Done4 itinerary help
Mar 27, 2014 | 8:04 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,687
Right, quite a few questions, so here goes.
I have re-ordered them, so that the answers flow a bit better (in my opinion)
Edited to add: with US Airways and TAM (Brazil) coming into the alliance on 31 March, there will be a new version of the rules. Hopefully without changes other than acknowledging US And TAM's entry
I have re-ordered them, so that the answers flow a bit better (in my opinion)
Can I commence an AA challenge on the flight over to begin qualifying for platinum status?
Yes you certainly can. And provided you fly in a fare class that earns 1EQP per mile, then that one journey will complete the challenge. Points to note are:
- You cannot fly any old airline; it must be one of the airlines on AAs list of airlines eligible for the challenge (the list includes AA itself, BA and QF)
- To complete the challenge in this one journey, the fare class must earn 1 EQP per mile (or better); flying AA or BA this is quite easy, but less easy with QF where you must be in one of the higher economy fare classes to earn 1EQP per mile (see Qantas Earning Page)
- Since youre planning to fly in September, your status will last until 29 Feb 2016
- Which means all your flights on the DONE4 will earn 100% status bonus in addition to the 25% class of service bonus
- And no doubt youll want to maintain your status by earning enough EQP on your 2015 DONE4 travels (youll need 50K EQP, which means flying 33,334 miles in Business) with careful planning of your 2015 itinerary you can achieve this (and thus your status will last until 28 Feb 2017)
With this itinerary, together with the separate flight to London on either American Airlines or Oneworld Partner airline Qantas, would I have enough points to qualify for a flight back given the miles are earned in BC (F in North America). Or would it be better to just buy a return ticket and apply for an upgrade on the way home?
Yes.
AMM-SYD is Middle East to South Pacific. Miles required are 30K/45K for Economy/Business (see the Award Chart)
You will earn approx: 10K for SYD-LON + 90K for DONE4 = 100K (90K = 40K + 100% + 25%)
Note: not all flights in Nth America are in F, only those in the US on flights that have no business class. So ALL your Nth Am flights will be in business. The difference is not great a 50% bonus instead of a 25% bonus
Note: the general rule on using miles for upgrades is that you can only do it on your frequent flyer programs flights. In your case you can only use AA miles to upgrade AA flights (so you cannot upgrade yourself on a QF flight). One difference is that AA miles can be used to upgrade BA flights.
AMM-SYD is Middle East to South Pacific. Miles required are 30K/45K for Economy/Business (see the Award Chart)
You will earn approx: 10K for SYD-LON + 90K for DONE4 = 100K (90K = 40K + 100% + 25%)
Note: not all flights in Nth America are in F, only those in the US on flights that have no business class. So ALL your Nth Am flights will be in business. The difference is not great a 50% bonus instead of a 25% bonus
Note: the general rule on using miles for upgrades is that you can only do it on your frequent flyer programs flights. In your case you can only use AA miles to upgrade AA flights (so you cannot upgrade yourself on a QF flight). One difference is that AA miles can be used to upgrade BA flights.
And if I can qualify for Platinum status with American Airlines on the above flights, does that mean that for the period that I am on Platinum, if I pay for a full-fare economy ticket to JFK or LHR, the chances are good that I will be able to get an upgrade to business when requested? (Thinking of all the extra travelling required with both kids OS).
No, as previously explained you cannot use AA miles to upgrade QF flights.
Is the itinerary as previously described the best way I can rack up miles in the US sectors (tried to get all 16 sectors in there.)?
Suggestions:
- DFW-ANC-DFW. This is seasonal; this year flights commence in late May. When you come to book these flights may not be available (2015 flights not yet loaded into the system) in which case you could leave two spare segments of the 16 allowed and pay the change fee to add them when they become available. These flights will be in 1st class so will get a 50% bonus.
