A3*G Challenge: who have the most creative routing to achieve *G in shortest time?
Dec 25, 2011, 3:08 am
#31
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: NH Plat
Posts: 652
Yes - so you only really need 19k in total to get Gold or 3k for Blue.
I qualified from 19036 miles
I qualified from 19036 miles
Last edited by BalbC; Dec 25, 2011 at 3:18 am Reason: memory failing was 10 miles out
Dec 25, 2011, 5:02 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3*G AC*nobody TK*nobody
Posts: 1,967
TK HKG-LAX U fare ([email protected]/eur on the day i bought the ticket=811USD).
you only need 1 run. if you can bear the LAX turnaround (145min), then Departing HKG 2315, arriving LAX 1525+1. then fly out at 1745+1 and arrive HKG at 1540+3
23712miles (at 100% earn rate)
3.42cpm
64.5 hours (spare 5 mins)
you only need 1 run. if you can bear the LAX turnaround (145min), then Departing HKG 2315, arriving LAX 1525+1. then fly out at 1745+1 and arrive HKG at 1540+3
23712miles (at 100% earn rate)
3.42cpm
64.5 hours (spare 5 mins)
Still have a LAX-IST-HKG coming up...
TK U fare in CC is great! Will do that over AC J on A320/A321 anytime!
Dec 26, 2011, 10:03 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
I'm doing this in March, quite excited about it actually.
So, the U fare is 100%? I read US Air now credits 125% for this TK CC U fare.
But *G for 3 years is really appealing for $800
Jan 1, 2012, 12:13 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: DVO
Programs: Flying Blue Gold + Aegean Airlines Gold
Posts: 31
19.000 Miles in the shortest time possible. Ideas?
I am trying to get 19.000 tier miles in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible cost. Any ideas how to achieve this? I wonder because half of all classes on SK do not earn miles with M&B so obviously they are not worth flying with. If you have any ideas for a trip that include IST it would be even better. My main hub is CPH.
Jan 1, 2012, 12:19 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
Jan 2, 2012, 9:36 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: DVO
Programs: Flying Blue Gold + Aegean Airlines Gold
Posts: 31
Im thinking crediting this weeks mini-mileage run to A3.
ICN-NRT-HNL/LIH-LAX-LAS-DCA-DTW-EWR-IAD-LAX-SFO-ICN
With the 1000 mile bonus credit it would put me Gold in for just a touch over 1000USD.
As I want to get away from Aeroplan next year, and sadly I only fly around 45,000-50,000 miles a year, so I also have the option to crediting to OZ. I am familiar with the OZ website, but I do like the idea of getting 3 year *G through A3. Im just worried, I read that if you use lounge access and don't credit to A3, they will cancel your card. Any truth to that?
ICN-NRT-HNL/LIH-LAX-LAS-DCA-DTW-EWR-IAD-LAX-SFO-ICN
With the 1000 mile bonus credit it would put me Gold in for just a touch over 1000USD.
As I want to get away from Aeroplan next year, and sadly I only fly around 45,000-50,000 miles a year, so I also have the option to crediting to OZ. I am familiar with the OZ website, but I do like the idea of getting 3 year *G through A3. Im just worried, I read that if you use lounge access and don't credit to A3, they will cancel your card. Any truth to that?
Jan 3, 2012, 8:53 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 24
I am just 1084 miles shy of the 20,000 requirement for Gold. What is the quickest and cheapest route to gain additional 1084 miles? I am based in Boston.
BTW, does booking hotel through Aegean booking.com website also count toward the tier miles?
Thanks!
BTW, does booking hotel through Aegean booking.com website also count toward the tier miles?
Thanks!
Jan 3, 2012, 10:23 am
#39
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
BOS based, I'd look at an CLT or FLL roundtrip. Good sales come up from time to time.
Jan 3, 2012, 10:40 am
#40
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: *G, KLM Plat, Avis PC, SPG Plt, Hyt Plt
Posts: 225
No, this is not true, but to use the G* card to access the lounge you need to credit your trip to your Aegean card. Some lounges cannot see where you credit your point but those who can will refuse you entry in some cases. In most cases the Gold card will get you entry no matter who you fly because if the staff is in doubt they need to let you enter.
Jan 4, 2012, 6:42 am
#41
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
With BMI on the way out I've been using up some of my miles with them. Planning a trip to NZ later in the year but when looking for routings came across a fairly good SWISS fare in business. Given the good things I've heard about their new lie-flat seat I thought I'd go for it. It's not going to win on value for money, but will save 75k of my BD miles for presumed transfer to Avios and will get me A3*G in one go.
DUB-ZRH-BKK-SIN/(BD redemption to/from AKL)/SIN-BKK-ZRH-DUB
All in Z class (200% earning on LX) but the BKK-SIN sectors on on SQ metal as LX codeshares so I'm suspicious they'll only earn at 125% instead (as Z class on SQ) - has that been other people's experience?
Mileage:
DUB-ZRH 771+771 = 1,542
ZRH-BKK 5,632+5,632 = 11,264
BKK-SIN 876+219 = 1,095
Total = 13,901 each way, 27,802 total
Cost £1,728/$2,695 = 9.69cpm
As I say not the best value for money but for going Swiss business it's pretty good. Also if I'd done a redemption it would still have cost around £450 in taxes, so the real cost to me is closer to £1,278/$1,994, which means a personal cpm of 7.4 (not forgetting I also gain A3 miles and save BD miles, a total of around 100,000 miles).
