SC earn on AA YUP fares

[Foreigner]

Good evening. Been checking on YUP fare on AA.
Will appreciate feedback on how many SCs will accure (on basis that QF will be treat as AA first) on this itinerary:
LGA-ATL-DFW-DEN-LAX, all on restrictive first class, at cost usd823.
f

 

[JohnK]

They are all Zone 2 sectors.

QF normally treats YUP fares as first class so you should accrue 4 * 90 SC's = 360 SC's.

 

[Soundguy]

I am flying BOS - DFW - LAX in a few days on AA, books as P & earns 240 SC..... your route is too long for me when added to LAX - SYD (I am flying out the same day). BTW you will probably find 'unrestricted' First is th same price on AA.

 

[Foreigner]

​

Thanks Johnk and Soundguy. I don't know where you can find the info regarding zones but I did various "multicity" seaches on AA.com and the itinerary I noted was the cheapest in restricted first. There may be others for sure.

The idea is to get from NY to LA and maximise SCs at the most economical value. I don't mind the extra flying for a day for that purpose. And then of course, there is the long flight to Sydney from LA the same night. I will now look at doing the trip on 15 Nov.
f

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The qantas website has the award and SC earning zones (they are one and the same). Form memory

zone 1 up to 600 miles
zone 2 601 to 1200 miles
zone 3 1201 to 2400 miles
zone 4 2401 to 3600 miles
zone 5 3601 to 4800 miles
etc

 

[JohnK]

I don't know where you can find the info regarding zones but I did various "multicity" seaches on AA.com and the itinerary I noted was the cheapest in restricted first.

Here is a table of the zones with SC earning for discount economy, full economy, business class and first class.

To get an indication of the distance between city pairs then use Great Circle Mapper (GCM) or to be absolutely sure then refer to earning points calculator from QF website.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

the points earning calculator doesnt work for non-QF flights, so not much use on AA's xUP fares

 

[JohnK]

Well then GCM is pretty close for the majority of routes.

 

[Foreigner]

Thank you all. Here are three alternatives:

1. RTW in 26000 miles.

10/11 syd-jfk QF107
13/11 jfk-mad IB6252
16/11 mad-lhrX IB3174
16/11 lhr-bud BA858
17/11 bud-helX AY756
18/11 hel-bkk AY97
20/11 bkk-sin CX713
20/11 sin-syd QF6

2. syd-jfk return

10/11 syd-jfk
14/11 jfk-syd

3. syd-lax return. If I go this way, I would buy cheapest lax-jfk separately
in order to get to NY quickly. I would also buy jfk-lax separately but in
YUP fares as mentioned earlier.

10/11 syd-lax
15/11 lax-syd

In 2 and 3, I would want other than NOQ classes. The latter ones cannot upgrade, as you know.To decide between 2 and 3, I would need to see overall
cost but I would also consider buying syd-jfk,lax-syd. "open jaw" so that I can still buy YUP jfk-lax in order to score higher level of QF status credits. Buying YUP in addition on 3 would cost more overall but I will be
prepared to pay this.

Personally, I am inclined to do 3 which will a) give me more SCs and b) finish my trip quicker. Is this logical?
f

 

[JohnK]

Personally, I am inclined to do 3 which will a) give me more SCs and b) finish my trip quicker. Is this logical?

Indeed. Option 3 looks like the logical option given time constraints and maximising SC's.

 

[Dave Noble]

Before booking a YUP, be aware. From a thread on FT ( post 33 in SC Run help ) it seems that YUPs are now correctly posting as Full Economy rather than First Class . This may also have even more impact with KUPs

It may be an isolated incident , but be aware that it may not be the SC bonanza expected

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

If it is a change, rather than a one-off bug, then it is a very recent change. My YUP earlier this month posted to QFF as first.

 

[Foreigner]

I made bookings yesterday and the printout from the TA shows "CLASS - FIRST" for all flights. With my QF membership number plugged into the system, I would expect to get max SCs for FIRST CLASS. Yes?
f


Another quick question:

I am booking on V class from syd-jfk, lax-syd. With multiple flight, esp. lax-syd, would changes mean fee payable? I am paying more for V class to upgrade and I would want to change flights if chances dont look good on existing booking. Any suggestions?

Being QF Gold, are my chances better for upgrade? When would I find out if upgrades are ok'd?