- LHR-CDG. Firstly you have Paris (CDG) not Rome (FCO); you said Rome in your description. LHR-CDG is a very short and therefore wasteful segment. Perhaps fly ORD-CDG and get the train to/from London?
- For mileage earning ORD-AMM-LHR is better than ORD-LHR
- The following 2015 part of your DONE4 will retain PLT status for you:
SYD-NOU-SYD-WLG-SYD-JFK-YVR-DFW-ANC-DFW-MEX-ORD-CDG-AMM
When I book the itinerary, I ring the AA desk and have the bookings done over the phone, then I have to find a travel agent in Cairo who will take payment via credit card over the phone?
If the f*$&#$g online worked properly, then you could do the booking online!
AA has a general sales agent in Cairo; search this thread to get details. Yes, phone the AA RTW desk, tell the agent youre going to pay in Egypt in Egyptian Pounds (otherwise it will be priced at the US price!)
Gardyloo gave you the details while I was typing
Happy planningAA has a general sales agent in Cairo; search this thread to get details. Yes, phone the AA RTW desk, tell the agent youre going to pay in Egypt in Egyptian Pounds (otherwise it will be priced at the US price!)
Gardyloo gave you the details while I was typing
Edited to add: with US Airways and TAM (Brazil) coming into the alliance on 31 March, there will be a new version of the rules. Hopefully without changes other than acknowledging US And TAM's entry
Last edited by pandaperth; Mar 27, 2014 at 8:25 am
Mar 28, 2014 | 5:10 am
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Programs: qantas platinum
Posts: 65
Thank you so much Gardyloo and Pandaperth - I would not be attempting this itinerary without your help!
First yes I think you are right Gardyloo - every time I start in either Cairo or Amman the planner just spits the dummy! I think I might have to get a human to do the booking. I will definitely use Emeco Travel, Cairo. Thanks for the heads-up also about ticketing the first segment via DOH or AMM.
Pandaperth - so first up - looking at the AA Other Airline Award Chart, I'm assuming we could book any Qantas flight not starting with N, G, S, O or Q to London before "commencing" our DONE4 and earn enough to qualify Platinum with AA? Looks like that might be a cheaper option than going with AA or BA or a full economy fare on a partner airline?
As far as gaining Platinum status, we would then use 45k of the miles earned on a business fare back home and possibly use up the remainder on a fare to either London or New York (45/40k on the AA Award chart?). Would there be any other benefits to being platinum?
I like your DFW-ANC-DFW suggestion - you mentioned that last year and of course, I couldn't find it on the planner (obviously because it was the wrong season). If I take your suggestion to maximise the miles and go with the itinerary: CAI-NRT-SYD-NOU-SYD-WLG-SYD-JFK-YVR-DFW-ANC-DFW-MEX-ORD-CDG-AMM, I can book the rest of the itinerary with the RTW desk and leave the DFW-ANC-DFW as 2 spare segments? Then when the flights become available after May, do I book them with the AA RTW desk or the airlines direct? And is this itinerary OK as far as no. of sectors goes? I can't run it on my Planner no matter which way I try! I can however get the itinerary minus the DFW-ANC-DFW segments to run if I start it in Tokyo but it comes to 15 segments - does that mean I can't fit the Anchorage segment? And again, for mileage earning ORD-AMM-LHR - isn't this adding yet another segment?
Again many thanks for your very generous help - it means a great deal to me.
First yes I think you are right Gardyloo - every time I start in either Cairo or Amman the planner just spits the dummy! I think I might have to get a human to do the booking. I will definitely use Emeco Travel, Cairo. Thanks for the heads-up also about ticketing the first segment via DOH or AMM.
Pandaperth - so first up - looking at the AA Other Airline Award Chart, I'm assuming we could book any Qantas flight not starting with N, G, S, O or Q to London before "commencing" our DONE4 and earn enough to qualify Platinum with AA? Looks like that might be a cheaper option than going with AA or BA or a full economy fare on a partner airline?
