Really Traveling for Work--Need Advice
Jan 11, 2019, 10:35 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Jan 11, 2019, 11:42 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Actually, being a DCA flyer, I think BWI would be a great airport to fly AA out of on the regular -- much much higher likelihood of making upgrades as a Plat on segments to DFW, PHX, etc. On short notice I've flown out of BWI instead of DCA for precisely that reason (esp. when I have the 30 min to spare and the DCA-DFW flight I want is already sold out in F, as they often are even >100 hours out).
Jan 11, 2019, 2:52 pm
#18
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hilton, IHG
Posts: 35
Until you get up to at least Platinum Pro status, I would make use of miles & copay upgrades for the longer or overnight itineraries. Miles & copay upgrades clear before any elite status comp (or 500-mile) upgrades, so you are really jumping the line. Some may be confirmable well in advance of the flight. If you attempt to wait for your Platinum 500-mile upgrades to clear, you will get upgraded 10-20% of the time.
Be sure you or your company are earning points on Business Extra. The one segment upgrades are ideal for the Hawaii sectors.
Be sure you or your company are earning points on Business Extra. The one segment upgrades are ideal for the Hawaii sectors.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:13 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Until you get up to at least Platinum Pro status, I would make use of miles & copay upgrades for the longer or overnight itineraries. Miles & copay upgrades clear before any elite status comp (or 500-mile) upgrades, so you are really jumping the line. Some may be confirmable well in advance of the flight. If you attempt to wait for your Platinum 500-mile upgrades to clear, you will get upgraded 10-20% of the time.
Be sure you or your company are earning points on Business Extra. The one segment upgrades are ideal for the Hawaii sectors.
Be sure you or your company are earning points on Business Extra. The one segment upgrades are ideal for the Hawaii sectors.
One thing OP might look into is paying to up-fare just the return HNL-DFW segments to ensure a flat bed on those overnights. (After all, the stickers would cost $320 anyhow, and it may only be $300-600 to pay to upgrade that segment outright.)
At least this is what I would do in OP's situation if I had to do a bunch of BWI-HNL trips: roll the dice on a likely "sticker" upgrade for BWI-DFW-BWI, grab a Premium Economy seat at a modest upcharge (tbh a reasonable employer should pay for this!) on DFW-HNL, and pay cash to upgrade to F on HNL-DFW.
Jan 11, 2019, 3:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA ExPlat, Delta GM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 140
IMO the OP should arrange to have lounge access. IIRC BWI currently has some all airlines lounge, but I'm not sure whether it's PP or just for AmEx Plat/Centurion card. I'm not sure it's worth pursuing BA status just for lounge access versus buying an AA lounge membership and using AA status for partner lounges on international trips. If OP will mostly be flying AA, IMO EXP status should be the goal if AA has been chosen as the airline, although obviously the sub goal is Plat Pro as soon as possible.
Jan 13, 2019, 6:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
People who think traveling for work is glamorous don't travel for work
Jan 13, 2019, 6:26 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
Jan 13, 2019, 7:08 pm
#23
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,110
Well, my job at work changed and now I have two national accounts-that include a location in HNL. I get to pick my own airlines-within the provisions in Concur-has to be economy though. I just booked my first trip. About 6K miles in 5 days. Prior to this, all of my clients were in the mid Atlantic and WN suited me well. AA has always been the airline we used for personal travel intercontinental, so I thought I would utilize AA as much as possible to build miles and status.
Right now, I am signing up for Plat challenge. My wife was just comped Plat Pro for four months! Wow I wish that was me.
I have never used 500 milers nor do I understand them-I have 12.
Any tips etc that I should know about? I have the Citi Elite and Amex Plat so pretty good lounge access as well. Thanks.
Right now, I am signing up for Plat challenge. My wife was just comped Plat Pro for four months! Wow I wish that was me.
I have never used 500 milers nor do I understand them-I have 12.
Any tips etc that I should know about? I have the Citi Elite and Amex Plat so pretty good lounge access as well. Thanks.
Posted upthread was a really good suggestion - depending on OP's budget, buying Y-UP out-of-pocket has the nice effect of doubling EQM. If I was in OP's position, I'd do everything I could to get to PPro and free sticker upgrades. Anytime I could cost effectively do pay the difference, I would buy the Y-UP rather than a) take the risk of an upgrade b) use stickers and c) certainly not buy stickers. @ $40 per sticker, you'd be much better off putting those $'s to work doubling EQM.
ADDED: BWI-DFW-HNL is 10000 miles RT x 2 = 20000 EQM. Home many times/year do you have to go? If it's once a quarter, 4 trips get you PPro (and probably EXP if you add in your other flights = 4 SWUs) in a year.
Jan 13, 2019, 7:20 pm
#24
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
One of my brothers travels for work, every year there's a big conference that his company sends him to. A few years ago it was in Sydney, Australia. His wife and daughter went with him. He extended his stay (took vacation), so they could all spend a few days there to explore and enjoy.
I had just assumed that most companies allowed employees to use vacation days to extend work trips. Evidently I'm wrong.
Jan 13, 2019, 9:00 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
My tickets are company paid-booked through Concur. I will have to see if there is a way for me to pay (myself) to upgrade after the fact. Not sure there is.
Jan 13, 2019, 9:21 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
You just call AA and tell them you want to upfare. Depending on who your travel agency is (Concur is just a booking tool, you still use an agency of some kind), you may have to pay a $50 booking takeover fee.
Jan 13, 2019, 9:24 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Jan 13, 2019, 9:34 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Note my advice upthread to up-fare only the segments you really need to be in first class for (where you don't want to "risk" the sticker upgrades) -- odds are your ticket will be $700-1000 in coach but $2000ish in F for the complete roundtrip... but you may be able to upgrade just the HNL portions for a reasonable portion of the difference.
Jan 13, 2019, 11:01 pm
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226