Toronto-Vancouver Via the USA - Points!!!
Apr 6, 2004 | 2:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto
Programs: ACMM, Hilton Diamond, IEEE, PTC, CPS, CSBC, USBI
Posts: 1,175
Toronto-Vancouver Via the USA - Points!!!
Sure it takes a full day to get there but in two weeks I will fly from Seattle to Buffalo for C$366 - about $200 less than the best AC deal. I will get full points (about 5,000 since I'll change metal at O'Hare) and the downside is a 2.5 hour bus trip on either end plus going through customs twice.
I thought I'd try this at least once just for the experience. Apart from the hassle-aspects of this, does anyone see any other down-side?
I thought I'd try this at least once just for the experience. Apart from the hassle-aspects of this, does anyone see any other down-side?
Apr 6, 2004 | 2:38 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, Bonvoy G; IC S; AA; DL
Posts: 14,494
This is a dilemma I just faced today but for slightly different reasons. I am flying to Hartford Connecticut at the end of April. I could do this with AC quite easily but I would get half points for most of the trip and no chance of upgrade from cheaper fares.
I chose the comfort of UA econo+, full points in Aeroplan and multiple options for earning more miles by going a bit further via DEN etc.
I chose the comfort of UA econo+, full points in Aeroplan and multiple options for earning more miles by going a bit further via DEN etc.
Apr 6, 2004 | 3:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Citizen of Canada, Member of the World!
Programs: AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG... you get the picture
Posts: 2,091
I do this frequently to get to Washington DC. Since I can't get direct flights to DC with AC other than from YYZ or YUL (and therefore need to connect anyways), I choose E+ seats, seat blocking for *G, and full status miles over AC by connecting through either SFO, LAX, DEN or (if i'm in a hurry) ORD.
Full status miles beats AC any day. Upgrades in NA aren't worth it anymore anyways.
Full status miles beats AC any day. Upgrades in NA aren't worth it anymore anyways.
Apr 6, 2004 | 4:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: 44*38.670N 63*37.548W
Programs: several
Posts: 1,870
Maybe worthwhile once in awile, but a bit of a hassle! I used to do SEA-YYZ on Thai quite often in the early 1990's, for cheap - $300CAD or so, but after about 4 or 5 times, it drove me nuts. The service was quite good though! It was on a US-based TG A310. Alaska did SEA-YYZ in 1991-92 or so too, but only briefly.
Apr 6, 2004 | 4:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,024
Considering it will take 7 hours more or so, I don't know if the $200 savings is worth it. Rarely do I think it's worth it to go from SEA rather than YVR. Last time I did this was because I wanted an open-jaw ticket and I was also traveling with my daughter, so it did save a lot of money and wasn't too much more time-intensive.
Apr 6, 2004 | 10:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Posts: 546
Then there is always folks like me that fly down to SJC from YOW via YYZ and LAX on AC metal on upgradeable fares to get the 25% COS from YOW-YYZ and YYZ-LAX...
Makes the trip worth about 3800 miles... 7600 Round trip.. I've got 5 of these scheduled (3.5 of them done) and my AP balance has been quite healthy because of it..
Then again I get away with the upgradable fares because I use the argument that I am upgrading the Red-eye portion so that I can sleep and have some time alive when at home with my family (all 22 hours every two weeks).
B
Makes the trip worth about 3800 miles... 7600 Round trip.. I've got 5 of these scheduled (3.5 of them done) and my AP balance has been quite healthy because of it..
Then again I get away with the upgradable fares because I use the argument that I am upgrading the Red-eye portion so that I can sleep and have some time alive when at home with my family (all 22 hours every two weeks).
B
Apr 6, 2004 | 11:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: AA-Gold, UA-100K/UGS, SPGPlatinum
Posts: 148
Originally Posted by WillTravel
Rarely do I think it's worth it to go from SEA rather than YVR.
