What has AFF done to me?

[fersea]

When it comes to travel I am a simple guy.

I tend to find a cheap flight, often domestically using the Jetstar price beat and if I am travelling alone tend to stay at backpackers.

Internationally, late last year I took a trip to Singapore, KL, Macau and Hong Kong flying Scoot, Air Asia and Jetstar.

Even when travelling for work, I try to keep the costs as low as possible. (I am not completely ignorant to some of the pointy end benefits, I have flown business class domestically a few times, been in the Qantas Club and Business lounge many times - never been a member and have even been in the Chairman's Lounge but I have always been and still am Bronze status)

Recently an opportunity came up to travel to the US this year. I hadn't been planning on international travel this year as I am planning a RTW trip next year.

If I was going this year, I would be leaving in April which is outside the specials. After reading on here about the American Airlines Advantage Buy Miles Offer, I looked into it and thought that it might be a cheaper way. After looking into it, I also discovered that it was only another 27.5K miles in total to go to London and come back from there.

So anyway, to cut a long story short I decided to buy 60K + 30K bonus miles before 31 December.

So now I am flying CBR-SYD-LAX, (a paid ticket) LAX-SFO return, LAX-MCO, MCO-ORD-LGA, JFK-LHR and back from London on Qantas A380 but going FIRST CLASS!!!! All for 137500 miles plus about $500 in taxes. (I bought another 40K + 15 bonus). I have also managed to score the sought-after 80K on the way over to LAX.

If it was not for this site, I would have never even looked into these things and certainly would never have thought that I could fly first class for what ended up about $850 more in points buying and taxes. Total cost for all of those flights in was about $3500 - buy miles and taxes, plus 7.5K left over.

However, I fear you are going to destroy me. After flying first class, how will I ever go back to a Jetstar price beat??

 

[JohnK]

It gets worse! Quit now while you are still in front....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It gets worse! Quit now while you are still in front....

Or keep going now you are in the front....

 

[ckck]

Welcome to the club. Enjoy the pointy end experience. When you get back home start planning the next trip. Rinse and repeat.

 

[samh004]

Congrats, we've corrupted another one!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hey that brilliant !!

 

[tuapekastar]

It does become addictive! That sounds like an excellent series of flights, do enjoy!

I don't fly as much as others here, but I've just realised I've managed to avoid flying anywhere over ~4 hours in a Y cabin since 2007, and even then I filled up on a MEL Flounge breakfast before that flight to HKG. Mixture of discount J fares and judicious use of points (mainly JASAs and FASAs), along with a JQ *class to SIN and back. Up until 2001 when I first redeemed a J cabin ticket (to NZ), I had been a lifelong Y flyer, and would never have imagined flying in F.

Then finding AFF in 2005 just changed things completely - for the better I hope! :shock:

 

[fersea]

Will I have access to a first class lounge in London? At the moment I think you can use the BA first lounge but with the EK partnership will that change?

Also what happens in the stopover in Dubai? Is there a lounge for a shower And freshen up?

I have chosen seat 3A but only 2A is taken.

 

[fersea]

I should clarify that only the return from London is in F (to Melbourne) J back to Cbr.

All other flights are Y but I did get 80K.

 

[Fantic125]

Opportunity for the AA Platinum Challenge, or will you credit to QF?

 

[tuapekastar]

Will I have access to a first class lounge in London? At the moment I think you can use the BA first lounge but with the EK partnership will that change?

Also what happens in the stopover in Dubai? Is there a lounge for a shower And freshen up?

I have chosen seat 3A but only 2A is taken.

This review in AusBT indicates that you will use the Emirates lounge at LHR, and that is likely, though I'm unsure if it has been officially announced. There is only the one lounge, and from the review it appears to sit in-between your typical J and F lounges (no table service dining for example). OTOH, there is apparently a very opulent EK F lounge at Dubai, and I would imagine you would get access to that one if flying F (though that is not confirmed). I haven't been in an EK lounge but they have pretty good reputation. 3A is a good seat IMHO.

There is also this brief youtube clip of the LHR lounge.

 

[TonyHancock]

What has AFF ever done for me?

Water, roads, stability, heating, food.....errrr.....errr ah that was the Romans......

 

[fersea]

This review in AusBT indicates that you will use the Emirates lounge at LHR, and that is likely, though I'm unsure if it has been officially announced. There is only the one lounge, and from the review it appears to sit in-between your typical J and F lounges (no table service dining for example). OTOH, there is apparently a very opulent EK F lounge at Dubai, and I would imagine you would get access to that one if flying F (though that is not confirmed). I haven't been in an EK lounge but they have pretty good reputation. 3A is a good seat IMHO.

There is also this brief youtube clip of the LHR lounge.

Thank you for that info. I wonder if I will be eligible for this new chauffeur drive as well?

 

[fersea]

Opportunity for the AA Platinum Challenge, or will you credit to QF?

Sorry I don't know what you mean. These are award flights so I won't get points with anyone.

Only paid flight is a LAX-SFO return for $127.20. At this stage crediting to QF. Does the 1000 point min apply to partner airlines?

 

[samh004]

Sorry I don't know what you mean. These are award flights so I won't get points with anyone.

Only paid flight is a LAX-SFO return for $127.20. At this stage crediting to QF. Does the 1000 point min apply to partner airlines?

On AA you have a 500-point minimum on eligible fares.

http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/airline/american-airlines

 

[serfty]

Sorry I don't know what you mean. These are award flights so I won't get points with anyone.

Only paid flight is a LAX-SFO return for $127.20. At this stage crediting to QF. Does the 1000 point min apply to partner airlines?

Be way of the booking class. If Q or O, then it won't earn with QFF.

 

[Deleted member]

Sorry I don't know what you mean. These are award flights so I won't get points with anyone.

Only paid flight is a LAX-SFO return for $127.20. At this stage crediting to QF. Does the 1000 point min apply to partner airlines?

Wait till you enjoy the delights of using ASA awards then

 

[Hvr]

Wait till you enjoy the delights of using ASA awards then

And using them to get to/from the USA to do some cheap YUPPs to requalify WP.

I agree with your original train of thought. AFF has some brilliant information and with a sparse flying year ahead of me I was able to requalify WP thanks to the techniques and tips I've gotten from this site. Roll on 2014.

 

[fersea]

Be way of the booking class. If Q or O, then it won't earn with QFF.

Yeah it is Q. Will it earn anything with AA?

 

[serfty]

Yeah it is Q. Will it earn anything with AA?

Yep, approx 337 miles each way.

If you have no status with QFF anyway, just call and swap the Frequent Flyer number in the booking to your AAdvantage account.