USA trip questions

[Madam Mina]

Hi all,

I am a newbie with a few questions about flying in the states. I have been having a look but thought it was easier to ask specifically.

My sister and I are planning to fly to the US in September this year coming home early October. At the moment we are um and arring about whether its worth paying a bit extra to get fares we can try and upgrade with Qantas. I have heaps of points but we are both only bronze members with no real hope of being any more by September. From reading this forum it does appear that you can ask for a business up grade and say you will take premium economy if business is full. We would be happy with either but obviously business would be better. My question is are we any chance of either or should we just buy the cheapest fare and not worry about it? Unfortunately due to timing of our trip we have to fly on a Friday both in and out of the states which seems to be the worst for upgrades? We will fly in to LAX and out of JFK. Also is there any other advantage to not being on the cheapest economy fare?

My second question is relating to domestic travel in the US as we will be doing a fair few internal flights as well. I am a Qantas club member and I know we will be able to use lounges if we fly AA but I was wondering if anyone knew if QC members have to pay the checked baggage charges on the cheapest AA economy fares? QC members don't seem to be on the list of exemptions on the AA website but they're also not mentioned in who can use the lounges and I know they can so I was wondering if anyone had had any experience with this? It is not a big deal if I have I will cough up for the fee but it would be nice to know if I didn't have to.

 

[ChrisBNE]

My second question is relating to domestic travel in the US as we will be doing a fair few internal flights as well. I am a Qantas club member and I know we will be able to use lounges if we fly AA but I was wondering if anyone knew if QC members have to pay the checked baggage charges on the cheapest AA economy fares? QC members don't seem to be on the list of exemptions on the AA website but they're also not mentioned in who can use the lounges and I know they can so I was wondering if anyone had had any experience with this? It is not a big deal if I have I will cough up for the fee but it would be nice to know if I didn't have to.

Upon presentation of your international Qantas e-ticket at AA check in, you should be afforded the international baggage allowance of 2 pieces.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

For paying for bags:
If flying on an international flight that day (ie connecting) no... if it is purely Domestic then yes...

For buying upgradeable tix: being Bronze you will be a fair bit down the pecking order for upgrades... Unless you can transfer points to a family member who is Gold or Plat and have them put in the upgrade request...

For the price differential my opinion would be to save the money and splash out on something else... or investigate the price of premium economy tix...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If it was me I would buy the cheapest possible QF airfare & not worry about forking out extra dollars for a higher fare in the hope that you may be able to upgrade.

Given that you're talking about travelling in September/October it sounds like that will be Australian School Holidays so it may be worth booking the last day of the low season or shoulder season as these flights are always very full. Then on the day you could arrive at the airport early and tell the airline you'd be happy to volunteer for offload (in case flight is overbooked).

If you are selected for this you should receive a certain amount of denied boarding compensation plus in some cases you may receive an upgrade to PE or J on the next flight which may be the next day for your inconvenience.

Once the flight's done it's done you don't have anything to show for it however the money you will have saved IMHO could be put to much better use on sightseeing, domestic flights etc.

Cheers

Oz

 

[QF WP]

Spoken like a true insider with good knowledge, ozbeachbabe

 

[MelUser]

My approach is to always book an upgradeable ticket - the cheapest is an Economy (S) class ticket and to lodge points upgrade requests to Business with a fallback to Premium.

Note that all revenue tickets in Premium Economy are upgradeable to Business.

Again, it depends where you see value but I am prepared to pay for the chance to play the Qantas International Upgrade Lottery. It is a real thrill to win this lottery!

 

[AV8]

Is there an easy way of viewing what class of fare is available and if upgradeable or not?

 

[MelUser]

If you are booking online and avoid SALE fares, I have found all other USA fares booked ex Australia to be upgradeable.

Otherwise tell your travel agent you want Economy (S) or dearer fare bucket.

 

[Dougo]

Having flown over the NYC in cattle class last Sept, we were unexpectedly bumped up to Premium Economy. We're looking to do another long haul flight late this year and will be checking the price of premium economy - so worth it IMO.

 

[equus]

My approach is to always book an upgradeable ticket - the cheapest is an Economy (S) class ticket

I think V is cheaper than S, and is generally the lowest upgradeable ticket. It is certainly upgradeable, and I have always found it to be cheaper, if available.

 

[simongr]

For paying for bags:
If flying on an international flight that day (ie connecting) no... if it is purely Domestic then yes...