For example, next week I have priced YVR-ORD-YOW-YVR. That quoted back to our company at >$2300USD. But when I priced SEA-ORD-YOW-SEA, it came back at $1300USD. It is cheaper for me to rent a car, drive to SEA, leave the car in the parking lot, pay the parking, drive home and pay gas, than to fly out of YVR! AND, as a bonus, I can maintain my policy of avoiding AC skin at almost all costs!
Apr 7, 2004 | 8:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,617
Get Around Cabotage, Skip the Bus, Fly YYZ- YVR
Originally Posted by Cam
Sure it takes a full day to get there but in two weeks I will fly from Seattle to Buffalo for C$366 - about $200 less than the best AC deal. I will get full points (about 5,000 since I'll change metal at O'Hare) and the downside is a 2.5 hour bus trip on either end plus going through customs twice.
I thought I'd try this at least once just for the experience. Apart from the hassle-aspects of this, does anyone see any other down-side?
I thought I'd try this at least once just for the experience. Apart from the hassle-aspects of this, does anyone see any other down-side?
The Canada Customs people in YVR kind of wonder what you were up to (how long were you out of the country? 5 hours) but hey, you like one airline use it.
Apr 7, 2004 | 8:46 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
Go for it! I do the double clearance all the time to Asia, no way AC is getting my money for 1/2 points to YVR.
Also US clearance is no hassle when your passport is full of stamps
Also US clearance is no hassle when your passport is full of stamps
Apr 7, 2004 | 10:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Originally Posted by ricktoronto
I flew YYZ - DFW, DFW - YVR same day by buying two AA R/T fares (one on day one, one on day 2) . They won't sell it to you on one call but you can do two on your own. You go through US INS and Canada Customs one each but under your drive and fly plan you do too. This skips the driving part.
Apr 7, 2004 | 11:13 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Posts: 546
I've booked a ticket going from SFO to YYZ to EWR and return through AC once... I wanted to upgrade a redeye flight so I could be somewhat aware of my surroundings when I got there.. friends birthday party and all..
I can't remember if the TA did it on one ticket but I got both BP's in SFO when I checked in.
B
I can't remember if the TA did it on one ticket but I got both BP's in SFO when I checked in.
B
Apr 8, 2004 | 12:23 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,024
The problem I have with leaving ex-SEA instead of ex-YVR is that it basically eats up either a work day or a vacation day. I can get a 7 PM or later YVR flight with no difficulty after working all day. I can't do that with SEA. So not only do I have to think of the savings ex-SEA, but of the value of the lost time.
The calculations will be different for people with a different schedule, obviously.
The calculations will be different for people with a different schedule, obviously.
Apr 8, 2004 | 2:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,617
I Never Check Bags
Originally Posted by Braindrain
I'm considering this myself. (Probably use ORD/DEN as the hub.) However, I'm assuming you don't check in bags? Or, if you check in, pick them up and go through the check-in process a second time?
They won't check them trhough at all of course the two tickets are not on the same PNR anyway and they'd see the obvious anti-cabotage (cabotage sabotage?) attempt right quick and maybe do something rash.
Apr 8, 2004 | 2:54 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
Remember for most of us when you fly UA, you will be in a seat E+ with 36" seat pitch. That is so much better than AC with 31" in the front seats! [the ones they reserve for the BEST customers with less leg room.
here is the info from seat Guru on UA seats.
They typically fly midrange and transcontinental flights, but also fly to and from Hawaii. First Class has 38" pitch and 20.5" width. Economy has a 36" pitch for Economy Plus and 31" pitch for Economy, both with 17" width.
Upgrades with UA are much easier. Have a great flight!
here is the info from seat Guru on UA seats.
They typically fly midrange and transcontinental flights, but also fly to and from Hawaii. First Class has 38" pitch and 20.5" width. Economy has a 36" pitch for Economy Plus and 31" pitch for Economy, both with 17" width.
Upgrades with UA are much easier. Have a great flight!