QF or AA? How to maximise QF status & points on travel to US

[Age]

Hi,

I am new to FF online community and have searched the fourms with no luck. Could I pls have some expert advise on the folllowing:

I am a Qantas Club member (unfortunately only bronze status) and will be travelling to US in Oct 08 using FF points.

Exact itinerary is not set in stone yet however I will be purchasing (probably the cheapest seats) seats to the following ports LAX, LAS, SFO, NYC

What is the best was way to maximise QF points / status points on these internal flights?

Which what order / routes should i undertake ? SYD-LAX-LAS-NYC-SFO-LAX-SYD or SYD-NYC-LAS-LAX-SFO-LAX-SYD

Is the same if book over the phone with QF on codeshare flights or book dierctly on AA.com

i.e if book internal US flights directly on AA will I earn QF status and points?

I assume as Qanats club member I can access (together with accompanying guest) Admiral Club lounges regardless if travelling on QF or AA flight number.

How about checking in at Business counters for US internal flights? Can we do this if travelling on both QF or AA flight no.

Keen for some advise.

Cheers
Age

 

[Baysider]

Hi Age,

We travelled on AA ticketed flights to and within the USA in December and January.

I assume as Qanats club member I can access (together with accompanying guest) Admiral Club lounges regardless if travelling on QF or AA flight number.

Yes, and they should give you a bar voucher.

How about checking in at Business counters for US internal flights? Can we do this if travelling on both QF or AA flight no.

Yes again.

If you're travelling in discount seats, you'll only get 0.5 QFF pts per mile on AA ticketed flights in these classes: GLMNSV, however if you book them all as Qantas ticketed flights you'll always get 1 QFF pt per mile. See Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

The status credit earn should be the same either way.

 

[kiwitripper64]

"I assume as Qanats club member I can access (together with accompanying guest) Admiral Club lounges regardless if travelling on QF or AA flight number."

You might want to ring Q club to confirm you can access AA lounges. It may be only for joint Q/AA lounges. I know Q club are turned away at some lounges and only gold/ plat admitted. If Q says no, you could always post your flight dates and see if anyone can get you into lounge as guest.
Have a great trip.


If you are travelling internationally, you will also need to show your Qantas Club card or your Platinum or Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card at check-in. Our international lounges are easy to find once you have gone through passport control.
* Including Qantas Club, QantasLink, joint Qantas/British Airways, Qantas/American Airlines® or Qantas/Air Pacific lounges.

 

[Platy]

You book your intenal US flights through www.aa.com
You use the price+schedule option when entering your required flight details
You go for the "instant upgrade" fare option
Once you have set up the booking online you ring the Australian AA call centre and pay by credit card over the phone (be perpared to wait for your call to be answered - it can take an hour!)
You end up paying economy prices but sit in first class cabin
You are awarded points and status credits for first class travel
Your rate of points and status credit earn are very favourable!

 

[serfty]

... You might want to ring Q club to confirm you can access AA lounges. It may be only for joint Q/AA lounges. ...

This should never be a Problem; QP members have access right to AA's A/C lounges whenever they are flying AA (outbound); they even give you drink vouchers for complimentary drinks (something normal A/C members do not generally* get).


* unless flying internationally

 

[Baysider]

kiwitripper64, your Qantas Club card should give you access to Admirals Club if you're flying with AA. In fact, since AA does not grant free US domestic access to Admirals Club to their platinum members, their platinum members often buy QC membership for this express reason.

 

[Dave Noble]

You book your intenal US flights through www.aa.com
You use the price+schedule option when entering your required flight details
You go for the "instant upgrade" fare option
Once you have set up the booking online you ring the Australian AA call centre and pay by credit card over the phone (be perpared to wait for your call to be answered - it can take an hour!)
You end up paying economy prices but sit in first class cabin
You are awarded points and status credits for first class travel
Your rate of points and status credit earn are very favourable!

