Earning Status Credits / Doing SC Runs

[hayden]

Hey All,

Let me first cover myself here before sounding silly, I am a lowly PS with qantas and have very much to learn.

These forums have been invaluable to me in the past (I learnt with Jetstar I could upgrade at the airport for a small cost for example) so I thought I might ask a few questions.

Next year I'd like to achieve WP. Now, you might say its a bit weird to have that as a goal, but the flip side to that is I want to travel more and spend less time working. I'm going to use that as an indication that I've done more domestic and international travel.

I have a few overseas trips planned already, making sure for flights within the USA for example that I fly with American Airlines.

When working out a SC / $, whats a good value? I have read people say there have been times in the USA you can get 1 SC / $1.

I travel a bit to Japan with Jetstar and use the airport upgrade, which means for about $1000 (inc the $200 or so upgrade to starclass) I earn roughly 250 status credits. $4 per status credit.

Is this good value? And are there local opportunities to do better than this?

I have done so much searching on these forums (and flyertalk) I'm starting to get myself confused I think

Thanks Guys


Hayden

 

[Flashback]

Welcome to AFF hayden. Do note that with the airport upgrades, changes have been made and you're not supposed to be getting SC for the upgraded fare, only your original fare so I wouldn't be relying on that to buff up your total.

Generally $2-4/SC is good value, however can be much harder to attain these days. The YUPP/KUPP fares on AA when worked out right can offer good value, although not as good as it used to be.

 

[hayden]

Welcome to AFF hayden. Do note that with the airport upgrades, changes have been made and you're not supposed to be getting SC for the upgraded fare, only your original fare so I wouldn't be relying on that to buff up your total.

Generally $2-4/SC is good value, however can be much harder to attain these days. The YUPP/KUPP fares on AA when worked out right can offer good value, although not as good as it used to be.

Thanks for the welcome

Do you have any idea when those changes were introduced? Or is it a bit on a case by case basis, you may or may not get the status credits?

I don't plan on flying jetstar too much, but if you're prepared to run the risk of not getting an upgrade at the airport, the starclass $$ can be pretty good value I thought

 

[Flashback]

It was approximately 6 months ago.

Have a look at these:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...flyer-program/jq-class-odu-mel-bkk-16965.html
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...nyone-traveled-10142.html?highlight=Starclass

 

[dragonman]

Hey All,

.... I have a few overseas trips planned already, making sure for flights within the USA for example that I fly with American Airlines....
Hayden

Be careful there too if you fly on the cheapest fare (O class I think)

3 APR 09 AA 168 ECONOMY 09APR09 TOKYO (NARITA)/NEW YORK (JFK) - - - SC 0 Points 0

If you fly Qantas of course it is not a problem. i knew i would only get SC's and points for the Sydney Tokyo leg - but at $1194 return I figured its not such an issue. Of course since then QF released cheap fares too.

 

[Blackadder]

Just a example of a YUPP with American Airlines

JFK-LAX 100sc for $1473

 

[Flashback]

Just a example of a YUPP with American Airlines

JFK-LAX 100sc for $1473

At $14.73/SC I would not consider that very good value.

 

[hayden]

3 APR 09 AA 168 ECONOMY 09APR09 TOKYO (NARITA)/NEW YORK (JFK) - - - SC 0 Points 0

How did you get this information to come up? To display the points and SC earnt ?

 

[Flashback]

That is from the Activity Statement on his QFF account.

 

[dragonman]

How did you get this information to come up? To display the points and SC earnt ?

A slightly doctored cut and paste from my activity statement from QF.

Also the above mentioned YUPP should be chosen so as to book into first class which would earn 150 SC's although as a transcontinental flight on AA its complicated. Best to choose one that stops say in DFW.

I am doing JFK -LAS - JFK at about $9 an SC which with the AUD as it is - is ok. Plus I get a few days in Vegas and 240 SC's. The cheapest ones are out of Tampa or Atlanta I think - but they were not convenient.

 

[Blackadder]

At $14.73/SC I would not consider that very good value.

Indeed, only a example of a YUPP (Took it as 6 hours across the US in Y...no thanks) but hunting around the AA site (when it moves faster than a slug on prozac) should be able to unearth some gems.

 

[hayden]

I should have known it was from his statement, oops

It appears that "O" class is "Consolidator fares; no miles" - I'd paste the link here but it wont let me until I have reached 10 posts!

 

[Mal]

Be careful there too if you fly on the cheapest fare (O class I think)

3 APR 09 AA 168 ECONOMY 09APR09 TOKYO (NARITA)/NEW YORK (JFK) - - - SC 0 Points 0

That flight would be in Q class.

There are quite a few AA Economy classes that do not credit to Qantas. Careful perusal of
Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions is required.

 

[dragonman]

That flight would be in Q class.

...

Woops I sit corrected.

 

[Flashback]

I am doing JFK -LAS - JFK at about $9 an SC which with the AUD as it is - is ok. Plus I get a few days in Vegas and 240 SC's. The cheapest ones are out of Tampa or Atlanta I think - but they were not convenient.

You can do much better on $/SC with the recent sales QF have been having, on just domestic travel so I wouldn't bother if it was me personally.

 

[hayden]

That flight would be in Q class.

There are quite a few AA Economy classes that do not credit to Qantas. Careful perusal of X is required.

Mal,

I had a read of that before, and the line under AA reads "Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes."

Is that saying only fares booked under the classes listed in the above table will earn status credits?

I cant find anywhere else that states what "eligible" classes are...


'Q' fares appear to be "IT (inclusive tour) ex-Japan" and "Consolidator fare for travel ex-Europe" which are both discount fares

 

[dragonman]

You can do much better on $/SC with the recent sales QF have been having, on just domestic travel so I wouldn't bother if it was me personally.

Of course you can - just a fun way to get to Vegas is all - if you are already in NY.

 

[Flashback]

Of course you can - just a fun way to get to Vegas is all - if you are already in NY.

Pass! :mrgreen:

 

[Mal]

Is that saying only fares booked under the classes listed in the above table will earn status credits?

Yes, with the other thing to note being (I believe) only Y class in AA Economy earns full Economy Status Credits. All other classes listed in Economy earn Discount Economy SC's and either 1 point/mile or 0.5 points/ mile.

'Q' fares appear to be "IT (inclusive tour) ex-Japan" and "Consolidator fare for travel ex-Europe" which are both discount fares

AA often has Australia-NYC/LAX/DFW and other US cities via NRT on sale. They always book into Q class (at least all that I've seen). I've flown it a couple of times, and traditionally credit NRT-America to AA, and the Australia-NRT to Qantas. Q class on Qantas earns nothing in the AA Frequent Flyer scheme.

 

[hayden]

Generally $2-4/SC is good value, however can be much harder to attain these days. The YUPP/KUPP fares on AA when worked out right can offer good value, although not as good as it used to be.

Actually that was another question I had regarding AA. Assuming you make use of the instant upgrade (on the AA au site) or say on the AA usa site using the business class with restrictions, I noticed it says quite often the AA flights only have Economy and First Class, and only some have Economy/Business/First

So that leads to the question, if you make use of an upgrade on a plane that only has the 2 classes, do you get the credit for Business or First? (I hope I'm not confusing things too much here)