Maximising SC on RTW

[Rae]

I'm on a mission to maximise SC to get Gold for the partner. I've got 34,000 miles to play with (J Class Global Explorer) and I've spent ages with it and now I'm hoping some of you more experienced types will see a MUCH better way of doing it.

This is a business trip so there are certain rules I need to work with.

MUST start MEL-SYD
MUST go to London, New York, Los Angeles & Perth
Hamburg and Tokyo would be advantageous but are not must-haves
I'd prefer to (like everyone) have as few 'extra' flights as neccessary.
I prefer travelling westbound but if eastbound provides more SC...

Look forward to any responses and thanks so much for taking a look!!

 

[moa999]

Only MUST is maxing the 'A' class (First) class US domestic routes.

On a DONE4 would reccommend the May-Sep MIA-ANC routes, but you may have mileage constraints so probably want to look at flights that just tip over the QF mileage thresholds

 

[Rae]

could also do DONE4 if it allows more miles though

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

could also do DONE4 if it allows more miles though

One World Explorer (xONEx) allows much greater mileage (up to about 2 times if carefully constructed) than a Global Explorer.

It doesn't appear as if you need the non-one world flights that Global Explorer provides for (that are not allowed in One World Explorer), so a DONE4 is probably better for you.

 

[Hawkeye]

Dont't forget to maximise the value of the intercontinental flight as well.

For example, if travelling eastwards (which I know is your less preferred option), travel directly to JFK (eg on QF107) rather than disembarking on the west coast at LAX, SFO etc. From there, you can work your way back westwards, and you still have the single transcontinental flight up your sleeve.

For my upcoming xONE4, I am doing SYD-JFK,EWR-ORD-SFO-LAX-IAD-DFW. The LAX-IAD leg counts as the transcontinental. I then leave N.America by DFW-FRA, adding extra mileage to that intercontinental leg as well. This, I'm sure, is not as honed as it could be, but sufficed for my basic requirements.

You may, of course, already know all that!!

 

[moa999]

My recently completed DONE4
CMB-HKG-LHR-BCN-IST-LHR-SFO-JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-SYD-PER-ADL-AKL-SYD-PEK-HKG-CMB
split over 10 months in 4 separate trips

 

[Rae]

Did it. Taking this RTW in June and will need 1955 SC for partner to enjoy Gold for 21 months. I realise I could probably get more, but this allows me to ensure all Australian stops are work related and it's enough anyway

Congratulations!! Valid itinerary!!! - (54105 miles)

# of Qantas SC's earned 1960
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-ath-lhr-jfk-dfw-jfk-lax-dfw-ord-lax-mel-PER-MEL

 

[moa999]

Don't think you can do Syd-per, mel-per and per-mel (only one perth-east coast flight allowed)
Latest mileagemonkey validator misses this as well
MileageMonkey 0.95012
bA simple change to get a few more would be ensuring you are maxing out the long flights eg.

Instead of
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-ath-lhr-jfk-dfw-jfk-lax-dfw-ord-lax-mel-PER-MEL
try
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-ath-lhr-SFO-dfw-jfk-lax-dfw-ord-JFK-SYD-ADL-MEL
(using QF108 and avoiding PER the 2nd time)

Also can probably do better than ATH on the LHR legs, and could use the ORD-ANC flights if really trying to max the US legs.

Also you will get more than 1,900 SCs as the US domestic legs will book into A (ie FIRST) and earn First SCs - 2150 on my above routing.

Could get to 2220 if you move to:
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-dxb-lhr-SFO-ord-anc-ord-dfw-ord-JFK-SYD-ADL-MEL

 

[Rae]

Great suggestion - thanks. What would you suggest instead of Athens?

 

[Hawkeye]

Instead of
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-ath-lhr-jfk-dfw-jfk-lax-dfw-ord-lax-mel-PER-MEL
try
Mel-SYD-PER-sin-nrt-cgk-nrt-sin-lhr-ath-lhr-SFO-dfw-jfk-lax-dfw-ord-JFK-SYD-ADL-MEL
(using QF108 and avoiding PER the 2nd time)

<snip>

Also you will get more than 1,900 SCs as the US domestic legs will book into A (ie FIRST) and earn First SCs - 2150 on my above routing.

Not 100% certain about this, but operating aircraft for ORD-JFK direct are ususally one-class Embraer 145's. The MD80's operate a 2-class service from ORD to both EWR (Newark Liberty) and LGA (LaGuardia).

Given the desire for status, worth taking into account.

 

[Rae]

That's definitely worth taking into account - thank you. Any of the above will get what I need, but since I'm on the mission I may as well maximise lifetime SC's. I'll report back with my final findings.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Try this for 2250 SCs and includes all the places you wanted.

 

[Hawkeye]

Nice work! Enjoy the flights ... and the status!!

 

[Rae]

okay so I'm cough at this forum and posted 3 posts instead of laying out nicely to read.

Here it is again (and still hard to read sorry).

Many many thanks for your help and suggestions (JFK/SYD & DFW/ACH/DFW in particular). It took around 4 hours on the phone with Qantas (ACH N/A then avail hours later) but this is what we finally got. It's a little different to the original plan BUT I only have stopovers/hotels in the cities I actually have meetings in and we've managed to maximise the time in those cities on weekdays whilst minimise stopover time in the others (over weekends). It's not excessive SC's, but get's me enough to reach the goal and get partner SG for a full 21 months!

