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SFO -> MIA on 3/17/16-3/21/16 (need help planning)

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Old May 7, 2015, 2:36 pm
  #1  
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SFO -> MIA on 3/17/16-3/21/16 (need help planning)

Hi guys,

I have:

160k UR
77k MR
190k AA

What's the best way to get from SFO -> MIA on 3/17/16 and fly back on 3/21/16?

I'm open to anything from economy to first depending on what the best use of my miles/points is. I'm even not opposed to using cash.

This is for UMF 2016 btw.

Thanks in advance
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Old May 7, 2015, 3:07 pm
  #2  
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What availability for your desired dates did you find at aa.com, delta.com, and united.com? Remember that all three programs now offer one-way awards.
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Old May 7, 2015, 4:50 pm
  #3  
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United (think this is a nogo as it's going to cost me 100k rt in first):
http://puu.sh/hFfYC/f990009a97.png

AA:
economy: 60k rt http://puu.sh/hFg1O/873f26af7c.png
business/first (milesaver): 50k rt http://puu.sh/hFg2W/0751c70a1e.png

Delta: 65k rt http://puu.sh/hFgp3/c11f172fa2.png

Can someone explain to me why economy costs 30k one way and business/first costs 25k? Granted this is on "US Airways", I know they merged.

Also, is United or AA better for domestic economy? I noticed that AA rt flights are ~$550 while United is ~$700

Lastly, whose domestic first class is the best between United, AA, and Delta?

I also have the premier rewards gold and plat. This means I have $300 of gcs I can buy and use towards the cost of the flight.
Not sure if I should do this instead.
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Old May 7, 2015, 4:53 pm
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Grab that business RT at 50k. You'll never do much better than that.
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Old May 7, 2015, 4:56 pm
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"Can someone explain to me why economy costs 30k one way and business/first costs 25k?"

Because "SAAver" seats happen to be available in F on those flights, while only "AAnytime" awards are available in Coach.
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Old May 7, 2015, 5:09 pm
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Doc Savage
Grab that business RT at 50k. You'll never do much better than that.
I noticed that when selecting the Business/first milesaver for 25k each way, I only have "US Airways" flights to choose from.
ex:http://puu.sh/hFi2a/1005196298.png

If i switch to First milesaver (32.5k each way) the list of choices is compeltely different, mostly AA metal.
ex: http://puu.sh/hFi0f/5f8869187a.png

Can someone explain the difference? is US Airways not as good as AA first class? I thought there are only two classes for both AA and US Airways domestic flights?

Thanks for all your help, believe it or not this is the first time I'm trying to use an award.

Last edited by pushthelimit; May 7, 2015 at 5:15 pm
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Old May 7, 2015, 5:34 pm
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Originally Posted by pushthelimit
Originally Posted by Doc Savage
Grab that business RT at 50k. You'll never do much better than that.
I noticed that when selecting the Business/first milesaver for 25k each way, I only have "US Airways" flights to choose from.
ex:http://puu.sh/hFi2a/1005196298.png

If i switch to First milesaver (32.5k each way) the list of choices is compeltely different, mostly AA metal.
ex: http://puu.sh/hFi0f/5f8869187a.png

Can someone explain the difference? is US Airways not as good as AA first class? I thought there are only two classes for both AA and US Airways domestic flights?

Thanks for all your help, believe it or not this is the first time I'm trying to use an award.
Certain AA trans-continental flights utilize three-class aircraft. F on those planes (and even J on those planes) will be substantially better than F on an AA or US two-class aircraft.
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Old May 7, 2015, 5:46 pm
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Originally Posted by guv1976
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Certain AA trans-continental flights utilize three-class aircraft. F on those planes (and even J on those planes) will be substantially better than F on an AA or US two-class aircraft.
Does this mean that all the flights under "first milesaaver" are three class aircraft? It just says "757" and "32B". I just wanted to make sure.
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Old May 7, 2015, 6:11 pm
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Really, it's a 5 hour flight. Is there a significant benefit to you of first vs. business? You still get a big seat, and you're probably not gonna try to sleep.

If you know your dates for sure, I'd just grab the business/first while you can. Florida flights at Spring break time can go fast.
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Old May 7, 2015, 6:28 pm
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Originally Posted by Doc Savage
Really, it's a 5 hour flight. Is there a significant benefit to you of first vs. business? You still get a big seat, and you're probably not gonna try to sleep.

If you know your dates for sure, I'd just grab the business/first while you can. Florida flights at Spring break time can go fast.
I understand where you're coming from, but the only business/first milesaavers left are 8.5 hours total travel time, with a stop. It isn't worth an extra 30k miles (for aanytime) to me to get a nonstop, 6 hour flight.

If I'm willing to increase the total travel time to 11 hours, I can fly real first class the whole way for 7.5k more miles. I think this is worth it.

I would definitely try to sleep either way.
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Old May 7, 2015, 6:44 pm
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Originally Posted by pushthelimit
If I'm willing to increase the total travel time to 11 hours, I can fly real first class the whole way for 7.5k more miles. I think this is worth it.
There is your answer. Enjoy the flight
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Old May 7, 2015, 7:10 pm
  #12  
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Originally Posted by pushthelimit
Does this mean that all the flights under "first milesaaver" are three class aircraft? It just says "757" and "32B". I just wanted to make sure.
For the applicable flights, just click on the view available seats link. It will show you the seat map of all of the available cabins.
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Old May 7, 2015, 7:52 pm
  #13  
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Originally Posted by pushthelimit
Originally Posted by guv1976
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Certain AA trans-continental flights utilize three-class aircraft. F on those planes (and even J on those planes) will be substantially better than F on an AA or US two-class aircraft.
Does this mean that all the flights under "first milesaaver" are three class aircraft? It just says "757" and "32B". I just wanted to make sure.
No; it means that at least one of those flights is on a three-class aircraft. None of AA's 757s is three-class: the ones with 16 seats in F are internationally configured with angled, lie-flat seats; the ones with more seats in F (22 or 24, I forget which) are conventional domestic F seats. Is the 32.5K SAAver routing LAX-JFK-MIA?
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Old May 7, 2015, 8:44 pm
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Originally Posted by guv1976
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No; it means that at least one of those flights is on a three-class aircraft. None of AA's 757s is three-class: the ones with 16 seats in F are internationally configured with angled, lie-flat seats; the ones with more seats in F (22 or 24, I forget which) are conventional domestic F seats. Is the 32.5K SAAver routing LAX-JFK-MIA?

You're correct on both counts, it's MIA-JFK-SFO.
And the 757 is the 16 seat configuration..

Hmm is it worth it..

Last edited by pushthelimit; May 7, 2015 at 9:04 pm
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Old May 7, 2015, 11:21 pm
  #15  
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Look at the schedules as well as aircraft details. What times are convenient for you?
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