into an obsession for me...

Tim.

 

[serfty]

TimB, welcome to AFF .

Just a note that you are leaving it a bit late to book and the required fare classes can be sold out.

For fares out of Portland, start here:

Discounted First Class and Flyer Talk Fares - PDX

Then select AA only under carrier filters.

E.g. A day return to TPA from PDX costs USD940 ( ~AUD1170) and will earn 410 SC's.

AA 534  PDX Sep 11, 2009 06:00 AM DFW 11:45 AM
        M83 First (P)
----------------------------
AA 1112 DFW Sep 11, 2009 12:35 PM TPA 03:55 PM
        M80 First (P)
============================
AA 1171 TPA Sep 11, 2009 04:40 PM DFW 06:20 PM
        M80 First (P)
----------------------------
AA 2211 DFW Sep 11, 2009 08:30 PM PDX 10:30 PM
        M83 First (P)

This is tight on the turnaround, but it can be booked on the one booking, so you would be protected in that case (it may even be the aircraft/crew).

 

[Bundy Bear]

Hi all,

I'm a freshly-minted FF member, ...

I think a few people are already obsessed with points, but then you got to like flying. I am not obsessed just yet.

Each flight segment will get you the SCs for each flight, as long as its not the same flight number doing SEA-DFW-PBI

I would almost be tempted to join AFF Gold membership and get the discounted Qantas Club price instead of flying around the US for 2 days.

From Silver to Gold is a nice jump but I haven't got there yet. but I can't justify the cost; as I am already a Qantas Club Life Member.

 

[medhead]

PDX-SEA (on AS, so no SC, but AA don't fly that leg, and there are better YUPP options out of SEA)
SEA-DFW-PBI (stay overnight)
PBI-DFW-SEA, then SEA-PDX on AS again

Ok, I am slightly confused about the earning on AS. Looking at the QF airline earning table I think it says you will earn SC on AS flights operated by AS. But emphasis here on I'm not sure on this point. Can some provide guidance on this?

However, I am positive that you can earn SC on an AA codeshare operated by AS. So the trick would be to look for AA flight number on the PDX-SEA legs.

 

[notzac]

Ok, I am slightly confused about the earning on AS. Looking at the QF airline earning table I think it says you will earn SC on AS flights operated by AS. But emphasis here on I'm not sure on this point. Can some provide guidance on this?

If you book the AS code, you'll earn points but not SCs. If the flight has an AA code and you book that, you'll earn points and SCs.

 

[medhead]

If you book the AS code, you'll earn points but not SCs. If the flight has an AA code and you book that, you'll earn points and SCs.

Ok I'm not sure how you get to this result.

I've looked at the QFF terms and conditions specifically condition 20, which doesn't exclude AS directly and implies that SC arre earnt according to the Airline earning table. The airline earning table doesn't completely except AS. Is there somewhere else that I should be looking?

If this is to great a hijack of the thread, sorry and please delete.

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

20.1.2 Status Credits are earned for paid travel (excluding for the avoidance of doubt Award Flights) on certain regular scheduled flights of Qantas, oneworld Alliance Airlines, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airlines and QantasLink, or other airlines as determined by Qantas

20.1.3 Status Credits are not earned for travel on:
(a) certain oneworld Alliance Airline and Airline Partner fare types and routes not listed in or that are excluded in the Airline Earning Table (see the Airline Earning Table for details

 

[Leumas]

Just one thing to keep in mind - you still need 4 flights with a QF number or all those SCs will still mean no status.

Presumably, you live in Oz, so you'll still need 2 more QF-coded flights. Shouldn't be too difficult though.

 

[futaris]

Ok I'm not sure how you get to this result.

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Status Credits

* You can earn Status credits when flying on eligible Qantas, oneworld Alliance airlines (American Airlines®, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, JAL (Japan Airlines), LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian Airlines), Air Pacific, Jetstar or QantasLink services. Status credits can be earned on flights operated by Jetstar Airways where a Qantas flight number is entered on your ticket when booked in Y, B, H, K or W class, or on a Jetflex fare.

 

[TimB]

Ok I'm not sure how you get to this result.

I've looked at the QFF terms and conditions specifically condition 20, which doesn't exclude AS directly and implies that SC arre earnt according to the Airline earning table. The airline earning table doesn't completely except AS. Is there somewhere else that I should be looking?

If this is to great a hijack of the thread, sorry and please delete.

I think the key thing is that the Airline Earning Table includes the phrase "Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes" for those airlines that do give SCs, but that phrase is omitted for the rest, including AS.

 

[TimB]

Just one thing to keep in mind - you still need 4 flights with a QF number or all those SCs will still mean no status.

Presumably, you live in Oz, so you'll still need 2 more QF-coded flights. Shouldn't be too difficult though.

That's already taken care of with flights I've taken already this year.

Note that Jetstar flights also count towards those 4 flights.

 

[straitman]

Somewhat Off Topic but also somewhat On Topic.

Do all classes of AA tickets earn QF Status Credits and if so at what rate:?: I'm specifically referring to AA domestic economy flights.

 

[TimB]

TimB, welcome to AFF .

Just a note that you are leaving it a bit late to book and the required fare classes can be sold out.

E.g. A day return to TPA from PDX costs USD940 ( ~AUD1170) and will earn 410 SC's.