Now for the challenge of doing the trip with a carry on only and hotels in only 5 cities Here's the itinerary:

Total flight hours: 110h45
Total transfer hours: 30h15
Total SC's: 1970 (1955 req)

Now for the challenge of doing the trip with a carry on only and hotels in only 5 cities Here's the itinerary:

FROM - TO - FL# - DEP - ARR - FLY - TFR/LAY
MEL - SYD - QF454 - THU MAY 31 5.30PM / THU MAY 31 6.50PM / 1H20 / N/A
SYD - PER - QF573 - FRI JUN 01 8.55PM / FRI JUN 01 11.55PM / 5H / N/A
PER - SIN - QF71 - SAT JUN 02 3.30PM / SAT JUN 02 8.50PM / 5H20 / 1H50
SIN - NRT - JL710 - SAT JUN 02 10.40PM / SUN JUN 03 6.40AM / 7H / 3H05
NRT - HKG - CX509 - SUN JUN 03 9.45AM / SUN JUN 03 1.25PM / 4H40 / 2H45
HKG - NRT - CX508 - SUN JUN 03 4.10PM / SUN JUN 03 9.25PM / 4H15 / 1H40
NRT - SIN - JL719 - TUE JUN 05 11.05AM / TUE JUN 05 5.15PM / 7H10 / 5H45
SIN - LHR - QF9 - TUE JUN 05 11.00PM / WED JUN 06 5.25AM / 13H25 / 2H
LHR - CDG - QF3415 - WED JUN 06 7.25AM / WED JUN 06 9.40AM / 1H15 / 2H40
CDG - LHR - BA309 - WED JUN 06 12.20PM / WED JUN 06 12.40PM / 1H20 / N/A
GAT - DFW - BA2193 - SAT JUN 09 10.35AM / SAT JUN 09 2.30PM / 9H55 / 2H20
DFW - ACH - AA278 - SAT JUN 09 4.50PM / SAT JUN 09 8.35PM / 6H45 / 1H30
ACH - DFW - AA279 - SAT JUN 09 10.05PM / SUN JUN 10 7.25AM / 6H20 / 1H35
DFW - ORD - AA2332 - SUN JUN 10 9.00AM / SUN JUN 10 11.15AM / 2H15 / 1H40
ORD - LAX - AA255 - SUN JUN 10 1.55PM / SUN JUN 10 4.20PM / 4H25 / N/A
LAX - DFW - AA2446 - THU JUN 14 12.05PM / THU JUN 14 5.15PM / 3H10 / 1H50
DFW - LGA - AA766 - THU JUN 14 7.05PM / THU JUN 14 11.30PM / 3H25 / N/A
JFK - SYD - QF108 - SAT JUN 16 7.10PM / MON JUN 11 7.25AM / 22H15 / 1H35
SYD - MEL - QF421 - MON JUN 11 9.30AM / MON JUN 11 11.00AM / 1H30

 

[Hawkeye]

Ha ha - see now I can predict the future. I knew you were going to post your itinerary next!

 

[Rae]

yep - you're looking exceptionally clever and dare I say hawkeye-ish

 

[tuapekastar]

A nice trip planned there Rae!

But (and I could well be mistaken or have misinterpreted the posts, apologies in advance if I am), allowing that GAT = LGW = London Gatwick, and ACH = ANC = Anchorage, then plugging the itinerary into Mileage Monkey gives 1720 SCs for J class travel, which is somewhat fewer than the 1955 required? (MM may also be wrong, I haven't done the calculations 'longhand').

Cheers.

Edit: If there are segments that book into A class and earn F SCs then that may make my post a load of bunkum!

 

[straitman]

A nice trip planned there Rae!

But (and I could well be mistaken or have misinterpreted the posts, apologies in advance if I am), allowing that GAT = LGW = London Gatwick, and ACH = ANC = Anchorage, then plugging the itinerary into Mileage Monkey gives 1720 SCs for J class travel, which is somewhat fewer than the 1955 required? (MM may also be wrong, I haven't done the calculations 'longhand').

Cheers.

Edit: If there are segments that book into A class and earn F SCs then that may make my post a load of bunkum!

The AA legs will book 'A' class (unless the unlikely occurs and there are business seats) which then translates to 1970 SC earned.

 

[tuapekastar]

The AA legs will book 'A' class (unless the unlikely occurs and there are business seats) which then translates to 1970 SC earned.

Thanks straitman, mea culpa.

 

[moa999]

Couple of pointers.

Assuming you mean ANC, given ACH is in Switzerland!

If you book the ANC - DFW - ORD as ANC-ORD (single flight number) will give you another US segment to play with.
Equally LAX - DFW - LGA/JFK could be done as a direct flight - note on that flight you want to ensure you pick a 2-cabin service, some are 3.
(or are you running into time constraints in the US ???)

Only got 19 segments!! Why not start MEL-ADL-SYD
(why not given your doing all of this in 12 days!!)

Would also look at getting the itinerary priced by AA in Australia.
(you may be amazed at the price difference - all to do with fuel charges)