As far as gaining Platinum status, we would then use 45k of the miles earned on a business fare back home and possibly use up the remainder on a fare to either London or New York (45/40k on the AA Award chart?). Would there be any other benefits to being platinum?
I like your DFW-ANC-DFW suggestion - you mentioned that last year and of course, I couldn't find it on the planner (obviously because it was the wrong season). If I take your suggestion to maximise the miles and go with the itinerary: CAI-NRT-SYD-NOU-SYD-WLG-SYD-JFK-YVR-DFW-ANC-DFW-MEX-ORD-CDG-AMM, I can book the rest of the itinerary with the RTW desk and leave the DFW-ANC-DFW as 2 spare segments? Then when the flights become available after May, do I book them with the AA RTW desk or the airlines direct? And is this itinerary OK as far as no. of sectors goes? I can't run it on my Planner no matter which way I try! I can however get the itinerary minus the DFW-ANC-DFW segments to run if I start it in Tokyo but it comes to 15 segments - does that mean I can't fit the Anchorage segment? And again, for mileage earning ORD-AMM-LHR - isn't this adding yet another segment?
Again many thanks for your very generous help - it means a great deal to me.
Mar 28, 2014 | 8:29 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,687
Pandaperth - so first up - looking at the AA Other Airline Award Chart, I'm assuming we could book any Qantas flight not starting with N, G, S, O or Q to London before "commencing" our DONE4 and earn enough to qualify Platinum with AA? Looks like that might be a cheaper option than going with AA or BA or a full economy fare on a partner airline?
No.
Look again at the QF earning chart. For QF booking classes L, M and V you only earn 50% base miles and the EQP earn is a multiple of the base miles; so even though your earn 1EQP per base mile because you're only earning 50% base you would only earn around 5,000EQP on a SYD-LON flight in those booking classes.
I ran a query in itasoftware - 1-way SYD-LON in mid-September on AA, BA or QF
and then looked for the cheapest booking class for each that would give 1EQP per mile. Results are:
Look again at the QF earning chart. For QF booking classes L, M and V you only earn 50% base miles and the EQP earn is a multiple of the base miles; so even though your earn 1EQP per base mile because you're only earning 50% base you would only earn around 5,000EQP on a SYD-LON flight in those booking classes.
I ran a query in itasoftware - 1-way SYD-LON in mid-September on AA, BA or QF
and then looked for the cheapest booking class for each that would give 1EQP per mile. Results are:
BA booking class L AUD1262 (BA metal via SIN)
AA booking class M AUD1786 (via Nth America; QF metal/AA codeshare trans-pacific)
QF booking class K AUD2006 (via Dubai)
AA booking class M AUD1786 (via Nth America; QF metal/AA codeshare trans-pacific)
QF booking class K AUD2006 (via Dubai)
As far as gaining Platinum status, we would then use 45k of the miles earned on a business fare back home and possibly use up the remainder on a fare to either London or New York (45/40k on the AA Award chart?). Would there be any other benefits to being platinum?
Of course you could always start a new DONE4 and use it to come home (maybe via Africa?)
South Pacific to Europe requires 45/60/80 K miles (Economy/Business/First)
South Pacific to Nth America requires 37.5/62.5/72.5
For us the big benefit of Platinum is the 100% bonus miles, second is the lounge access and check in at the business counter when flying economy
(maybe via Africa?)South Pacific to Europe requires 45/60/80 K miles (Economy/Business/First)
South Pacific to Nth America requires 37.5/62.5/72.5
For us the big benefit of Platinum is the 100% bonus miles, second is the lounge access and check in at the business counter when flying economy
I like your DFW-ANC-DFW suggestion - you mentioned that last year and of course, I couldn't find it on the planner (obviously because it was the wrong season). If I take your suggestion to maximise the miles and go with the itinerary: CAI-NRT-SYD-NOU-SYD-WLG-SYD-JFK-YVR-DFW-ANC-DFW-MEX-ORD-CDG-AMM, I can book the rest of the itinerary with the RTW desk and leave the DFW-ANC-DFW as 2 spare segments? Then when the flights become available after May, do I book them with the AA RTW desk or the airlines direct?
