Finally teh PLatinum challenge commences

[simongr]

There has now been another change - I am slotting in a SYD-JFK-SYD flight in mid-Oct. Is there a way to maximise the value to me? Is there a way to ticket it differently (without going RTW - which migth be an option) to maximise Qpoints. I will be flying business class.

 

[serfty]

Circle Pacific Fare DCIR22/26 may be the go.

Here's the oneWORLD Site's summary: Circle Pacific

Here's some more detailed Rules: (CX) xCIRxx

IIRC, Base DCIR26 cost is ~AUD9500 +++ (DCIR22 ~AUD8000 +++)

Certainly beats the current AUD12014 standard return J fare (SYD-JFK).

 

[serfty]

Here's a routing just under 22000 miles:

syd-akl-lax-jfk-nrt-syd

Fr. To
SYD AKL 1343
AKL LAX 6523
LAX JFK 2472
JFK NRT 6736
NRT SYD 4871
-Total: 21945

That's nearly AA 33,000 Qmiles

 

[simongr]

Thanks for that - interesting. I did a bit of checking today and was surprised about the fact that I migth have to do a RTW flight due to flight times. If it happens my itinerary would be:

Depart SYD - Sometime either late 15/10 or anytime 16/10
Arrive NY - evening (or earlier) 16/10
Depart NY - late evening (meetings finishing say 5PM in NY) 19/10

I dont want to be away too long (too much travel recently) so I am considering:

either:

SYD-LAX-JFK-LAX-SYD (roughly $12K on the ITA website routing matrix)

The problem with that is the JFK-LAX flight leaving evening of 19/10 and connecting to SYD with a long layover in LAX gets me into SYD on SUnday morning! Given a 22 hour layover in LAX - I would rather stay the night in NY and fly out during the day on Friday - might still be in on Sunday though.

The other option of SYD-LAX-JFK-LHR-SYD would be $10,863 or $9,609 (on a oneworld explorer) and gets me in at 7:55AM on the Sunday.

Basically there is no way to leave JFK on Thursday and get to SYD on Saturday morning. I could keep trying the ITA website with more innovative routings - but that's what the travel manager is for if it actually goes ahead

From a miles point of view - if I can do the second option its 24K miles - which with plat bonus on AAdvantage would I think yield me in total 54K miles and 36Qpoints..... frack me!

S

 

[Dave Noble]

Basically there is no way to leave JFK on Thursday and get to SYD on Saturday morning. I could keep trying the ITA website with more innovative routings - but that's what the travel manager is for if it actually goes ahead

If you can get away for a 15:45 departure on the thursday, there is the CX831 service non-stop to HKG arriving into HKG at 20:05 on friday and can then connect on QF128 departing at 21:10 arriving into SYD at 07:55 on saturday morning.

In order to take this service you would have to go to JFK via Europe since this would count as a transpacific service.

Alternatively of course, for an evening departure can fly JFK-LHR on AA , connect to CX to HKG and Sydney arriving on saturday evening. You could take QF from LHR-HKG but that requires a T3-T4 yuchy connection at LHR whilst AA and CX both use T3. Obviously, if you are prepared to forego 7767 miles to your AA account, ( no miles to be earned on BA transatlantic) you could fly BA JFK-LHR T4 and connect to QF

Dave

 

[simongr]

Hmm - sounds interesting - thanks muchly for that - getting home saturday evening would be grand - even if it meant a yucky T3-T4 connection not sure I want to forgoe 7K miles for a tough change - given I will only have "hand luggae" which I know will need to be checked due to toothpaste....

 

[Dave Noble]

Hmm - sounds interesting - thanks muchly for that - getting home saturday evening would be grand - even if it meant a yucky T3-T4 connection not sure I want to forgoe 7K miles for a tough change - given I will only have "hand luggae" which I know will need to be checked due to toothpaste....