Why would a QP member get free bags given they have no OW status?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Cyclogenesis
For paying for bags:
If flying on an international flight that day (ie connecting) no... if it is purely Domestic then yes...

Yet in Oz travellers going to North or South America just need to produce their international itinerary - can be a separate pnr and flight ex Aust does not have to be the same day, and you get the 2 piece baggage allowance.

The above paragraph relates to QF so not sure about our friends at DJ/JQ/TT?

It's important to follow the 23kg (50 pound) limit per suitcase otherwise they will sting you an overweight fee in addition to the actual cost of checking in a bag.

Cheers

Oz

 

[QF WP]

I think V is cheaper than S, and is generally the lowest upgradeable ticket. It is certainly upgradeable, and I have always found it to be cheaper, if available.

No, S is cheaper than V, according to the current QF Fare Structures Chart.

Only red e-deals are not upgradeable (E, O, Q and N).

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Yet in Oz travellers going to North or South America just need to produce their international itinerary - can be a separate pnr and flight ex Aust does not have to be the same day, and you get the 2 piece baggage allowance.

The above paragraph relates to QF so not sure about our friends at DJ/JQ/TT?

It's important to follow the 23kg (50 pound) limit per suitcase otherwise they will sting you an overweight fee in addition to the actual cost of checking in a bag.

Cheers

Oz

No... The above paragraph relates to AA as per the original post

And to confirm: As far as AA is concerned QP=No status (but = A/C access and drink chits!)

However, tha AAngels can help LOTS with seat allocations...

 

[equus]

No, S is cheaper than V, according to the current QF Fare Structures Chart.

Only red e-deals are not upgradeable (E, O, Q and N).

Apologies, you are of course correct. What was confusing me is that S is not offered as a valid fare on all routes - even if seats are showing available in EF for the S bucket. Flying SYD or BNE to HKG in early May, shows S9, but no QF published S fares, making V the cheapest upgradeable actually able to be purchased.

 

[QF WP]

Oops, I posted the Domestic one, not the page to the International Fare Structures (as there are 4 sub-sets). Looking at the Mid-haul one, the story holds true.

 

[ChrisBNE]

S is still lower yielding than V internationally. Sometimes V class is the lowest upgradeable fare class, as no S class fares are offered.

 

[wywk]

I travelled Qantas in Jan and did SYD - LAX - MIA and then did MIA - LAX - LAS - LAX - SYD on the way back. I travelled via Qantas and AA all the way from SYD - MIA, but on the way back, there were no AA flights on the days I required, so I travelled United Airlines from LAX to LAS and US airways from LAS to LAX.

While on Qantas and AA (from LAX to Miami), we had allowances for 2 luggage each (up to 25kgs I believe) + 1 Carry-On up to 10kgs + personal item (like laptop). However since United and US Airways are not affiliated with Qantas, we had to pay for the checked luggage, which was like $20 per bag (online check-in) or $30 per bag at desk check-in.

So my best suggestion is to try to book all your flights through the same Airline and their partners if possible.

 

[harvyk]

I beleive long story short, don't bother with upgradeable tickets, being only a NB you probably won't get an upgrade and all it means is you've paid much more for the same seat.

If you have lots of points maybe consider purchasing a PE or J flight on points. If you don't have enough for return, consider purchasing a one-way ticket and use points for return. BTW for one way tickets you may need to call QF to arrange the points and ticket booking as normally trans-pac one way tickets are very expensive.

 

[UP4014]

Yet in Oz travellers going to North or South America just need to produce their international itinerary - can be a separate pnr and flight ex Aust does not have to be the same day, and you get the 2 piece baggage allowance.

The above paragraph relates to QF so not sure about our friends at DJ/JQ/TT?

It's important to follow the 23kg (50 pound) limit per suitcase otherwise they will sting you an overweight fee in addition to the actual cost of checking in a bag.

Cheers

Oz

And I can confirm that last week, thanks to my girlfriend's SFO Union Square shopping fetish, that for her extra 20 lbs over the combined 2 bag 100lbs was USD47.

I had only one bag, so in reality her combined shopping ended up being 170lbs in 3 bags, geez. Was SFO to LAX then SYD, the AA check for the domestic section was most sympathetic to to my situation but because she had to get a male to come and move one of the bags off the scales charged me anyway.:shock:

Next time in the US I think we'll go to Essex Montana, no shops there!