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

[samiam]

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

I don't see an issue with baggage on that routing as long as there are no really really short connections.
Happy wandering

Fred

I had a very tight connection 2 weeks ago with AA SFO-LAX-LAS due to a late departure (a pax decided to try and stuff their oversized carryon in the overhead bin and it got stuck... the bin wouldn't close and engineering had to be called - 1 hr delay).

I disembarked at LAX and did the 'fast walk' to the next gate. The main cabin door on the departing flight was waiting to close. I asked the gate agent about my luggage, and his response was (paraphrased) "Don't worry - the time it takes you to get off the plane and change gates, it will be done".

Indeed it was - all within a 10 minute window.

 

[Hvr]

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

Have just found and booked a ripper:
ORD-DFW-PHX-GEG US$428 for 270 SCs, starts at 0500 and finishes at 1310,

then I purchased:

GEG-PHX-LAS US$353 for 130 SCs, starts at 1510 and finishes at 2002.

A long day but for 400 SCs it's worth it. Booked in October.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

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

Have just found and booked a ripper:
ORD-DFW-PHX-GEG US$428 for 270 SCs, starts at 0500 and finishes at 1310,

then I purchased:

GEG-PHX-LAS US$353 for 130 SCs, starts at 1510 and finishes at 2002.

A long day but for 400 SCs it's worth it. Booked in October.

great find! I'm going to see if that's available for my run next June

 

[qantas21]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Is it general consensus that getting anything under $2.50/sc near impossible now?

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Is it general consensus that getting anything under $2.50/sc near impossible now?

No, they are still out there - look for non hub to non hub connecting via hubs.

 

[snabbu]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Is it general consensus that getting anything under $2.50/sc near impossible now?

2 posts above yours is a run which comes in under $USD2 / SC with no hotel requirements.

Additionally, I've picked up a couple of PTY turnarounds for under $USD2 / SC in the last month without a lot of effort so absolutely these fares are still around. Perhaps not down to the $USD1 / SC of a couple of years ago but still great fares are out there.

 

[qantas21]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

2 posts above yours is a run which comes in under $USD2 / SC with no hotel requirements.

Additionally, I've picked up a couple of PTY turnarounds for under $USD2 / SC in the last month without a lot of effort so absolutely these fares are still around. Perhaps not down to the $USD1 / SC of a couple of years ago but still great fares are out there.

Yes I saw that post but can't find it anywhere from Oct 30 - Nov 9. (Dates a friend is going to LA on one of those super cheap mistake fares!)

I managed to get a 5 segment down to $2.83 but that is the best so far. Happily take any advice from others travelling around those dates.

 

[k_sheep]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Any decent runs possible out of JFK? Or am I better off positioning to somewhere nearby?

I've never been anywhere beside HNL/SEA in the USA so I'm open to visiting pretty much anywhere

 

[CaviAck]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Any decent runs possible out of JFK? Or am I better off positioning to somewhere nearby?

I've never been anywhere beside HNL/SEA in the USA so I'm open to visiting pretty much anywhere

LGA should provide better run if heading out from NYC.

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Very few 'good runs' out hubs.

That precludes JFK, DFW, LAX, CLT, PHX and (sadly now,) PHL.

 

[k_sheep]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Yeah I figured I'd hop a cheapie flight (or train or bus) to another port and start from there.

 

[serfty]

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

Hence the (sub) comment re PHL - once it was a viable location to catch a train to from NYC in order to look at a cheaper fare ... not so much any more.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

2 posts above yours is a run which comes in under $USD2 / SC with no hotel requirements.

Additionally, I've picked up a couple of PTY turnarounds for under $USD2 / SC in the last month without a lot of effort so absolutely these fares are still around. Perhaps not down to the $USD1 / SC of a couple of years ago but still great fares are out there.

The fare I have listed above works out to $2.04USD per SC

 

[juddles]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

you can still get around $1.50 USD if you position a start from the Carribean - I know that is not helpful to most

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

BWI does have a connection to the Amtrak system, so could be somewhat useful. BWI-DFW-LAS (180sc) is two segments both greater than 750 miles. Fares exLAS/LAX seem better than exBWI. The better fares run about US$3/SC. Note ORD-BWI is less than 750 (as is CLT-BWI). If you have to go coast to coast anyway, the incremental costs are better than some.
LAX-PHX-TUS (80sc) can sometimes be less than US$3/sc and has the advantage of short run times.
I found LAX-ORD-MIA(210sc) with the less desirable flight timings at less than US$2.50/sc
Flights checked for end of Sept. Add a third to the US pricing for conversion to AUD.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[alieninperth]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

What's the general consensus on distances between stops, should I be looking at just over the 750mile limit per leg?

 

[wandering_fred]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

What's the general consensus on distances between stops, should I be looking at just over the 750mile limit per leg?

Well crediting to QF, flights in AA first that are less than 750 miles earn 40 sc. flights of 751-1500 in first earn 90...

Flights from the east/west coasts to DFW are 1200ish, with a few just over the 1500 mile mark (PDX/SEA/BOS) ORD has slightly longer flight lengths from the west coast but this translates to shorter flights (less than 1500) to the east coast. OTOH a quick round trip to TUS, DFW or AUS via PHX might satisfy better than a much longer trek to MIA or BOS with multiple connections.

Each person will have their own "present value" for the combination of dollars, flight times and required destinations.

Until you find that value keep wandering

Fred

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

Are many of these types of runs good for doing an AA Plat challenge, earning 10,000 points under their system within 3 months, or do they work out better for earning QF SCs??

 

[serfty]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

SC's earn is what it is.

You need to be aware of the bands.

e.g. Fly LAX-DEN and get 90 SC's as it's over 750 miles direct (862)... fly LAX-PHX-DEN and earn 80 SC's but fly 110 miles further (370+602).

You may find a few very short segments for the 40 SC better value than a few longer segment (e.g. LAX-LAS @246 over ORD-JFK @740, each earns just the 40 SC"s)

 

[snabbu]

Re: Appendix 1: Booking Class with One-Way and Return Searches

The fare I have listed above works out to $2.04USD per SC

Yep a great run no doubt. The post I was referring to was by Hvr and equates to $1.95/SC.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ok-aa-non-refundable-42433-8.html#post1278529