If you fly AA from JFK-LHR and then fly CX to HKG, then there is no yucky terminal change since both AA and CX use terminal 3 at LHR. All you have to do is pass through security airside at T3 and head to the CX lounge

The yucky change of T3-T4 would only apply if you wanted to fly QF from LHR-HKG

Dave

 

[simongr]

Alternatively of course, for an evening departure can fly JFK-LHR on AA , connect to CX to HKG and Sydney arriving on saturday evening. You could take QF from LHR-HKG but that requires a T3-T4 yuchy connection at LHR whilst AA and CX both use T3. Obviously, if you are prepared to forego 7767 miles to your AA account, ( no miles to be earned on BA transatlantic) you could fly BA JFK-LHR T4 and connect to QF

Dave

Sorry about no really reading this right last night - one too many glasses of wine I just found this trip on the ita website thing - getting back Saturday would be great

What is CX like to fly on? A few years ago I heard that they were one of the best - up there with Singapore/Emirates. No-one here seems to talk about them much for flying experience - is that because you dont earn SCs on CX?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Sorry about no really reading this right last night - one too many glasses of wine I just found this trip on the ita website thing - getting back Saturday would be great

What is CX like to fly on? A few years ago I heard that they were one of the best - up there with Singapore/Emirates. No-one here seems to talk about them much for flying experience - is that because you dont earn SCs on CX?

SC earn is the same on all OW airlines.
For QFF there is no status bonus flying CX (only for QF, AA and BA).

CX isn't much help to/from north america (unless prepared to pay more or on certain flexible tickets like circle pacific or RTW).

 

[NM]

CX is a great airline to fly with. Undoubtedly the best in-flight service of the OneWorld airlines. Their F product is exceptional. Their J is very good. The long-haul J seats are similar to QF Skybeds, but a little more slope (not much with the current seats) and not quite as many bells and whistles (like in-seat massage, water bottle and shoe storage). But similar pitch and width. CX food is excellent. Service is always courteous and pleasant.

And of course HKG is a great airport and has fantastic lounges.

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry about no really reading this right last night - one too many glasses of wine I just found this trip on the ita website thing - getting back Saturday would be great

What is CX like to fly on? A few years ago I heard that they were one of the best - up there with Singapore/Emirates. No-one here seems to talk about them much for flying experience - is that because you dont earn SCs on CX?

When crediting to QF, you get no status bonus on CX , however when crediting to AA you will earn the 100% base plus 25% J bonus plus 100% platinum bonus regardless of whether you fly CX or QF. I would have no hesitation using CX and I have heard good reports about them

Dave

 

[simongr]

Stage 2 complete. AKL-SYD - only economy this time so no major bonuses. I couldnt be bothered changing my SYD-BNE flights to AA for various reasons - firstly at check in I had the orange D sticker so that screwed that. Secondly mrs sim was not enjoying the flying experience so much sitting relaxing her was happening.

OK going to try and post my points using the code tags - lets see if it works this time

Program to Date Miles: 4,176  
 
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: 2,690  
 
YTD Elite Qualifying Miles: 2,690  
 
YTD Elite Qualifying Segments: 2  
 
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 9/22/09: 4,176 
 
Upgrade Account Balance: 0 
 
Total Available Award Mileage:+ 4,176

Next flight is either SYD-LAX (in J - might also be an interesting routing if I can get it to work ) or SYD-BKK (in WT+) so will only hit plat on my first flight if I do my US trip in Mid oct. SYD-BKK = 4692 mile - in WT+ that is 7038 QPoints - perhaps I should have put my SYD-BNE-SYD flight (500 points each way on AA). That would have given me 1078 miles - d'oh. That just cost me 4692 miles - if I dont go to the US.

Mrs Sim is also slowly on the challenge - although here BNE-SYD flight on Sunday hasn't registered yet (should be tomorrow):

Summary Date: Sep 2006 
  
Program to Date Miles: 500  
  
YTD Elite Qualifying Points: 500  
  
YTD Elite Qualifying Miles: 500  
  
YTD Elite Qualifying Segments: 1  
  
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 9/23/09: 500  
  
Upgrade Account Balance: 0  
  
Total Available Award Mileage + 500

Her next flight is SYD-BKK in WT+ (with me) but that wont I think put her into Plat - but that wont put her into Plat until the return.

