Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximise SC's

[legroom]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

I've booked a DCA/ORD/MIA/AUA/xMIA/ORD/DCA run for October: -$USD 1,110 and +540 SC. I'm not sure this is the best I can get, but it's convenient for me.

For paying, I entered my Australian address and Australian credit card, leaving the zip code blank.

You should either put seats on EF alert or watch them every few weeks.

My SC run (in Nov) was changed without notice from AA resulting in an unwanted red-eye which I declined causing a loss of some 60 SCs.

Still six months till Oct, so it is possible that yours can change.

 

[gbetox]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

You should either put seats on EF alert or watch them every few weeks.

My SC run (in Nov) was changed without notice from AA resulting in an unwanted red-eye which I declined causing a loss of some 60 SCs.

Still six months till Oct, so it is possible that yours can change.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

I have been researching some June flights for the last month and have found that the cheaper availability often does not happen until 90 day before

Thank you so much for this piece of info - we are not travelling until late July and flights were quite expensive in discount F -I have had a look at the same flights 90 days out and so much cheaper, so will wait until the 90 days and then look again. on another subject because I know you are really across lounge access in the USA . If we do something like lax-ord-msp will we be able to access the flagship lounge in Ord prior to the msp leg, based on being oneworld emerald even though it is all domestic?

 

[Hvr]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Yes you can access the Flagship lounge at ORD as a WP. And make sure you get drink vouchers upon entering and as required.

Don't expect too much from them though.

 

[hossein_au]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Thank you so much for this piece of info - we are not travelling until late July and flights were quite expensive in discount F -I have had a look at the same flights 90 days out and so much cheaper, so will wait until the 90 days and then look again. on another subject because I know you are really across lounge access in the USA . If we do something like lax-ord-msp will we be able to access the flagship lounge in Ord prior to the msp leg, based on being oneworld emerald even though it is all domestic?

You can definitely access the flagship lounge in ORD as a QF WP. Bear in mind that their "flagship" more or less resembles our domestic "Qantas Club".

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Yes you can access the Flagship lounge at ORD as a WP. And make sure you get drink vouchers upon entering and as required.

Don't expect too much from them though.

Isn't the Flagship lounge in ORD self-service drinks like the other Flagship lounges?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Thanks everyone - and no I won't expect too much, but at least the Flagships are a bit better than Admiral Clubs

 

[hossein_au]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Isn't the Flagship lounge in ORD self-service drinks like the other Flagship lounges?

I vaguely recall it is.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Isn't the Flagship lounge in ORD self-service drinks like the other Flagship lounges?

Yes, it was when I was there in Aug-2012. When I got to the AC, they told me I could go to the Flagship lounge. However, it didn't open until a certain time (something like 7am) and I had arrived on the red-eye from LAS. It was a bit of a nuisance, as it is quite a walk down to the end of one of the piers to the Flagship lounge from the AC.

I didn't think the Flagship was anything special until I actually experienced the AC lounges, and realised how povo lounges are in USA in general, compared to what we get domestically anyway.

Also, there aren't any showers in the Flagship lounge.. only in the AC.

 

[kevrosmith]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Breaking news: will be interesting to see how this http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ram/heads-up-about-program-changes-58914.html impacts our beloved AA Status Runs.... And here I was gearing up for a run in August when I'll be in the States. Fingers-crossed, it works out fine still...

 

[penegal]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Many of the "good runs" will be substantially devalued by these changes.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Many of the "good runs" will be substantially devalued by these changes.

which unfortunately was the idea..... However I still prefer to travel in F on the longer legs in the USA - Y is fine for short hops. It does make me grateful for domestic J in Australia though!

 

[gbetox]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Many of the "good runs" will be substantially devalued by these changes.

Massively devaluated, I'd say...

I was lucky enough to book a run yesterday. I hope they follow the previous earning table (as mentioned on the website and transcribed below), otherwise I'll earn 420 SC, not 540. But maybe that doesn't matter anyway, I'm switching to VA...

Existing bookings beyond July 2014
For members with a booking made prior to 27 March 2014 in a fare class impacted by these changes for travel on or after 1 July 2014, we will automatically credit your account within a month of flying with the Qantas Points that applied when you made your booking.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Massively devaluated, I'd say...

I was lucky enough to book a run yesterday. I hope they follow the previous earning table (as mentioned on the website and transcribed below), otherwise I'll earn 420 SC, not 540. But maybe that doesn't matter anyway, I'm switching to VA...

Existing bookings beyond July 2014
For members with a booking made prior to 27 March 2014 in a fare class impacted by these changes for travel on or after 1 July 2014, we will automatically credit your account within a month of flying with the Qantas Points that applied when you made your booking.

Actually, it's not a 'massive' devaluation, if you do the right routes.

