Okay, I have been summoned to appear before my best friend in early August in Northern British Columbia (YXS-Prince George). I know I'll have to fly AC Jazz on the YVR-YXS segments.

However, AC does not fly out of my home GSP in either body or spirit(aka codeshares). So that means I'm going to need to take one of the big six out to YVR.....in coach. US Airways is out because they don't serve YVR at all. Delta is out because: 1) I have no desire to sit on a 757 all the way from ATL and 2) Neither do I have any desire to sit in a CRJ for two and a half hours on the SLC-YVR segment. Continental is out simply because I hate IAH with a passion and the 50% EQMs. This leaves Northwest, American, and United in the running. Each has plusses and minuses:

NW: No IFE on the DTW/MSP-YVR-MSP/DTW segments. But I can get some Famous Dave's.

AA: There's only one non-LRTC 757 aircraft on the route, and the alternative is a non IFE equipped MD-80 DFW-YVR. The fare rules don't allow me to grab one of the AS codeshares nor do they allow me to catch the CX codeshare from JFK. But, OTOH this trip would leave me only about ~5,000 miles away from a free ticket.

UA: Normally, I wouldn't even consider United. I have no miles and no status. But their schedule seems to work the best, and the Star Alliance connections could prove dandy in-case there's a screwup when I'm interlining between UA an AC. And there's IFE! Unfortunately, the fare rules don't allow me to take the routing I really want(GSP-IAD-DEN/SFO-YVR) but there are two other...okay options (GSP-IAD-YVR and GSP-IAD/CLT-ORD-YVR). I lean towards the double connection via IAD because if it gets screwed up enough I might be able to take the DEN or SFO flights. Unless you guys advise taking the long AC codeshare is worth it.

*BTW, what's the best to be in in Y, an A320(CLT-ORD), 757(IAD-ORD), or 763(IAD-ORD) or an AC 320(IAD-YVR)?

Me personally, I'd try to do whatever I can to get on that JFK-YVR non-stop Cathay flight. Great IFE and service and AAdvantage miles to boot! ^ ^

What are the fares from GSP to JFK now that Independence Air has entered the market?

What about GSP-IAD/DCA on whoever (cheap thanks to Independence Air?) and then AS from there to YVR (via SEA/LAX/PDX, etc.). Also gets you AAdvantage miles

How about a fare from GSP to LAS (Las Vegas) and then switch to the Philippine Air flight LAS-YVR?

(BTW, WestJet does also fly YVR-Prince George, and with 737's!)

You may want to price GSP to YYC or YEG and then use Coast Mountain Air,

http://www.flycma.com/

intead. I know that LAX-YEG fares are lowish right now due to HP/Mesa entering the YEG market.

If you're really budgeted, just priceline the ticket and save you some $$. Then buy YVR-Prince George separately on AC on one of those C$99 tango fares available now.

If you're married to the idea of AA, you have the additional idea of getting yourself to the west coast and catching an AS flight up to Vancouver. Alaska has a bunch of non-stops to YVR from most of the west-coast gateways (SEA, PDX, SFO, and LAX). While the SEA and PDX flights will be on regional jets operated by Horizon, they are EQM's on AA.

Then again, from that part of the world, I'd likely choose the CX flight from JFK.

Mike

It seems that GSP flyer has answered his own question. It appears that he would like UA the most. He can get miles posted to US Dividend Miles.

If he really wants IFE and a twin aisle plane (and a mileage run), should he consider US to LGW then somebody to YVR. Probably not cheap during the summer and too long a trip!