86BA7

Yep, an OTA - https://www.crystaltravel.co.uk/

BravoKilo

How long between flights do you recommend ? I’m new to this so any advice is most welcome.

MaxFlyer

It depends on the airport and at what stage of the journey you are at eg first port of call into the US so need longer time to clear immigration and if necessary change terminal. If on domestic connection then less time (1 hour of less) but again depends on the airport and if you want to spend time in a lounge between flights.

BravoKilo

I have about 75 minutes between flights at JFK it’s a AA to AA domestic connection both in T8

stuinn

Thanks flights booked

icebird

Hello everyone,

Never done a TP run before and am half tempted to give it a try and go with my partner. I'm thinking of HNL but I'm restricted to November which probably pushes the price up a bit. I've worked up an itinerary: BUD-HEL-LHR-JFK-LAX-HNL-LAX-BOS-LHR-HEL-BUD. It's priced at £2,352 for 1080TP. Does that seem reasonable or have I missed a trick?

Thanks for an inspiring thread
Ice

megaloman

It should be around £1500, so make sure you've got I-class on all AA segments.

wcel

These kind of TP runs intrigue me. You haven't/don't travel enough to retain status but spending £2352 to retain status for a year is worthwhile to you? Do people really get that kind of value repaid out of having status?

I travel monthly for work in economy - around 7 hours flying time, 3 flights - but couldn't imagine spending that kind of money to retain status

icebird

Thanks megaloman. This is what I've got. I guess I need to do some more advance query - or perhaps I class is sold out on these dates?

icebird

I'm not especially desperate as I've retained gold but my partner is keen... swings and roundabouts I suppose.

danmushman

I think a lot of people on the forum like flying/planes. Spending time in flat bed business class is (*usually*) not a bad way to spend time and hopefully can incorporate a few nights in Hawaii. I'm looking at a similar itinerary for Feb at circa £1500, 920 TPs and will get nearly 45 000 avios back too (so somewhere between £360-£540 value depending on how you value them).

wanderingjock

I think there is an “advance booking” rule in the BUD fare codes - possibly 6 months? - which allows the $1800/ £1500 prices.

dougzz

It’s a good question, and I often wonder about it when people are talking in terms of needing almost the full amount of points for a status level. Ultimately it’s the individuals choice. I feel someone in your situation would benefit from status, all that economy flying, getting lounge access and fast track, seat choice, it’s on economy flights that status is more rewarding. My policy has always been to TP optimise routes, start ex-EU for price, and then as many hops as I can be bothered with to keep status. Personally I wouldn’t drop £2K+ just to achieve status, especially as all those hops to Hawaii is brutal on the body, and given you ‘reasonably’ need some time at the destination it’s quite a bit more when factoring in hotel costs.

megaloman

I think current I-class fare requires 180 days advance purchase, so won't work for November dates, hence it books you into R-class instead of I-class (BA short haul usually books into J).

icebird

That's very helpful. I might go back to the drawing board