We (ie, those of us that do these trips) have maximised current routing around existing QF rules. It'll just need some tweaking now. It may be a small de-valuation, but considering how much cheaper it will be on AA vs QF still, it's still excellent value.

I reckon this thread will get busy from now on =)

And doing a run, earning a chunk of SC's and then taking your bat and ball and moving to VA seems a false economy surely?

I fully intend on keeping my foot planted in both camps until QF either rises from the ashes, or the smouldering embers are extinguished.

 

[serfty]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

As already noted in the last few days, good multi segment runs are becoming more expensive (two and three segment journeys can be much more expensive than one segment ... and forget about four segments!)

Yes - this thread will need some retooling - in fact I may start a new one ...

(Interestingly enough the 750 mile zone is something I have overcome before having navigated a couple of non-refundable first fares on DL for VA status.)

 

[legroom]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

This is a duplicate from the other heated thread.

251 (miles) seems to be the number to remember !

SC per mile ratio seems to be sweetest

251 (20%)

751 (12%)

1501 (8%)

2501 (6%)

3501 (5%)

5001 (4.2%)

etc.....

That's a lot of short hop-on, hop-off flights so probably the 751 miles would suffice.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Existing bookings beyond July 2014
For members with a booking made prior to 27 March 2014 in a fare class impacted by these changes for travel on or after 1 July 2014, we will automatically credit your account within a month of flying with the Qantas Points that applied when you made your booking.

Does this apply also to bookings made on the AA system, or only to bookings made on the QF system?

I booked two trips a few days ago directly with AA in First class (booking code P):

LAX-DFW-ORD-LGA for 120+90+90 = 300 SCs
LGA-DFW-LAX for 120+120 = 240 SCs

If I read the table correctly the new SC earn will only be:

LAX-DFW-ORD-LGA for 90+90+40 = 220 SCs
LGA-DFW-LAX for 90+90 = 240 SCs

I recorded my QF FF number against these bookings, but travel won't be until mid-May and early June.

Will I still get the 540 SCs because I made the booking before 27 March, or will Qantas apply the new, lower rates because (I assume) AA won't send them the trip details after 27 March?


In either case, as a result of the changes to the QFF programme I'll be looking to see if these fares are refundable. Chasing WP isn't really worth it anymore. A shame, because I was looking forward to my very first AA status run - I'd always attained/retained WP purely on the strength of Qantas/Jetstar flights before. These AA flights would have gained me enough points for Gold next year and I was going to make up the rest of the 1200 SCs through domestic travel. But now, the soft landing from WP will give me Gold anyway, so there's no need for the AA flights.

Unfortunately the AA refund page (https://prefunds.aa.com/refunds/index.asp) is producing errors after entering my ticket numbers.

 

[legroom]

Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Does this apply also to bookings made on the AA system, or only to bookings made on the QF system?

I booked two trips a few days ago directly with AA in First class (booking code P):

LAX-DFW-ORD-LGA for 120+90+90 = 300 SCs
LGA-DFW-LAX for 120+120 = 240 SCs

If I read the table correctly the new SC earn will only be:

LAX-DFW-ORD-LGA for 90+90+40 = 220 SCs
LGA-DFW-LAX for 90+90 = 240 SCs

I recorded my QF FF number against these bookings, but travel won't be until mid-May and early June.

Will I still get the 540 SCs because I made the booking before 27 March, or will Qantas apply the new, lower rates because (I assume) AA won't send them the trip details after 27 March?


In either case, as a result of the changes to the QFF programme I'll be looking to see if these fares are refundable. Chasing WP isn't really worth it anymore. A shame, because I was looking forward to my very first AA status run - I'd always attained/retained WP purely on the strength of Qantas/Jetstar flights before. These AA flights would have gained me enough points for Gold next year and I was going to make up the rest of the 1200 SCs through domestic travel. But now, the soft landing from WP will give me Gold anyway, so there's no need for the AA flights.

Unfortunately the AA refund page (https://prefunds.aa.com/refunds/index.asp) is producing errors after entering my ticket numbers.

Your quote mentioned only QF 'points' and not SCs.

So, even if it were to apply to partner airlines, it may mean SCs would be applied as per the new table.

I did raise this Q with Red Roo on the Heads Up thread.

No reply as yet !

 

[serfty]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

Does this apply also to bookings made on the AA system, or only to bookings made on the QF system?...

I recorded my QF FF number against these bookings, but travel won't be until mid-May and early June.
...

Since your travel is before 1st July, your queries are basically moot since the changes on come in on that date.

Earn should be as you expected when booking.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

Re: Research & book AA "Non-refundable "/"Instant Upgrade"/"YUPP" fare to maximis...

That makes sense. Thanks serfty. Obviously the oxygen wasn't reaching my brain when I posted, what with the time, the tears and the gnashing of teeth.