1st ever run to make AA plat
I am making my first ever mileage run to make AA plat this year. After 12 years as AA gold (since the ripe old age of 12!), I am 4 segments away from plat status (am 10,700 Q points away, so I am focusing on segments only). I can only fly Dec.6 (same day return) or Dec. 7 (next day return)
I just moved to PHL, which as a US Scareways hub has very few AA flights. Lots of AA Eagle though. I have found PHL-BGR-PHL Dec. 6-Dec. 8 for $298.
Can anyone help with the following questions?:
1)do you actually buy a ticket that has same day return? all so expensive, yet if I buy Dec. 6-Dec. 8 to get Sat. night stay, can I just standby on the return on the same day? Am confused by new rules re. standby. My fare rules say:
3. PASSENGERS HOLDING CONFIRMED
RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS MAY STANDBY FOR EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY AA NONSTOP AND/OR CONNECTING FLIGHT/S BETWEEN THE SAME ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AIPORTS. A.THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST PROVIDED THE
FLIGHT/S AND ROUTING ARE APPLICABLE FOR THE FARE CHARGED.FOR TRVL ON/AFTER JANUARY 1 2003 USD 100 STANDBY FEE APPLIES UNLESS A PSGR PRESENTS HIMSELF/HERSELF AT AA TKT COUNTER AT THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE NO LATER THAN 2 HR. AFTER THE SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME OF THE FLIGHT SHOWN ON THE PASSENGERS TKT. THEN THE PSGR WILL BE ACCOMMODATED ON A STANDBY BASIS ON NEXT AVAILABLE AA FLT AND NO STANDBY FEE WILL BE CHARGED. B.IF THE CHANGE IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR THE FARE CHARGED-I.E. INVALID ROUTING/AIRPORT/ DEPARTURE TIME/ETC/-THEN THE PSGR MUST PAY THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES PLUS THE CHANGE FEE.
For ticket changes:
2. CHANGES TO OTHER THAN THE ORIGINATING
FLT ARE PERMITTED ON/PRIOR TO TKTD DEPARTURE DATE OF EACH FLIGHT PROVIDED A.THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN ORIGIN/DESTINATION/ STOPOVER POINTS. B.THE CHANGE MEETS MIN/MAX STAY PROVISIONS OF ORIGINAL FARE.
Does this last point apply if I request to return standby on the same day? Technically the ticket would have been more expensive had I booked it that way in the first place, so not sure. Gold status helps me get standby but there is only so much room on Eagle ER3. Currently Galileo shows all returns wide open (7 all across) but this could change by the time I fly...I would hate to be stranded in Bangor...
2) Is there a way I can get a list of all Eagle schedules on line?
3) Are there any suggestions out there for ways to find cheap same-day tickets? I have searched the forums and know itn, expedia, travelocity, etc. but no one seems to say whether they buy same day returns
Thanks in advance for your help