This (northern) summer's DFW-ANC flights are already available for booking (they start in late May). NEXT summer's flights will not be loaded into the system until well after you want to buy your tickets
So yes - you could book a 14 segment itinerary now (which includes DFW - for example YVR-DFW-MEX) and add the flights to/from ANC later (paying the USD125 change fee)
You make the change through AA. You could phone its RTW desk, but better is to phone the Platinum desk
So yes - you could book a 14 segment itinerary now (which includes DFW - for example YVR-DFW-MEX) and add the flights to/from ANC later (paying the USD125 change fee)
You make the change through AA. You could phone its RTW desk, but better is to phone the Platinum desk
And is this itinerary OK as far as no. of sectors goes? I can't run it on my Planner no matter which way I try! I can however get the itinerary minus the DFW-ANC-DFW segments to run if I start it in Tokyo but it comes to 15 segments - does that mean I can't fit the Anchorage segment? And again, for mileage earning ORD-AMM-LHR - isn't this adding yet another segment?
You have to keep within the 16 segment maximum. So to fit in DFW-ANC-DFW you would have to drop one segment somewhere else. I suggested dropping London and instead flying ORD-CDG
You could change ORD-LHR to ORD-AMM-LHR (or even ORD-DOH-LHR) on your original itinerary because that was using only 15 segments.
You could change ORD-LHR to ORD-AMM-LHR (or even ORD-DOH-LHR) on your original itinerary because that was using only 15 segments.
Again many thanks for your very generous help - it means a great deal to me.
My pleasure
May 23, 2014 | 3:42 pm
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Programs: qantas platinum
Posts: 65
SYD-NOU-SYD impossible on a DONE4?
I have just booked my DONE4 ex CAI (thanks to all those who helped this newbie get across the line on this one!). My original itinerary (CAI-XDOH-NRT-SYD-AKL-SYD-NOU-SYD-JFK-PHX-ANC-PHX-MEX-ORD-OMAD-OLHR-DXB) was fine I left the ANC-PHX sector out as these flights are seasonal and I will add those closer to the date when they become available to book. After making the booking however, some hours later I received a call from AA to advise that the SYD-NOU-SYD sector was unavailable as Air Caledonia is not a Oneworld Partner Airline. When I searched the flights, they were accepted by both the planner and Oneworld flight search as a Qantas flight with no indication that it was a code-share operated by Qantas? Has anyone had any experience with this?
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? Im hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors..
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? Im hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors..
May 23, 2014 | 3:57 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 16,677
I have just booked my DONE4 ex CAI (thanks to all those who helped this newbie get across the line on this one!). My original itinerary (CAI-XDOH-NRT-SYD-AKL-SYD-NOU-SYD-JFK-PHX-ANC-PHX-MEX-ORD-OMAD-OLHR-DXB) was fine – I left the ANC-PHX sector out as these flights are seasonal and I will add those closer to the date when they become available to book. After making the booking however, some hours later I received a call from AA to advise that the SYD-NOU-SYD sector was unavailable as Air Caledonia is not a Oneworld Partner Airline. When I searched the flights, they were accepted by both the planner and Oneworld flight search as a Qantas flight with no indication that it was a code-share operated by Qantas? Has anyone had any experience with this?
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary – does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? I’m hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors…..
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary – does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? I’m hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors…..
(i) Travel on any AA/AB/AY/BA/CX/HG/IB/JJ/JL/KA/LA/MH/NU/QF/QR/RJ/S7/UL/US/XL/4M codeshare service operated by AA/AB/AY/BA/CX/HG/IB/JJ/JL/KA/LA/MH/NU/QF/QR/RJ/S7/UL/US/XL/4M is permitted.