These are nowhere near the cheapest fares offered on the routes though which is what the OP seems to be interested in

Dave

 

[straitman]

These are nowhere near the cheapest fares offered on the routes though which is what the OP seems to be interested in

Dave

Dave,

Not sure I understand here. Could you elaborate please :?:

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave,

Not sure I understand here. Could you elaborate please :?:

I hadn't realised that there was several months from the original post and the reply added today

The OP had stated "Exact itinerary is not set in stone yet however I will be purchasing (probably the cheapest seats) seats"

The response about instant upgrade fares was that the instant upgrade fares are nowhere near the cheapest fares.

Dave

 

[serfty]

Although the OP did pose a question; they have not logged on and viewed any responses since posting it back on March 6th. (Although they may have viewed it while not logged on)

As to Dave's post, I would view in relation to the OP's Autumn question.

 

[straitman]

Thanks Dave & serfty.

 

[Platy]

These are nowhere near the cheapest fares offered on the routes though which is what the OP seems to be interested in

Dave

Of course, Dave, although the thread is entitled "how to maximise status and points..." :shock:

 

[Dave Noble]

Of course, Dave, although the thread is entitled "how to maximise status and points..." :shock:

Based on that criteria alone, then I would suggest buying an unrestricted 1st class ticket from Australia since that should do the trick nicely
Dave

 

[Platy]

Based on that criteria alone, then I would suggest buying an unrestricted 1st class ticket from Australia since that should do the trick nicely
Dave

Presumably on the A380 service which costs more than a well equipped small car...well, mate, whilst respecting the many tricks of the trade I have learned from this site, all I can say that I'm very glad you are not my travel agent

 

[Dave Noble]

Presumably on the A380 service which costs more than a well equipped small car...well, mate, whilst respecting the many tricks of the trade I have learned from this site, all I can say that I'm very glad you are not my travel agent

I dunno. If someone came to me asking for the cheapest price for domestic flights in the USA, I wouldn't be pushing discounted 1st class tickets. If they were looking for cheap premium class travel then I might well do

When people come to me, I tailor my advice based on what people are looking for

Dave

 

[serfty]

Based on that criteria alone, then I would suggest buying an unrestricted 1st class ticket from Australia since that should do the trick nicely
Dave

Presumably on the A380 service which costs more than a well equipped small car...well, mate, whilst respecting the many tricks of the trade I have learned from this site, all I can say that I'm very glad you are not my travel agent

Well, I think Dave's advice is quite reasonable.

The base price MEL-NYC for a Qantas A380 "R2RT" fare is $25360.

Qantas's "F2RT" fare is $23102 and an IATA "F2RT" fare is $18388.

The IATA fate has the least restrictions of the three with an MPM of 12486.

 

[Platy]

I dunno. If someone came to me asking for the cheapest price for domestic flights in the USA, I wouldn't be pushing discounted 1st class tickets. If they were looking for cheap premium class travel then I might well do

Dave

That's fine, Dave, nor would I.

But this person did not ask for the cheapest option. They said they would probably purchase the cheapest BUT they ALSO wanted to know how to maximise their point and SC earn.

If they are at least aware of the cost benefit of instant upgrade fares they can make the choice whether or not to include one or more such sectors in their itinerary given their personal budget and FF goals (neither of which we are party to).

If they use the price+schedule option (as advised) on the AA booking engine they can at least see at a glance the price differential between all fare types and thus have a basis on which decide whether to outlay the extra cost given the 3x more points 4x more SCs earned for instant upgrade (first) rather than discount economy.

(IF they were at all interested in such options, they would presumably be better off choosing a a routing to avoid the 3 class trans-continental flights).

 

[Age]

Thanks to all for your replies.

 

[Lord Mud]

Quote: I am a Qantas Club member (unfortunately only bronze status) and will be travelling to US in Oct 08 using FF points. :unquote.

I think we may have missed something here..
I wasn't Aware QP had a "bronze membership" and that only QFF did.
Is the OP a FF member of a QP member, or both?

 

[v8Statesman]

Quote: I am a Qantas Club member (unfortunately only bronze status) and will be travelling to US in Oct 08 using FF points. :unquote.

I think we may have missed something here..
I wasn't Aware QP had a "bronze membership" and that only QFF did.
Is the OP a FF member of a QP member, or both?

You can be QP Bronze or QP Silver. The OP is QP Bronze.