LHR-SAN EVIP availability
Oct 26, 2009, 7:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ireland
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LHR-SAN EVIP availability
I am planning on taking the family from LHR-SAN next week (11/06/09) and would like to use EVIPs for all four of us. I have spent this morning searching for routes with EVIP availability but cannot find any.
Any experience on which route is most likely to have 4 cleared would be greatly appreciated. DFW, ORD, JFK etc.
Thanks
Mark.
Any experience on which route is most likely to have 4 cleared would be greatly appreciated. DFW, ORD, JFK etc.
Thanks
Mark.
Oct 26, 2009, 7:50 am
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
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Posts: 17,273
Did your research involve calling AA?
In general, LHR-JFK is usually the best option due to the number (5x) of flights. But scoring four upgrades can be a challenge; you may be better off traveling in pairs.
In general, LHR-JFK is usually the best option due to the number (5x) of flights. But scoring four upgrades can be a challenge; you may be better off traveling in pairs.
Oct 26, 2009, 7:58 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
If you have not called the EXP desk then do so as they can sometimes get C inventory that you will not see by other means, but frankly looking for 4 on the same flight one week out is not ideal 
Strategy wise I'd go for 777 flights not 767 and you would help matters if you could avoid flying on the Friday as well, 3 days earlier for example you can see LHR-ORD with C6 right now.
I would suspect from personal experience that scoring 4 upgrades on a LHR-DFW route is going to be challenging, JFK or ORD may be a little easier.
Strategy wise I'd go for 777 flights not 767 and you would help matters if you could avoid flying on the Friday as well, 3 days earlier for example you can see LHR-ORD with C6 right now.
I would suspect from personal experience that scoring 4 upgrades on a LHR-DFW route is going to be challenging, JFK or ORD may be a little easier.
Oct 26, 2009, 7:59 am
#4
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Ok, it took me less than five minutes to find your answer. (I will PM you an invoice for my time.)
AA113 LHR-MIA 1125a-420p is showing C7. Grab those seats now.
From MIA, you have a couple of options. First, you can connect via DFW to SAN, with upgrades available the entire way:
AA2493 MIA-DFW 655p-900p
AA533 DFW-SAN 950p-1045p
Or you can fly through LAX (or to LAX and drive to SAN from there):
AA231 MIA-LAX 620p-845p (upgrades currently not available)
AA397 MIA-LAX 815p-1055p (3 upgrade seats currently available)
AA113 LHR-MIA 1125a-420p is showing C7. Grab those seats now.
From MIA, you have a couple of options. First, you can connect via DFW to SAN, with upgrades available the entire way:
AA2493 MIA-DFW 655p-900p
AA533 DFW-SAN 950p-1045p
Or you can fly through LAX (or to LAX and drive to SAN from there):
AA231 MIA-LAX 620p-845p (upgrades currently not available)
AA397 MIA-LAX 815p-1055p (3 upgrade seats currently available)
Oct 26, 2009, 11:37 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: LAS
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Don't forget that on your return Trip, you'll have to pay the evil LHR luxury tax when you upgrade to J. I can't recall exactly what it is, but I think it's 80 (131 USD) per upgrade.
-SF
-SF
Oct 26, 2009, 12:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
It'll be on the outbound leg as he is starting at LHR, no luxury tax to pay on the return leg.
Oct 26, 2009, 12:46 pm
#7
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Oct 26, 2009, 12:52 pm
#8
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Oct 26, 2009, 1:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/LHR
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
Is it really that much now? Back in June I remember paying something like 65 dollars, so 40 pounds or so?
Oct 26, 2009, 2:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: san diego, ca
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Posts: 913
IIRC, it's 40 GBP in coach; J and F pay 80 GBP - the front cabins increased from 40 to 80 a couple of years ago, I believe, and it's set for further increases in the future.
Oct 26, 2009, 2:03 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
It is currently 80, but as you already pay 40 in Y it is only the additional 40 to pay for J.
These go up after the end of this month though to 45 and 90
Oct 26, 2009, 3:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2004
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When you call the UK number on the back of your EXP card during the day, your call goes to one of the really helpful agents in AA's Dublin res. office. They'll be very patient with you in going thru routings looking for that kind of availability, starting with what's already been suggested above. I've never had a bad experience with any of them. BUT, If you were to call right now (it's 9:30pm GMT) your call would get forwarded to the U.S.