Earning Status Credits / Doing SC Runs

[dragonman]

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)

You get credit for first class.

 

[Mal]

You get credit for first class.

It's a bit more complex than that. AA's International flights (eg to Canada and Caribbean) are sold with Economy/Business (and sometimes first?). Some Trans-Cons are sold Econ/Business/First (eg LAX-NYC or LAS-NYC). Kupps generally aren't available on flagship 3 class routes. When they are used for international sectors, they tend to book into Business for the international sector.

There are also some bugs on the AA Australian site when displaying KUpps where they will offer business on planes that are Economy and First only. I think you are booked into First in this instance, but unsure. Been a while since I looked at that particular issue.

 

[dragonman]

It's a bit more complex than that. AA's International flights (eg to Canada and Caribbean) are sold with Economy/Business (and sometimes first?). Some Trans-Cons are sold Econ/Business/First (eg LAX-NYC or LAS-NYC). Kupps generally aren't available on flagship 3 class routes. When they are used for international sectors, they tend to book into Business for the international sector.

There are also some bugs on the AA Australian site when displaying KUpps where they will offer business on planes that are Economy and First only. I think you are booked into First in this instance, but unsure. Been a while since I looked at that particular issue.

My experience has been that on a 2 class domestic flight you get F points and SC's. My boarding pass says FIRST. Agreed that say DFW - YYZ books into J and not F. Mind you the JFK - LAS stuff is yet to post.

 

[hayden]

You get credit for first class.

Thats the way I read it, but the funny thing is you then read something else that throws doubt into your mind

In that case it could be quite attractive to take advantage of these, given the greater status credit earnings of a First Class fare. The trick would be to just make sure the cabin only has the economy / first class cabins....

 

[Voyages]

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.

Agreed. I had 2 flights (LAX-JFK and IAD-LAX) with AA last year, and didn't read that my agent booked me on Q class, hence I lost about 50 SCs.

Another thing I learnt: "Not On Qantas" class, ie. N, O, Q class international fares are not upgradable.

 

[hayden]

Agreed. I had 2 flights (LAX-JFK and IAD-LAX) with AA last year, and didn't read that my agent booked me on Q class, hence I lost about 50 SCs.

Another thing I learnt: "Not On Qantas" class, ie. N, O, Q class international fares are not upgradable.

So the idea would be to use the ITA software for example to check the fare class youre booked onto ?

I just learnt the NOQ this last week, I went to hong kong, didnt realise I was booked on a N fare (Red e-deal) and couldnt upgrade with points. I was very dissapointed.

 

[Dave Noble]

Be aware that the ineligable classes now include E, so the classes to avoid if trying to upgrade are E,N,O and Q

Dave

 

[hayden]

So when booking a flight with Qantas, is there any easy way to tell what Class its going to book under?

Obviously this then would let you determine how many SC's you can earn.

 

[Mal]

So when booking a flight with Qantas, is there any easy way to tell what Class its going to book under?

Not really that relevant when booking Qantas itself and crediting to Qantas. More relevant if booking Qantas and crediting to say AA.

Domestic flights: Have a look at the Domestic Clue Card here - http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/DomCCretail0209.pdf Note that Flexi-Saver and Fully Flexible will book into either K, B, H or Y classes. These are all Full Economy Domestically with Qantas for SC earning. Discount Economy is earnt on just about all other fares with Qantas domestically (excluding some fare types such as staff travel, frequent flyer tickets, some corporate contracts etc).

You can also check by clicking on the fare type when booking, and the Qantas site will show whether a fare is Full Economy or Discount Economy.

Internationally is also relatively simple - The Qantas site very rarely (if ever) sells Y class tickets (which are the only International tickets in Economy that are in full Economy). They're also normally prohibitively expensive.

 

[hayden]

For some reason I just thought the fully flexible fares are Y class ..

Ignore that, I just reread what you said Mal, I must have blanked out when I read the "will book into either K, B, H or Y classes" line

 

[Mal]

Aaah, also for upgrade reasons, the only real way to check whether a red-e-deal or Sale fare is upgradeable (Internationally) before booking is to click on the column header for the fare you want (eg Sale, Red e-deal etc) and read the fare conditions under "Qantas Frequent Flyer". It will either say : "Flight Upgrade Awards are not eligible on this fare." or "Flight Upgrade Awards are eligible on this fare except if this fare is a Qantas Any Seat Award.". There have been a couple of reports of incorrect information posted there, so if you did rely on it and it books incorrectly into an invalid fare class, I would document it and chase up with Qantas.

I believe all "sale" fares aren't upgradeable, although they could release some that are, and red-e-deals are a mixed bunch as they book into O, E, N, S, V etc classes depending on where you're travelling to etc.

