Hi folks - I fly to EDI a couple of times a year from SNA, typically SNA-ATL or JFK-LGW-EDI and back the same way on Delta. I'm switching to AA and got to thinking why not go from LAX and come back the other way? i.e. make it a RTW or OWE ticket via Asia or Australia so I can max the qualifying miles. My questions;

1) Is this feasable using AA ( I understand BA flights don't count toward miles)

2) What would be the best routing to come back the "quickest" way whilst maxing miles(as I wouldn't have a lot of time to stop off and explore as much as I would love to do so) Would it be something like LAX-LHR-EDI-SIN-LAX? Although EDI-SIN-LAX looks like an awfully long haul without a break

3) As I have no status on AA (asked for a comp from DL PM but haven't heard yet) I would probably buy a business ticket, does anyone have experience of AA's versus DL's business cabin, if AA's is inferior - is there a significant difference in price to buy a first class ticket (I also understand you can't get/buy upgrades on international flights)

4) What would the aprox qualifying mileage be on AA for such a trip?

5) I've read a lot of the old threads re maxing miles and it seems the three continent OWE ticket may be my best bet - yes, no?

Thanks for your help

1) Yes. You can fly AA LAX-LHR and BA LHR-EDI. The only BA miles that are not counted in the AA program are across the Atlantic so the rest of the BA flights you take will count.

2) Best route is probably LAX-LHR-EDI-LHR-HKG-LAX or LAX-LHR-EDI-LHR-NRT-LAX with the latter being a bit shorter but the former will let you fly CX which, in the opinion of many here, is equal or better than BA and is definitely better than AA. You could go via SIN but there are no direct SIN-LAX OW flights so you would end up going to HKG or NRT from SIN to get back to LAX.

3) If you don't get comp'd to AA Platinum you can take something known as the Platinum Challenge. Your proposed RTW will qualify you for Platinum when you hit HKG or NRT. As I haven't flown AA business across the pond, I'll leave the comparison to DL BusinessElite to others.

4) The mileage via NRT is about 17,500 and via HKG is about 19,300. If you fly business you get a 25% bonus (50% for first). Plus, once Platinum, you get a 100% bonus. Thus, if you go via HKG you will end up with about 31,000 miles.

5) A three continent RTW (NA-Europe-Asia-NA) will work fine. In business from the U.S., it will cost $6,200 plus tax and airport fees. However, if you originate in YVR you can save about $1,300. You can still terminate in LAX, you don't have to return to YVR. One possible problem is that you cannot commence your return from Asia earlier than 10 days after your departure to Europe.


[This message has been edited by ExMo (edited 12-27-2002).]

> However, if you originate in YVR you can save about $1,300. You can still terminate in LAX, you don't have to return to YVR

Thank you so much for the information, if I'm reading the above correctly, you are saying that the "ideal" route would be YVR-LAX-LHR-EDI-LHR-HKG-LAX and I simply buy a one way ticket LAX-YVR - correct?

BTW, another poster suggested going via Dublin as it was less of a hassle connecting to EDI rather than through LHR, any thoughts on that? thanks, once again, for your help


[This message has been edited by Vaze (edited 12-30-2002).]

There are several choices from YVR.

You could go back to LAX and then connect through LHR or DUB. The DUB connection means you will take EI across the pond. Having never flown EI, I am reluctant to recommend it. Also, I do not think there is a OW carrier flying the YVR-LAX route. Thus, you really can't do this with a OWE ticket.

A better option is to go YVR(AA)-DFW(AA)-LGW(BA)-EDI. You'll need to clear customs and go between the South and North terminals at LGW but it is much less of a hassle than going from T4 to T1 at LHR.

If you really want to go via DUB you can connect to EI at JFK but the flight times look like you will have to overnight at JFK.

Excellent - and on the return go EDI-LHR-HKG on BA switching to CX for HKG-LAX buying a one way Ticket from LAX-YVR. Sounds like a plan, thank you for your help

the best vale for $ is to buy 2 tickets:

1. a 1-way LAX-YVR (or RT, sometime RT is cheaper if you fly on disc coach. you can throw away the returtn portion anyway)

2. YVR-LAX(stop, back home)-LHR-EDI-LHR-HKG-LAX-(stop, home)-YVR

you can throw the lax-yvr flight coupon away, 'cause the price is the same.

OR you can go to YVR later in the year if you bought a RT ticket LAX-YVR (since you still have the return portion unused)

-----
now comes the fun part.
it you do't need to stay over LAX for more than 24 hours (23.5 hr is fine), the first LAX is not counted as a stopover (just a 'transit'). OWE allows you to have a total of 2 stopover (YVR not counted) in north america, you can use these flights later in the year as an excursion from LAX.
i.e.
tkt 2 will become
YVR-LAX(<23hr)-LHR-EDI-LHR-HKG-LAX(o)- anywhere in north america (say, alaska? SJU? NYC?)-lax

you effectively get an extra free roundtrip ticket (at the same class as your OWE, F for 2 class flight for a D-class tkt) ex-LAX, to be used later in the year!


[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 01-02-2003).]

Hello again vase
As regarding the DUB route you will not require a stop over as all the DUB bound flights from any US airport (LAX, ORD, BOS, JFK) leave in the evening and therefore arrive in the morning and you can easily make a connection in DUB to EDI

As regards the EI J service it is great I did it a while ago and there is full reports of it by other FT'ERS on FT trip reports and in the European FFP forum

Then for the OWE business class ticket there are selling here in Dublin for about $4500 so it is my understanding that it is possible to book it here with AA and pick your ticket up in the US. But I have not heard anyone doing this but the AA agent I spoke to told me that I could do this when I enquired about the �I� sale on AA that was recently posted here

There is also an other option available you could just start your OWE in YVR and fly to LHR on BA would I be correct in this assumption and just buy a return ticket to YVR from SNA so your could do YVR-LHR-EDI-LHR-HKG-YVR or something like that the later being on BA or CX, or you could create a long route using all the flights coupons available on a OWE to earn miles and status on your way home. As for the not earning AA miles on BA as you said earlier you have no status on any OW airline so you could join BAEC or MPC but as far as time goes to get to EDI the DUB route is quickest and less stressful

Regards

IFB

As always you guys are providing great information I'm going to have take a minute to wrap my mind around what you are saying as it all starts getting confusing when you are not a travel agent, thanks once again for all your help