Other codeshare services not permitted with the exception of QF Codeshare services operated by Jetstar (JQ).
Additionally, travel permitted on the following airlines which are affiliated with/or wetlease providers to oneworld:
...
QANTAS Alliance Airlines / QantasLink operated by Eastern Australia / Jetconnect / National Jet Systems / Sunstate Airlines
Other codeshare services not permitted with the exception of QF Codeshare services operated by Jetstar (JQ).
Additionally, travel permitted on the following airlines which are affiliated with/or wetlease providers to oneworld:
...
QANTAS Alliance Airlines / QantasLink operated by Eastern Australia / Jetconnect / National Jet Systems / Sunstate Airlines
May 23, 2014 | 5:09 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary – does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? I’m hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors…..
In Australia a flight to the west builds mileage, subject to the rules. However I am not 100% with current Aust restrictions.
QF have a summer PER-AKL-PER flight that may have escaped the OW rules
http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=S...avy&MAP-STYLE=
Have a play with MileageMonekey, but unsure if USAirways, TAM & SL are in the flight data base. Click "ignore errors"
Edit
MM change log Look like the new OW airlines are not yet included. Is a massive job to include
Last edited by Mwenenzi; May 23, 2014 at 5:22 pm
May 23, 2014 | 7:29 pm
#37
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
This leaves me with two flights to spare in my itinerary does anyone have any thoughts as to how I can best utilise those flights to boost my miles? Im hoping to complete a Platinum Challenge on my SYD-LHR flights prior to beginning the DONE4 and was hoping to maximise miles earned on my trip. And I just hate the thought of wasting sectors..
Probably, DEL requires VISA, so other three itin are better, same aircraft turnaournd can be done.
exHND flights cost extra surface segments NRT-HND, so aren't options.
May 23, 2014 | 9:10 pm
#38
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 12,521
If the ticket was bought after UL joined, then NRT-CMB is almost 1000 miles farther than SIN, and a turnaround appears possible. Not daily, and if the ticket predated UL joining, no dice.
I'd go to SIN and just eat.
I'd go to SIN and just eat.
May 24, 2014 | 12:18 am
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Programs: qantas platinum
Posts: 65
Thanks for the help!
Some great suggestions here as usual thanks all for your input! Have done some homework (which I should have done earlier) and found QF operates weekend flights to Noumea apparently the codeshare flights are weekdays. I will have to ring the AA desk and change the dates to arrive and depart on the weekend. Would love to take up suggestions re NRT round trips but as we live in OZ, we are using this RWT to give us effectively two major 8 week holidays (first part and last part of the itinerary) and 2 side trips (SYD-NOU-SYD & SYD-AKL-SYD) in the 12 month period. So that leg of the trip puts us on the homeward bound section at which time my better half just cant be away from work for too much longer.
Will just have to be content with a mileage of just under 45k miles its enough (with the Platinum challenge) to get us a free flight home at the end of the DONE4! Im happy!
Again many thanks for all your help I love this forum where beginners like me can learn so much!
^
Will just have to be content with a mileage of just under 45k miles its enough (with the Platinum challenge) to get us a free flight home at the end of the DONE4! Im happy!
Again many thanks for all your help I love this forum where beginners like me can learn so much!
^
May 24, 2014 | 12:25 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,913
Is hard to get award flights USA to Australia especially in business class. You may need a ticket out of USA for visa requirements. Awards flights are not free, but a lot less cash with AA than for QF awards
May 27, 2014 | 6:23 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Programs: qantas platinum
Posts: 65
Trouble reaching emeco cairo?
My current problem is getting through to Emeco in Cairo to issue the tickets. Have had the itinerary done by the AA RTW desk, however I have been trying for two days to get Emeco to issue them. All day yesterday they kept telling me their internet was down and could I ring back in an hour, and now the phone lines seem to be down too. Has anyone else had problems reaching them?