Domestically, just avoid red-e-deals if you want a chance of upgrading using points.

Of course once the ticket is issued, it will show what classes you are booked into.

 

[hayden]

Aaah, also for upgrade reasons, the only real way to check whether a red-e-deal or Sale fare is upgradeable (Internationally) is to click on the column header for the fare you want (eg Sale, Red e-deal etc) and read the fare conditions under "Qantas Frequent Flyer". It will either say : "Flight Upgrade Awards are not eligible on this fare." or "Flight Upgrade Awards are eligible on this fare except if this fare is a Qantas Any Seat Award.". There have been a couple of reports of incorrect information posted there, so if you did rely on it and it books incorrectly into an invalid fare class, I would document it and chase up with Qantas.

I believe all "sale" fares aren't upgradeable, although they could release some that are, and red-e-deals are a mixed bunch as they book into O, E, N, S, V etc classes depending on where you're travelling to etc.

Domestically, just avoid red-e-deals if you want a chance of upgrading using points.

Just had a quick look then, I can see where it posts that information. I guess then it comes down to if its a discount economy or full economy as to how many points its going to cost to upgrade. I guess one way to find out if it came down to booking is to just ring up and ask...

 

[Mal]

Another thing I learnt: "Not On Qantas" class, ie. N, O, Q class international fares are not upgradable.

Yeah, "Not On Qantas Ever" is probably the new one to learn

 

[Mal]

Just had a quick look then, I can see where it posts that information. I guess then it comes down to if its a discount economy or full economy as to how many points its going to cost to upgrade. I guess one way to find out if it came down to booking is to just ring up and ask...

In the same field to upgradeable or not is "Classed as Discount Economy when Status Credits are earned on this fare." or similar...

As earlier posted, only Y internationally will be Full Economy. I can't recall ever seeing it on the Qantas site for sale (anyone???) - only through Travel Agents or calling up etc.

Also, as Qantas says down the bottom of http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/upgrades#jump3

^ For domestic flights within Australia, Discount Economy includes Super Saver (classes L, M, S, V) and fares booked in G. For International flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand (classes B, G, H, K, L, M, S, V). Flight upgrades are not available on Red e-Deals and other heavily discounted domestic and international airfares booked in E, N, O or Q class.
+ For domestic flights within Australia, Full Economy includes Fully Flexible (classes Y, H) and Flexi Saver (classes K, B). For International flights, including domestic flights within New Zealand (class Y).

 

[Voyages]

Yeah, "Not On Qantas Ever" is probably the new one to learn

That's a good one Mal

 

[AnonymousCoward]

In the same field to upgradeable or not is "Classed as Discount Economy when Status Credits are earned on this fare." or similar...

As earlier posted, only Y internationally will be Full Economy. I can't recall ever seeing it on the Qantas site for sale (anyone???) - only through Travel Agents or calling up etc.

Had a recent thread on this over at FT. QANTAS international Flexi-Saver fares appear to book into either B or Y. Unless the flight is B0 or you don't meet the conditions for a B fare (e.g. advance booking and/or minimum stay) you won't be offered a Y fare. But booking Y via QANTAS.com is possible (I've booked a couple SYD-WLG and vv, and someone at FT ended up getting Y MEL-LHR)

 

[Alanslegal]

Top tier in most airline programs, as well in most parts of life, is a nice reward but one must put the cost involved (not just money, but time et al.) to reach that tier.

For QF WP its 1400SC's and if one pays this out of his or her pocket, you are looking at a minimum spend of $5,600 (@ $4 per SC) to reach that status plus the many hours you need to have your Butt In Seat.

For me (and someone who pays for their own travel) - it's either QF WP this year or that Bose home theatre upgrade for home

 

[dede]

Just a example of a YUPP with American Airlines

JFK-LAX 100sc for $1473

I'm about to do a YUPP (KUPP? -what's the diff?) MCO-DFW-SEA (just for a mileage/status run). It will net me 210 SCs for a cost of $A820.

Good bargains to be had from SFO-LAX-LAS for 120 Scs at a cost of $A463.

I hear that other good hubs are Atlanta and Boston - any other good places for Instant Upgrades?

 

[Voyages]

For me (and someone who pays for their own travel) - it's either QF WP this year or that Bose home theatre upgrade for home

So who's likely to win the corporate war, Alanslegal? QF or Bose?

 

[JohnK]

For me (and someone who pays for their own travel) - it's either QF WP this year or that Bose home theatre upgrade for home

I am glad I am a simple man with little interest in home entertainment. I do pay for my own travel so I will attempt to get QF Platinum for another year travelling SYD-BNE almost every week. :-|