OW Explorer Status Credits

[Dave Noble]

I have read the comments elsewhere here about the AA YUP fares but I still can't figure how to book them on the AA website. Or do they only apply to AA Gold or Platinum flyers? Do I book as 'economy no restrictions'? And how to tell the fare class on AA prior to confirming the booking?

I think that you can find them using First Class with restrictions.

When you have selected your flights then on the nexp page there is a "Detailed Fare Rules" link where you can see the fare basis.

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Select first with restrictions on AA.com - in the cases I have tried it is usually cheaper than economy with no restrictions.

 

[JohnK]

Select first with restrictions on AA.com - in the cases I have tried it is usually cheaper than economy with no restrictions.

Is it specific routes to choose? I tried it with ATL-DFW-LAX, LAX-DFW, DFW-JFK and some other routes and could not get any airfares even worth considering.

 

[Soundguy]

Is it specific routes to choose? I tried it with ATL-DFW-LAX, LAX-DFW, DFW-JFK and some other routes and could not get any airfares even worth considering.

Exactly what I found, which is why I figured I must be doing something wrong.

Perhaps it is dependant upon which routes? I will be in the US midsummer which is a busy season, that can't help prices either. It's a pity AA isn't set up for one-way flights more too.

Chris

 

[Dave Noble]

Is it specific routes to choose? I tried it with ATL-DFW-LAX, LAX-DFW, DFW-JFK and some other routes and could not get any airfares even worth considering.

This is where expertflyer can be of great help

On ATL-LAX the YUPPRMZ fare is AUD1087 ( books into P class ) and the YUPMZ fare is AUD1205 ( books into A class ) vs the F26 fare of AUD1539 and F fare of AUD3285

On LAX-DFW the YUPPMZ fare is AUD668 ( books in P class ) and the Y26UPSP is AUD1205 ( books into A class ) vs the F26 fare of AUD1607 and F fare at AUD2310

On DFW-NYC the YUPMZ fare is AUD1271 ( books into A class ) vs F26 fare of AUD1607 and F fare of AUD2643

Dave

 

[JohnK]

This is where expertflyer can be of great help

Thanks Dave. Are these one way fares? To be honest I do not think that any of those fares are worthwhile fares for a status run. Or have I not done the right calculations?

I think the whole point was where and how we can find the YUP fares that people keep mentioning at around $3/SC. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for then it is difficult.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Yes it is specific routes - although there seems to be a lot of them. I tend to look for routes between hubs of competing airlines, or airports near to those hubs. Also, if crediting to QFF for the SCs then look for east coast to west coast, and >1200 mile segments. Need to avoid routes with 3 class a/c also.

As an example, one I did last year was JFK-DFW-FAT-DFW-LGA for 480 SCs (ex-JFK and return to LGA was due to wanting to fit it all in one day). DFW-FAT-DFW was same aircraft turnaround so no risk of misconnecting.

On the routes I have looked into, prices seem to be a bit higher this year compared with last year - but still much better $/SC rates than australian domestic flights.

 

[NM]

Thanks Dave. Are these one way fares? To be honest I do not think that any of those fares are worthwhile fares for a status run. Or have I not done the right calculations?

I think the whole point was where and how we can find the YUP fares that people keep mentioning at around $3/SC. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for then it is difficult.

For a Status run, no. But for someone already travelling and paying for a flexible coach fare, it can be a very good option.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I think the whole point was where and how we can find the YUP fares that people keep mentioning at around $3/SC. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for then it is difficult.

The example I gave (NYC-FAT-NYC) was under A$3 per SC. I'm considering some later in the year that are slightly over A$3 per SC (depending on currency movements could be more or less than 3).

In both cases the cost/SC includes all taxes.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks Dave. Are these one way fares? To be honest I do not think that any of those fares are worthwhile fares for a status run. Or have I not done the right calculations?

I think the whole point was where and how we can find the YUP fares that people keep mentioning at around $3/SC. Unless you know exactly what you are looking for then it is difficult.

On ATL-LAX, there is nothing to stop a scenic routing that could get 330 SCS for the AUD1087 fare coming in at $3.30 per SC . SC earning in first class is pretty decent

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

JohnK - how I found mine was to start with somewhere I was going to be on either right or left coast of USA. Look at AA's US destinations on www.aa.com (Canada and Caribbean no good since no F hence no YUP/QUP). From FT find out which routes have 3-class so watch to avoid these.

Then plug each destination on or near the other coast into the fare finder on www.aa.com (if select airports within 90 miles this speeds it up by finding all bay area at once, or all la area, or all new york, all miami, etc). Note which legs only have economy. Note whether suitable routings with >1200 miles - www.aa.com results show mileage on AA flights.

