Help to Reach Elite (not the same ol' same ol')
 

I have read these "Need Help to Reach Elite" posts for years...with the tacit understanding that one day it would indeed be my turn. I had promised that when it was my turn, it would not be the "same old, same old", but unfortunately it turns out like it is.

Here is the low down.

Assume you were at 18,000 Q miles on November 24, and you had solid business reasons (I mean really solid business reasons) to reach AC Elite before year end. You don't care where you went, or when, but your overall budget was CAD$2000 which could be stretched if necessary.

You have no status - and don't really care about flying Economy on any leg if required (I can "take one for the team").

You live in Ottawa - but can travel using points to get to any starting location such as ORD, JFK, EWR, etc. to keep costs low (remember: the goal is to make Elite, I don't care what I spend in points to get there).

Suggestions from my Air Canada friends?

Many many thanks.

[This message has been edited by Salisbury5 (edited Nov 24, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Salisbury5 (edited Nov 24, 2003).]

Maybe a long weekend in SIN would be the easiest thing for you?

The best prices would probably be ex-USA. I just priced a flight BUF-SIN 03-08 December for ~760USD via ORD and NRT. You will get 20196 miles for this routing.

If you would plan on using a short-haul award to get to the States, you would be wise to fly from a secondary airport like BUF, MKE, ROC, CLE or somthing like that to pick up the 500 segment minimums into and out of ORD. The ORD-NRT-SIN return will only get you 19196 miles, and it would suck to be caught short.

There might be some 15% of USA tennis certs floating around that can be used for international itineraries... that would make the cost even more reasonable.

There seem to be some awfully decent hotel deals in SIN these days, but I haven't been. Maybe some others who have could help out with that... best of luck!

If hotel points don't matter and you decide to priceline a hotel, there might be some bonus money opporunities (like 500HKD off for a three night+ stay) available at priceline.com.hk. Check out the Coupon Connection for more details. They will only let you scratch for one discount per e-mail address, but we all seem to have a few hotmail accounts or something http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

It looks like I'll be doing a run JFK-SIN Dec.6 rtn Dec.8. Just over $1000CDN Expedia.ca or UAL.com 20,000 miles total.

So you really only need 17K right? That's easy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Don't forget the 8K for 13 segment bonus. Do you have any segments counting towards that promo? If you can qualify for those miles you'll only need 9K or so of real flying as long as you get it done before Dec 12th.

SIN is fun, and definitely a sort of rite-of-passage thing. There were also those LAX-LHR fares for $540. I don't know if they're still around (I had a quick look and couldn't find one.) Combine a convoluted cross-Canada to Vancouver to get the segment bonus, a YVR-LAX, and the LAX-YVR-LHR and you're all set!

Those LHR fares that TaxDude would be good. You could get at least 6 segments on each trip. 2 of them will get you 15K in Q miles and at least 12 segments towards the promo. (Pay slightly more and make one of the trips 7 segments and you'll have your 13 segments & get 8K bonus Q miles)

Beats going to SIN because you don't have to burn points and the 6 hours flight to/from LHR is a lot more bearable.

EMPRESS, I think you are confusing the NYC-YYZ/YUL-LHR fare with the LAX-YVR-LHR fare TAX DUDE was talking about. The former would require two runs to earn about 8K each, or 16K total. With four segments each this gives you 8 credits towards the 13 needed for 8K status miles. But at this late date, it would be tight to do and require two weekends, plus expensive London hotels and at least one NYC hotel each trip since the returns to Canada might be too tight to catch the same evening you arrive back at your NYC airport [LGA or EWR].

The NYC fare is about $450 now, and also requires getting to and from your NYC airport.

The LAX fare doesn't seem to be widely available any more, but it would be better, offering about 12K. Again, it would also depend upon how many segments one has towards the 13 required for the 8K bonus.

The most practical from a time standpoint as well as investment of $s is a SIN Run on UA ex-JFK or BOS via ORD/NRT. [There are no flights between BUF and Canada, so getting into BUF is a problem unless you live nearby.] And as it gets colder in this part of the world, a few days in sweltering Singapore isn't all that much of an endurance test. Eh, Airbus320?

Sorry about the confusion. I meant to say the cheap Ontario-LHR fare that AC has right now. However, you made a good point, with only 2 weekends to go before the promo ends (30NOV/01DEC & 06DEC/07DEC), and this upcoming weekend is already out beause of the advance purchase requirement, it's not possible to get 2 LHR trips in and count them all towards the promo.

So you're right, Asia on UA would be the best choice.

www.jetsettravel.ca has a YYZ-IAD-NRT-HKG on AC/NH Dec 3-8 for 1280CDN netting just under 16K status miles. While a little pricier, it allows for a YYZ departure. They've also got similar prices on NH to SIN if you need those few extra miles.

(I'm assuming NH G fares are valid for mileage accumulation, the AC legs are L )

NV