Mission: WP requal. Objective: 320 SC by end of Feb 2010.

[anat0l]

Operational details: I need your ideas!

Now barring any criticisms you may have at someone trying to requal for WP (when you thought qualifying first time wasn't bad enough), I'm open to ideas to find the cheapest way to requalify.

I've got the AFF Gather #3 in October, so that may just knock off another 25 SC...also, I might have one or two cash flights on oneworld carriers on my big trip in Nov/Dec this year, but that will still only probably knock off at most 20 SC.

The only reason I'd ask is that I'm not completely pinned down to ex-AU or intra-AU options. I have one day in FRA (arrive afternoon of 02/11/09 and whole day 03/11/09), some days ex-LON up my sleeve after about 02/12/09 or 03/12/09 (or thereabouts), and even possibilities of ex- HKG, MNL, KUL or SIN after that. So I've got some options of where to start, but what are the most economic ones (and all those ex- locations above are pretty much in December, which adds a nice think layer of complications...)

A list of options include:

• DONE4 - part now to fulfil the requal, park then do the rest next year (possibly striking requal again). Problem is, I don't have $8000 just lying around. (The SC economics work out to be about $5/SC - *sigh* oneworld price increases...*grumble grumble*).
• Domestic SC run when there is another sale, which would mean doing three of them. Although I really need to come up with a better and cheaper CBR overnighting plan...
• LAN runs for a bit of F Lounge flavour added in, but OMG o'clock flights (or frequenting the AKL I Airport Hilton ) plus almost double the economics of the Domestic SC run don't make this attractive.
• YUPP/KUPP seems to be the textbook cheapest (in terms of SC economics) option, but I have -1 experience (yes, worse than zero) in looking for and booking YUPP/KUPPs, plus positioning flights need to be taken care of (although I suppose I could use points/points+pay for those, improving the economics). There was wijomas's beautiful BGI run, which has stunning economics but nets about 2000 SCs and I don't need that much (plus the timing was rather off - BNE B2B is on then).
• BA CE runs; most of these are ex-LGW (cf. ex-LHR) and I think the last sale BA had (which is no longer on) yielded the best SC returns for money on KRK, PSA and GOA. Problem is that except for PSA, all of those routes only have one flight to and from them a day, and they so happen to be too close to each other (by about 5 - 30 minutes) so the booking engine won't let me book a return flight on the same day. Also, only one return flight could be achieved per day, due to the departure times of each of the flights ex-LGW.
• JohnK's shuttle runs ex-SIN; not sure how viable these are now.......

Does anyone have any other suggestions of worthy mention? As a yardstick, the Domestic SC run averages an SC rate of around AUD 4.5 / SC, give or take a bit. As I also mentioned, I'm not adverse to trying for other options around the world (although my time in any parts would be limited). Extra points of credit (no pun intended) to those with specific suggestions.......

Thanks everyone!

 

[Flashback]

I believe the CX SIN-KUL-SIN flights are of decent value again. v8Statesman could confirm this:?:

 

[docjames]

In EU: 24hrs would be enough to go LHR-DXB-LHR or LHR-AUH-LHR on BA.
AUH is daily, but DXB have 3 daily.
Loadings look terrible going forward (I was looking september/october), so possibility of cheap WT+ or J seating.


Looking for a *Class sale would be another option.

 

[notzac]

Are you going to be anywhere near LOTFAP? Easiest way to requal would probably be a cheapie SC run on the west coast - I've PM'ed a few ideas to you.

 

[serfty]

K/YUP's are the go!

If you can find yourself in SFO, a YUP SFO-LAX-LAS vv for AUD995 for 1719 QFF points and 240 SC's.

That's about $4.20 per SC.

There are other options, SFO-LAX vv costs AUD434 and earns 120 SC's @$3.60 per SC.

Both these can be booked online at American Airlines - Australia.

 

[Flashback]

Do a 3 day side-trip from LHR/LGW when you are over there; should be reasonably cheap to get to the US?

 

[v8Statesman]

I believe the CX SIN-KUL-SIN flights are of decent value again. v8Statesman could confirm this:?:

No Idea!:shock: I do SIN-BKK-SIN

That will net you 120 SC on CX712/713 for around $400 AUS or $3.34 per SC

 

[drron]

The K/YUPs are not always the most cost effective way though Serfty's SFO-LAX-LAS certainly is virtually always available and at a very good price-if buying for the SCs only this is for Australians almost certainly the best value.For example LAX or SFO-DFW is virtually always available as instant upgrade but costs~$US800 so not great value for 120SCs.
On a DONE4 though the LAX-DFW-SFO triangle is a great way of racking up those SCs as the segments are just over the 1200 mile mark and so rack up 120 SCs each.So next years DONE with LAX-DFW-SFO-DFW-LAX-DFW-JFK racks up 720 SCs.So with the DONE4 and a Circle asia Mrsdrron may get me to partner SG.

 

[Flashback]

No Idea!:shock: I do SIN-BKK-SIN

That will net you 120 SC on CX712/713 for around $400 AUS or $3.34 per SC

Oops, that's what I meant

 

[v8Statesman]

If you book *C to HNL you can then do HNL-LAX-ORD-BOS-STL-LAX-HNL for around US$2,200 (AU$2,900). That nets 720 SC. Rate = $4.02 AU per SC

 

[craven morehead]

*class SYD-HKT 240SC for approx $1700

 

[v8Statesman]

*class SYD-HKT 240SC for approx $1700

$7.08 is a little on the expensive side.

 

[Mal]

There's more than one OW airline that flies out of London - keep that in mind. I'm in initial investigation phase for cheap opportunities over here, and have already some thoughts, but not yet at a stage where I can give good suggestions.

You can often get returns on the Eurostar for £59 (Paris) or £69 (Belgium), so they could also be cheap starting points if the fares are right - as well as any other European country with a cheap economy fare to it. That should hopefully avoid the nasty APD Duty ex-UK

 

[dragonman]

Am in a similar situation (approx 120 short, Nov 31 deadline) - so its QF Y SYD-AKL and a LAN C AKL-SYD for me. All up $489 and 100 SC's. If there is a better SC deal ex SYD I cannot find it. The Hyatt is charging $110NZD a night so I go, play poker - make WP requal and deal with the OMG flight. As the OP said there is the Flounge as well, so I am happy

 

[freofan]

Serfty do you have any tips on where to find a post about K/YUPPs?

I've seen you speak about them a lot but when searching AFF couldn't find anything.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[dede]

There's some good tips here.
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/yupps-and-kupps-16648.html
and
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/general-airline-discussion/yup-p-fares-on-aa-9339.html

I recently did quite a few here
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...tos/trip-report-seattle-and-beyond-18425.html