AA 534  PDX Sep 11, 2009 06:00 AM DFW 11:45 AM
        M83 First (P)
----------------------------
AA 1112 DFW Sep 11, 2009 12:35 PM TPA 03:55 PM
        M80 First (P)
============================
AA 1171 TPA Sep 11, 2009 04:40 PM DFW 06:20 PM
        M80 First (P)
----------------------------
AA 2211 DFW Sep 11, 2009 08:30 PM PDX 10:30 PM
        M83 First (P)

This is tight on the turnaround, but it can be booked on the one booking, so you would be protected in that case (it may even be the aircraft/crew).

Thanks serfty -- that's exactly the sort of tip I was looking for.

I looked at farecompare out of PDX, but for some reason didn't follow up and price the fare on the American website.

Just a note for anyone else reading this, in order to find these flights on the American website for the same day and at the fare serfty found, I needed to use the multi-city option, rather than the return flight option.

Now I just need to work out how much I want SG status.

One more question: when I get the required SCs, do I immediately get access to SG benefits? Or does it only come at the start of my next year?

 

[straitman]

One more question: when I get the required SCs, do I immediately get access to SG benefits? Or does it only come at the start of my next year?

From the Qantas web site.

'
The number of Status credits you have is reviewed daily, based on your activity since the anniversary of when you joined the program. As soon as you have earned the required Status Credits to qualify for the next membership level, and provided you have travelled a minimum of four eligible Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar flights during your membership year, you will automatically move up and can start enjoying your extra privileges.
You will retain any new status for at least 12 months. At the end of your membership year, your Status credits will be reset to zero. Provided you continue to earn the required number of Status credits each year, your membership status and privileges will remain at your acquired level.

 

[Maca44]

One more question: when I get the required SCs, do I immediately get access to SG benefits? Or does it only come at the start of my next year?

You receive SC benefits as soon as the credits are posted to your account.

 

[notzac]

Ok I'm not sure how you get to this result.

I've looked at the QFF terms and conditions specifically condition 20, which doesn't exclude AS directly and implies that SC arre earnt according to the Airline earning table. The airline earning table doesn't completely except AS. Is there somewhere else that I should be looking?

Here's the thing. Status Credits are earnt on eligible oneworld flights. If you book a flight using the AS code, it will earn points as per the AS entry in the Airline Earning Table (Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions):

Alaska Airlines (AS)

BGHKLMQSTUVY	Economy		1	-
F		First		1	50%

Excluded: Points are not earned on Codeshare Flights operated by an airline other than Qantas.

Note that for AS, there is no mention of status credits, as they aren't earnt.

If you book the same flight using the AA code, it is for all intents and purposes considered to be a AA flight when crediting to QFF. The AA entry in the Airline Earning Table states:

American Airlines® (AA)

GLMNSV	Discount Economy	0.5	-
BHKY	Economy			1	-
DIJ	Business		1	25%
AFP	First			1	50%

Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.

Compare this to the entry for IB:

Iberia (IB)

BGHKLMNOPQSVY	Economy		1	-
ACDIRJ		Business	1	25%

Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes.
Excluded: Points and Status Credits are not earned on Codeshare Flights operated by airlines other than [b]one[/b]world™Alliance Airlines.

Note that there are no exclusions for AA - hence any flight you book using the AA flight number gets treated as if it were a full mainline AA flight. It's a very handy little twist to the program if you need the SCs!

Somewhat Off Topic but also somewhat On Topic.

Do all classes of AA tickets earn QF Status Credits and if so at what rate:?: I'm specifically referring to AA domestic economy flights.

Check the above -- the most notable exceptions are Q and O. The earn rate is pretty ordinary for discount Y, so I'd really only want to credit flights to QFF for the SCs...

 

[serfty]

Ok I'm not sure how you get to this result. ...

By the T&C you may feel correct.

However, I believe notzac has flown AA codeshares on AS metal and received both points/SC's as per flying AA.

Note this concurs with much anecdotal evidence., both here and on FT

 

[JohnK]

I think a few people are already obsessed with points, but then you got to like flying. I am not obsessed just yet.

You quickly lose the obsession when you commute on a weekly basis and flying is no longer fun but a burden....

Somewhat Off Topic but also somewhat On Topic.

Do all classes of AA tickets earn QF Status Credits and if so at what rate:?: I'm specifically referring to AA domestic economy flights.

You will find that Q class on AA flights do not credit to QFF.

The remainder of AA economy flights credit as discount economy SCs to QFF with the exception of Y class which credits as full economy SCs to QFF.

 

[medhead]

By the T&C you may feel correct.

However, I believe notzac has flown AA codeshares on AA metal and received both points/SC's as per flying AA.

Note this concurs with much anecdotal evidence., both here and on FT

I was sure notzac was correct. sorry if it sounded like i was questioning that.
I was just having trouble navigating the T&C to get the right answer. Thanks everyone for the guidance, i missed that little *

 

[serfty]

You quickly lose the obsession when you commute on a weekly basis and flying is no longer fun but a burden....

Actually, I found this is when the international trips become really interesting - it's not just a 55 or 140 minute flight, it's 8 or 10 hours.

It's great not to be landing in SYD or MEL or BNE for a change - you are landing in HKG, SIN, LAX, LHR or ORD.

 

[JohnK]

Actually, I found this is when the international trips become really interesting - it's not just a 55 or 140 minute flight, it's 8 or 10 hours.

It's great not to be landing in SYD or MEL or BNE for a change - you are landing in HKG, SIN, LAX, LHR or ORD.

Maybe I should get a job in BKK, HKG or SIN.