Can you tell I've been justifying it to myself?
DUB-ZRH-BKK-SIN/(BD redemption to/from AKL)/SIN-BKK-ZRH-DUB
All in Z class (200% earning on LX) but the BKK-SIN sectors on on SQ metal as LX codeshares so I'm suspicious they'll only earn at 125% instead (as Z class on SQ) - has that been other people's experience?
Mileage:
DUB-ZRH 771+771 = 1,542
ZRH-BKK 5,632+5,632 = 11,264
BKK-SIN 876+219 = 1,095
Total = 13,901 each way, 27,802 total
Cost £1,728/$2,695 = 9.69cpm
As I say not the best value for money but for going Swiss business it's pretty good. Also if I'd done a redemption it would still have cost around £450 in taxes, so the real cost to me is closer to £1,278/$1,994, which means a personal cpm of 7.4 (not forgetting I also gain A3 miles and save BD miles, a total of around 100,000 miles).
Can you tell I've been justifying it to myself?
Jan 4, 2012, 11:39 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LON BCN SYD
Programs: BA, OZ, A3, VA, VS, DL, QF, former BD and others
Posts: 1,074
The other way for your BP to reflect *G status while you credit to another FFP is to have a *G number in the FQTS (status/services/'non-accrual') field in your booking and the non-*G programme you wish to credit to in the FQTV ('main'/accrual) field.
Many *A airlines appear to be able to handle this - although some may not, either because of technical requirements or policy thought FQTS is mandated by IATA so in theory should be available on all IATA carriers. On SQ for example, the FQTS will only accept a SQ Krisflyer number, as that is the way their systems are set up.
If the airline will enter the numbers accordingly, you status (and both FFP) appear to print on most airport printed boarding passes and those airlines like NZ that scan BP at lounge entry to determine eligibility should admit you to the lounge.
You need to be careful that the numbers have not been entered the wrong way round as from other posts this has sometimes happened!
If you cannot get the airline to enter a FQTS number for a given flight, then as others have written, there is always the option of having the *G number in the FQTV field when checking in and then changing the number in or after using the lounge.
Many *A airlines appear to be able to handle this - although some may not, either because of technical requirements or policy thought FQTS is mandated by IATA so in theory should be available on all IATA carriers. On SQ for example, the FQTS will only accept a SQ Krisflyer number, as that is the way their systems are set up.
If the airline will enter the numbers accordingly, you status (and both FFP) appear to print on most airport printed boarding passes and those airlines like NZ that scan BP at lounge entry to determine eligibility should admit you to the lounge.
You need to be careful that the numbers have not been entered the wrong way round as from other posts this has sometimes happened!
If you cannot get the airline to enter a FQTS number for a given flight, then as others have written, there is always the option of having the *G number in the FQTV field when checking in and then changing the number in or after using the lounge.
Jan 4, 2012, 3:25 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Jan 11, 2012, 11:38 am
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I am pleased to announce that my *A *Gold on A3 is done. I did not do it cheaply but it sure was (mostly) fun. 20818 total miles.
I flew the European leg of SMD3 in business class Z for about $2400 in early September (roughly 48 hours from first takeoff to last scheduled landing, but the flight was late for a mechanical which added several hours to the trip) and then ORD-MSP on UA in discounted FC, A fare of $217ai on Sunday night.
1000 miles, sign up bonus
7674 miles, JFK-FRA on the LH A380 (200%)
1000 miles, FRA-MUC in LH NEK, minimum for German Eurobusiness
1000 miles, MUC-FRA in LH NEK, minimum, flight delayed for fog at FRA
8644 miles, FRA-ORD, badly delayed for mechanical, bused to 747
1500 miles, ORD-MSP in UA discounted FC, minimum miles for FC on UA (300%)
ADDED. By the end if the business day in Athens, my account upgraded to Gold and my account activities indicate a card upgrade as of today. However, I cannot add a seat preference to my profile and when I look at my account, it no longer shows any status miles with expiration dates indicated. Maybe I really am lifetime *Gold providing that I continue to credit a flight to A3 every year or three to keep the account active.
I flew the European leg of SMD3 in business class Z for about $2400 in early September (roughly 48 hours from first takeoff to last scheduled landing, but the flight was late for a mechanical which added several hours to the trip) and then ORD-MSP on UA in discounted FC, A fare of $217ai on Sunday night.
1000 miles, sign up bonus
7674 miles, JFK-FRA on the LH A380 (200%)
1000 miles, FRA-MUC in LH NEK, minimum for German Eurobusiness
1000 miles, MUC-FRA in LH NEK, minimum, flight delayed for fog at FRA
8644 miles, FRA-ORD, badly delayed for mechanical, bused to 747
1500 miles, ORD-MSP in UA discounted FC, minimum miles for FC on UA (300%)
ADDED. By the end if the business day in Athens, my account upgraded to Gold and my account activities indicate a card upgrade as of today. However, I cannot add a seat preference to my profile and when I look at my account, it no longer shows any status miles with expiration dates indicated. Maybe I really am lifetime *Gold providing that I continue to credit a flight to A3 every year or three to keep the account active.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Jan 12, 2012 at 6:27 pm