And put my own personal filters - eg avoiding ORD in winter, seeing if connection times look reasonable (even if they are legal), turnaround is same a/c (check schedule for other flights), etc.

 

[JohnK]

The example I gave (NYC-FAT-NYC) was under A$3 per SC. I'm considering some later in the year that are slightly over A$3 per SC (depending on currency movements could be more or less than 3).

On ATL-LAX, there is nothing to stop a scenic routing that could get 330 SCS for the AUD1087 fare coming in at $3.30 per SC . SC earning in first class is pretty decent

Thanks guys. To be able to do status runs you need to to have an idea of which routes to take. Starting from scratch and with little knowledge can be very difficult.

Is there a repository somewhere with all this information to save people time looking for the needle in the haystack? I suppose the answer is to follow every thread on FT and try to work out the best advice. Very time consuming.

 

[Dave Noble]

Is there a repository somewhere with all this information to save people time looking for the needle in the haystack? I suppose the answer is to follow every thread on FT and try to work out the best advice. Very time consuming.

Expert Flyer is a good place. Plug in various start and end end points and then work on routings that will get between the points perhaps via 2 hubs. Then go to aa.com and use the multicity booking option to make the booking

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Is there a repository somewhere with all this information to save people time looking for the needle in the haystack? I suppose the answer is to follow every thread on FT and try to work out the best advice. Very time consuming.

I've PMed you - but also see post #31.

 

[JohnK]

I've PMed you - but also see post #31.

Yes thanks. It will take a bit of research to put into place.

 

[Dave Noble]

For a bargain $3 SC collection, how about

DFW-STL r/t - Fare basis YUPP7LVZ (books in P) costs AUD373. 550 miles each way so earns 60SCs each way ( so total 120 ) . Cost per SC is $3.11 and nice short trip

Dave

 

[JohnK]

For a bargain $3 SC collection, how about

DFW-STL r/t - Fare basis YUPP7LVZ (books in P) costs AUD373. 550 miles each way so earns 60SCs each way ( so total 120 ) . Cost per SC is $3.11 and nice short trip

Perfect. I need to do some research to find some more of these airfares.

 

[Soundguy]

Perfect. I need to do some research to find some more of these airfares.

Me too, thanks for the info Dave & Kiwi Flyer et al. As I find the AA website a little coughbersome for comparing fares (QF is much better IMO) I think I will take Dave's advice and register for expert flyer premium for a month or two. The time saving alone should be well worth it and it appears to have some better features than other sites that are more aimed at ticket sales.

Now I need to buy a smaller more mobile laptop for booking flights / hotels etc while I am travelling.... not many internet cafes about in the US.

Chris

 

[vt01]

Thanks to everyone for the great information on this thread.
As I said ealier in this thread, I was booked on a DONE4 for work.. I didn't take much notice of the routing as it just went to the cities I needed.
After completion of this I was going to be 180 SC short of platinum requalification.

I also wanted to do a trip from NY to RDU while I was here to visit some friends. Suddenly (light globe goes on) I realised I could have included all this when I initially booked the fare.. Doh!
So I worked out that I could insert a EWR-DFW-RDU-ORD-SWF to get to RDU and also get the SC's I needed. In fact I can get more than enough SC's as I was able to pick 3 flights that were 2 class and had seats in first available (another hint from this thread) all for $241 fee ($125USD for ticket reissue and $75 service fee from Qantas).

Plus another advantage was that instead of driving 2 hours from where I am to pick up my return flight to Sydney from JFK, I can leave from SWF which is only 30 minutes from where I am.

There is still one more adjustment I can make for a ticket reissue which is the using the extra segments I have left in Australia once I get back to Sydney (similar to NM's BNE-MEL-BNE). I know it will cost me for ticket reissue, again. I hadn't quite digested all on this thread when I inserted the additional US segments.

I have one last question, can I do a SYD-CNS-SYD or a SYD-DRW-SYD?

Thanks

 

[Dave Noble]

all for $241 fee ($125USD for ticket reissue and $75 service fee from Qantas).

There is still one more adjustment I can make for a ticket reissue which is the using the extra segments I have left in Australia once I get back to Sydney (similar to NM's BNE-MEL-BNE). I know it will cost me for ticket reissue, again. I hadn't quite digested all on this thread when I inserted the additional US segments.

I have one last question, can I do a SYD-CNS-SYD or a SYD-DRW-SYD?

Thanks

Have you had the reissue done yet? if not get AA to do it. They will charge the USD125 reissue fee but do not add their own fine on top.

You can indeed do SYD-CNS-SYD
You cannot do SYD-DRW-SYD since only one non-stop between those 2 cities is permitted. You could do SYD-DRW-BNE-SYD

Dave