Just thinking out loud for a second. If I am trying to plan my US trip to maximise my points then I thiunk I need to ensure that my first flight out of Oz is over 4873 miles. Basically taking the 7310 qpoints I need and dividing by 1.5 (as flights will be J). That means that there is no point doing say a SYD-BNE segment as its less than 4873 miles. Admittedly I would still get the 500 miles minimu from AA but on balance that wouldnt be worth the hassle. I guess I would be better doing something like either SYD-NRT-LAX-JFK or SYD-LAX-some internal US flights-JFK. I dont want to have too complex a routing and as dont want to take too much time on the return so am looking come back the fastest way rather than the most profitable.

Phew that post was longer than expected...

 

[simongr]

I need to ensure that my first flight out of Oz is over 4873 miles. Basically taking the 7310 qpoints I need and dividing by 1.5 (as flights will be J).

I guess I would be better doing something like either SYD-NRT-LAX-JFK or SYD-LAX-some internal US flights-JFK.

Sorry to spam - but thought it was easier to quote. Just checked on mileage monkey and SYD-NRT is only 4871 miles.

So to do it I need to find a location that is over 4873 miles away and east of Sydney.... Damn that SYD-BNE is coming back to bite me on the as5

 

[Dave Noble]

The short flights are easy qpoints. even in S class , SYD-BNE earns 500, so seems silly to send them elsewhere.

Can you do SYD-MEL-NRT , since according to the QF site, MEL-NRT is 5080 miles rather than the 4863 of SYD-NRT , plus adding the 686 qpoints for J SYD-MEL, gives 8308 qpoints rather than 7295

Dave

 

[simongr]

I have no idea on routings yet - and just got an email that might change everything Looks like I am not going to NY now - which is kind of a - I get more time at home

Edit:

And now I get an email saying its on again :/

 

[Altair]

The short flights are easy qpoints. even in S class , SYD-BNE earns 500, so seems silly to send them elsewhere.

Can you do SYD-MEL-NRT , since according to the QF site, MEL-NRT is 5080 miles rather than the 4863 of SYD-NRT , plus adding the 686 qpoints for J SYD-MEL, gives 8308 qpoints rather than 7295

Dave

I thought MEL-NRT would be a good option then....is it not operated by a 767 not an A330? My preference would be the A330. In Japan domestic fare are cheap, and paying for an upgrade to J is not much either. So would a cheap and short JAL domestic flight give you the 500 (x2?) and you can try one of those 747-400Ds (if you are into flying different aircraft).

 

[simongr]

OK - the trip has been confirmed - but not the date CFO/CEO now want to be involved and and given that this will probably be slotted in between other trips my routing could be very very interesting.

 

[NM]

I thought MEL-NRT would be a good option then....is it not operated by a 767 not an A330? My preference would be the A330.

QF179 is an A330-300 on the random date I checked in October. It is also a daytime flight, so I would not be concerned with 767 business class seating for a daytime flight to NRT. Just the IFE is not as good.

In Japan domestic fare are cheap, and paying for an upgrade to J is not much either. So would a cheap and short JAL domestic flight give you the 500 (x2?) and you can try one of those 747-400Ds (if you are into flying different aircraft).

JAL flights earn AA miles, but not AA EQPs.

 

[simongr]

QF179 is an A330-300 on the random date I checked in October. It is also a daytime flight, so I would not be concerned with 767 business class seating for a daytime flight to NRT. Just the IFE is not as good.

Just checking my fligths to Tokyo (subject to change of course) - I have a night flight on a "333" pre my itinerary - I am guessing that is a A330?


The QF webiste has it as an A330-300 - do they have dreamtime or skybeds? AGain the QF website says AVOD and Skybed - but I am doubting the skybed. MInd you its a 22:05 flight so I expect to be sleeping that night

 

[Dave Noble]

Just checking my fligths to Tokyo (subject to change of course) - I have a night flight on a "333" pre my itinerary - I am guessing that is a A330?


The QF webiste has it as an A330-300 - do they have dreamtime or skybeds? AGain the QF website says AVOD and Skybed - but I am doubting the skybed. MInd you its a 22:05 flight so I expect to be sleeping that night

The A330-300s ( 333 ) are all equiped with AVOD and skybeds

Dave