 

[Dave Noble]

I made bookings yesterday and the printout from the TA shows "CLASS - FIRST" for all flights. With my QF membership number plugged into the system, I would expect to get max SCs for FIRST CLASS. Yes?
f

If you booked a YUP/KUP and the occurrence was not a one-off but a change to how QF processes them, then I would expect them to post as Full/Discount economy

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

If it is a change, rather than a one-off bug, then it is a very recent change. My YUP earlier this month posted to QFF as first.

Methinks that some more reports of KUP/YUP postings are needed to tell whether it is a one-off or a system change

Dave

 

[JohnK]

I made bookings yesterday and the printout from the TA shows "CLASS - FIRST" for all flights. With my QF membership number plugged into the system, I would expect to get max SCs for FIRST CLASS. Yes?

I hope you do.

I am booking on V class from syd-jfk, lax-syd. With multiple flight, esp. lax-syd, would changes mean fee payable? I am paying more for V class to upgrade and I would want to change flights if chances dont look good on existing booking. Any suggestions?

There would still be cancellation fees and no guarantee that V class would be available on the next flight you book.

Being QF Gold, are my chances better for upgrade? When would I find out if upgrades are ok'd?

Marginally better than QF Silver and QF Bronze. You should know if the upgrade has cleared up to 24 hours before actual flight time.

 

[NM]

I made bookings yesterday and the printout from the TA shows "CLASS - FIRST" for all flights. With my QF membership number plugged into the system, I would expect to get max SCs for FIRST CLASS. Yes?
f

Not necessarily. You can try that argument and it may work, but its not assured.

I would be arguing the the fare rules clearly state the booking code is A (for YUP) or P (for KUP). From the Qantas FF program Terms and Conditions:

19.1.2 Status Credits are earned for paid travel on certain regular scheduled flights of Qantas, oneworld Alliance Airlines, Air Pacific, Jetstar Airways and QantasLink, or other airlines as determined by Qantas. The number of Status Credits earned varies depending on the fare class shown on the ticket used for travel.

So it depends on how the interpret the fare class. Is it the first letter of the fare basis (i.e. Y for YUP, K for KUP) or is it the booking code as defined in the fare rules.

I expect they will tell you that the fare class is the first letter of the fare basis code and is independent of the booking code defined in the fare rules. However, that is not the way the interpret it for fares like AONEx when flights are booked in D or Y/L due to availability. In those cases they only pay SCs based on the booking code used for the sector, not based on the first letter of the fare basis.

So there may be room for an argument here.

Another quick question:

I am booking on V class from syd-jfk, lax-syd. With multiple flight, esp. lax-syd, would changes mean fee payable? I am paying more for V class to upgrade and I would want to change flights if chances dont look good on existing booking. Any suggestions?

Being QF Gold, are my chances better for upgrade? When would I find out if upgrades are ok'd?

are you chances better that what? Better than a Silver member - yes. Better than a Platinum member - no.

You find out at check-in unless you check on-line in the 24 hours or so before departure. Sometimes the confirmation shows on-line about 24 hours before, sometimes its closer to departure time before it shows. Usually it it showing by 6 hours before departure, but some people have noted that it was not showing even at check-in and they have received a new boarding pass at the gate.

 

[Foreigner]

One of the regular posters had mentioned the website to check award seat availability. Can't recall it now. Therefore, I called QF today and was told that QF107 syd to jfk on 10 nov looks good in business class for upgrade. Same for QF108 on way back from lax to syd for 14 nov.
She did mumble that with Gold membership, I stand a good chance for upgrade but obviously, I cannot hold QF to that.
Would checked luggage be okay for the AA flights from lga to lax? My concern is the four sectors. I dont have issue with getting on and off aircrafts and will spend some time in the AA lounge and hope QF Club members are still given the 2 x comp drink vouchers.
f

 

[Dave Noble]

Would checked luggage be okay for the AA flights from lga to lax? My concern is the four sectors. I dont have issue with getting on and off aircrafts and will spend some time in the AA lounge and hope QF Club members are still given the 2 x comp drink vouchers.
f

There is no reason for there to be an issue with luggage being connected from AA to QF and you should get drinks vouchers at LGA and LAX ACs.

Dave

 

[Soundguy]

Foreigner, I was concerned about this also so I rang Qantas FF and checked with them prior to booking my AA YUP flights, over the phone they assured me the booking class is what counts, and it books as P in my case.

Can't speak for you, but that is what I ascertained..... keep all your paperwork.