US with 100% EB points or AC with 25%?
May 12, 2008, 8:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ARN
Posts: 355
US with 100% EB points or AC with 25%?
I need some advice. I'm flying ARN-Montreal and the best prices for the dates I'm going (23rd July - 31st July) are with AC via FRA (LH ARN-FRA) or with US via PHL. The difference in price is maybe 700 SEK altogehter for me and my family, who are travelling with me.
AC is operating the transantlantic flight with a 777 and US with a 767. Flying times are about the same.
The ticket with AC is booked in "L" meaning 25% EB points, while the ticket with US is booked in "Q" meaning 100% EB points. I've been reading here that US flights ARN-PHL really is crap, but would it still be worth it considering we'll get a lot more points if we travel with US rather than AC?
AC is operating the transantlantic flight with a 777 and US with a 767. Flying times are about the same.
The ticket with AC is booked in "L" meaning 25% EB points, while the ticket with US is booked in "Q" meaning 100% EB points. I've been reading here that US flights ARN-PHL really is crap, but would it still be worth it considering we'll get a lot more points if we travel with US rather than AC?
May 12, 2008, 8:58 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: ARN / BRU
Programs: EBG (*G), QR Gold
Posts: 653
Thats a hard call. US in Y was pretty terrible the one time I did ARN-PHL, I have not done AC in Y, but I imagine its not too bad on the 777.
If I needed the points to qualify I guess I would suck it up and take US, if I was over my threshold I would take AC.
There is also the benefit with AC that you don't need to transit in the US and deal with the TSA. That is possibly worth allot more then a few points.
If I needed the points to qualify I guess I would suck it up and take US, if I was over my threshold I would take AC.
There is also the benefit with AC that you don't need to transit in the US and deal with the TSA. That is possibly worth allot more then a few points.
May 12, 2008, 11:20 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ARN
Posts: 2,321
Published AC fares ARN-YUL r/t (excl. taxes):
-L0MSHL AC L Round-Trip 664.00 (EUR)
-Q0MSHL AC Q Round-Trip 803.00 (EUR)
-V0MSHL AC V Round-Trip 943.00 (EUR)
And the routing rules allows all european gateways, via LHR, FRA, MUC, CDG, ZRH, AMS.
POS: Sweden
-L0MSHL AC L Round-Trip 664.00 (EUR)
-Q0MSHL AC Q Round-Trip 803.00 (EUR)
-V0MSHL AC V Round-Trip 943.00 (EUR)
And the routing rules allows all european gateways, via LHR, FRA, MUC, CDG, ZRH, AMS.
POS: Sweden
May 12, 2008, 3:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), SAS EBG
Posts: 1,196
I definitely agree on this one. The fact that you need to clear immigration in US may be reason enough to avoid US. Especially on the outbound trip. On the eastbound you will clear US immigration in Canada prior to flying to the US and that works out well I think.
May 13, 2008, 1:12 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ARN
Posts: 355
Thank's everyone for the replies, and especially SK_RSJ for finding a fare with AC which gives 100% EB points. I've checked on seatcounter and there is plenty of seats in booking class Q. I didn't really think of the part with clearing U.S. immigration either.
May 13, 2008, 5:21 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Sweden
Posts: 2,044
Little off topic
This trick doesn't work when you fly into YUL, but...
AC ticket which origin/destination is Mexico, fuel surcharges will be waived.
(at least it's not caluculated in the tax part)
FRA-YYZ r/t: 224 EUR vs FRA-YYZ-MEX: r/t 89 EUR.
So sometimes it can be cheaper to fly to MEX and stop at YYZ, instead of flying XXX-YYZ r/t.@:-)
(and it works well for award travel too.)
AC ticket which origin/destination is Mexico, fuel surcharges will be waived.
(at least it's not caluculated in the tax part)
FRA-YYZ r/t: 224 EUR vs FRA-YYZ-MEX: r/t 89 EUR.
So sometimes it can be cheaper to fly to MEX and stop at YYZ, instead of flying XXX-YYZ r/t.@:-)
(and it works well for award travel too.)