BRAISKI

I know its still a long way to go but I'm already doing my travel plans for next year since I will be traveling a bit more and I would like to maximized my travel plans. I would appreciate any advice.
Sadly my travel will start September 2014, so a bit useless for AQM.

Goal: To get to 35k AQM (50k best case scenario)
Current Status: No status (So no minimum 500 miles)
Home Location: YYZ
Travel Location: FRA and HKG/MNL (separate trips)
Class: Economy (Flex)
Notes: I will be using Flight Pass for YYZ-FRA

Frankfurt Route
To: FRA - Going at least 2.5x round trip (best case 3.5x)

YUL: Not sure if adding YUL would really matter much. Mind you this helped me few years back when I had 35,023 QM.
FRA Options
Option 1 = YYZ-YUL-FRA-YYZ = (500+3639+3941) = 8,080
Option 2 = YYZ-FRA-YYZ (3941+3941) = 7,882
Approx difference = 198 miles

Going through YOW
Option 3 = YYZ-YOW-FRA-YOW-YYZ = (500+3718+3718+500) = 8,436
Option 4 = YYZ-YOW-FRA-YYZ = (500+3718+3941) = 8,159
Approx difference = 277

Hong Kong/Manila Route
To: HKG/MNL - Going once (for now), don't really know if I will go to MNL but doesnt matter since can't really find a much options with *A flight to go to MNL from HKG.

Other options... SIN
I guess I can go through SIN to go to MNL ^ (Seems to be too much work :/)



So far this is my plan for 2015... V1

February -> YYZ-FRA-YYZ = ~7,900 miles
May -> YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-HKG = ~16,900
July -> YYZ-FRA-YYZ = ~7,900
December -> YYZ-FRA = ~3,950 (One way coming back on Jan 2016)
Approx total = 36,670

Calculations are approx and its about 1.6k miles over so there is no "need" to go an extra leg to ensure I will qualify for 35k


V2 - Semi-Maximized (Flex and PE)

February -> YYZ-YOW-FRA-YOW-YYZ = 8,436
May -> YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-HKG = ~21,128 (PE)
July -> YYZ-YOW-FRA-YOW-YYZ = 8,436
September - >
December -> YYZ-YOW-FRA = ~4,218 (One way coming back on Jan 2016)
Approx total = 42,218

I could still possibly squeeze in one RT to FRA in September. That would get me to approx 50k+. Some of the flights to FRA I could go direct esp coming back to YYZ if things go well with the calculation of miles.

gabdusch

On the HKG trip, try booking in Premium Economy instead of Flex. PE earns 125% AQM so this trip could net 21,125 AQM instead.

These days PE is priced very closely to Flex, sometimes cheaper on the HKG route. Plus, way better seat - especially on the 777HD that is serving YVR-HKG.

doubleflier

agree with gabdusch....

the other thing i do when going to MNL is connect int NRT on NH to MNL.

Just pay attention to the economy fares to ensure you get 100% miles, but sometimes J is priced very well which gets you the 150% miles.

Or go YYZ - SEA, and then connect on UA to NRT and down to MNL.

Just an idea.

jordanD

For MNL you can fly SQ via LHR....YYZ-LHR-SIN-MNL-SIN-LHR-YYZ. Total miles ~ 23589. I think you can also get a YYZ-HND-MNL with the HND-MNL leg on NH.

BRAISKI

Thanks for the suggestion guys! Damn I just checked and PE is cheaper than the flex! going through SIN if I go to MNL is a great option!

I know I'm using FP to go to FRA, but there is no PE to go to FRA?

gabdusch

There is not (yet) any PE service to FRA - and neither is there a PE Flight Pass.

In Europe there is LHR/CDG from YUL on the 777HD with PE - but check the schedules. Also YYZCDG is going 787 this winter.

BRAISKI

I did some recalculating...

February -> YYZ-FRA-YYZ = ~7,900 miles
May -> YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-HKG = ~21,125
July -> YYZ-FRA-YYZ = ~7,900
By the end of July I should be able to have Early Recognition @ ~ 36,925

vernonc

Check the mileage run thread for more options.

itineranthistorian

Just as a quick FYI - the 500 miles DO apply on rapid air flights.


From the Aeroplan website:
The minimum number of Aeroplan Miles accumulated by: Air Canada Altitude Super Elite™ 100K, Altitude Elite™ 75K, Altitude Elite™ 50K, Altitude Elite™ 35K, Altitude Prestige™ 25K members, and, Aeroplan members traveling on Rapidair flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal or Ottawa, or between Toronto City Centre Airport and Montreal will continue to be 500 Aeroplan Miles if your fare earns 100% miles.

I can confirm this to be true (husband has no status at the moment, but still received the full 500 miles on Flex fares YYZ-YUL).

BRAISKI

It looks like SQ doesn't have PE. Is there a way to get PE? That would have been great. But damn travel time is around 30+ hrs I don't mind sometimes lots of connection but there's more chance that my checked luggage goes missing or delayed.

Maybe NH might be better... So far I checked most of them are connecting to the US, I would prefer not to go through the US.

BRAISKI

What do you guys think would this work?
If I book PE 787 from YYZ and connect to either LHR/ZUR/CPH then go to FRA. Will I still earn 25% more points on my flight to FRA?

mountaingrl

No, a Y/B fare intra-Europe is still only 50% AE miles.

BRAISKI

Oh crap! Totally forgot about that! :/

But its still worth to take PE, but the problem is the EU FP, so far can't really "pay extra" to get PE.

YXXFlyer

It's a long-shot, but could some-one check if the YYZ-FRA routing rules allow to go through YYC? I'd guess it wouldn't show up on the FP website, but if it's a legal routing you can book & then immediately call in with the other flight numbers. That would add a whole bunch of miles..

I can't remember if YOW-YUL is also a Rapidair route? IF so, OP could at least go YYZ-YOW-YUL-FRA and return for more miles. My experience is that YOW-YUL is almost always allowed routing on anything connecting through that region.

Oh, and UA has a great MR going on from EWR-POS. Will easily get you to 50k for less than $1000 extra. I believe you can book into next year too, but make sure to check earning rates on AE. More info in the MR forum.

BRAISKI

I'm trying to shoot for 50k next year if it goes well and if I'm on track I don't need to do a MR. Going to HKG in PE will surely help the gap from 35k to 50k.