AJK's Trip/Route Planning Thread

[AJK]

Need some crowdsourcing on planning the routing for my next two trips or so.

Goals:

(i) Maximize time in nice F cabins, (ii) extract maximum value by,  for instance, turning the two trips into three, utilizing "free one ways" (more technically known as open jaws and stopovers, e.g. (a) NYC-BKK-NYC(stop)-HNL and then (ii) HNL-EWR-SIN-SYD-EWR, giving me a free "third" trip to HNL).

Assumptions:

--First destination will be New Zealand (a lot of fun routings that way)
--Second destination will also be somewhere in Asia/Oceania (another destination for nice routings)
--Two people are traveling
--I have 500,000 of each mileage currency.
--I'd like to fly SQ R, EK F (a380), OZ F (772), LH F (744)
--I try to avoid YQ unless it's completely necessary (e.g. SQ R, but not LH F through M&M)

Notes:

--I'd like to burn UA miles before 2/1/14 which may lead to using booking *A as my first outbound given LH's tendency to only release F space two weeks out (and also, since there have been no announcements by EK/AS/JL to deval EK awards, or SQ to deval theirs, I feel a bit more comfortable holding off if necessary with them).
--I don't mind paying additional for positioning flights (I should have a WN CP to use, Gd willing).
--OZ F award availability on their JFK route, which is currently the only route that has the new F,  has largely become nonexistent in the last 8 weeks for whatever reason. So even though I'd like to try it, it may not be possible.

Now, I figure this should be a (somewhat) fun exercise, so given the above,  let your imaginations run wild!

[jj1000]

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=20823.0 ?

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=7986.0 ?

[myb821]

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=20823.0 ?

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=7986.0 ?

Give me a break JJ this doesnt need to be in one of those threads

[Moishebatchy]

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=7986.0 ?

I've seen (and posted) that link already so many times that I recognize the topic number by heart already.

[AJK]

One possible route:

Outbound -- JFK/LAX-DXB-SIN(EK F)-SYD(SQ R) [Can stopover in DXB, SIN, and SYD; uses AS miles and SQ miles; well over 20 hours in EK F]
Inbound -- AKL-BKK-FRA(TG F)-NYC(LH F)-LIR [Access to TG F Spa and FCT; using UA miles; and I'd try to finagle a stopover the last leg even though it isn't technically valid]

Outbound #2 -- LIR-NYC(stop)-HKG-DPS(CX F) [Can stop in NYC; uses AA miles]
Inbound #2 -- SIN-NRT-LAX(SQ R)-NYC(WN) [Have to return home using WN CP]

Wow, this is a bit more complicated than even I thought, but I do build in a "free" trip to LIR and get to experience SQ R, EK F, LH F, TG F, and CX F.

Thoughts? Suggestions for improvement?

[AJK]

Give me a break JJ this doesnt need to be in one of those threads

+1

I am specifically looking for routing suggestions, not destination suggestions. Also, I don't see why creating a thread for these (my?) trips specifically is any crime.

Also, I'm not looking for help finding availability. I can do that all my own.

Just figure that with all the creative people on here, this would be somewhat like thinking what you'd do with the money if one won the lottery 

[myb821]

can you stop in the north american gateway on a one way AA redemption

[myb821]

Outbound #2 -- LIR-NYC(stop)-HKG-DPS(CX F) [Can stop in NYC; uses AA miles]
Inbound #2 -- SIN-NRT-LAX(SQ R)-NYC(WN) [Have to return home using WN CP]

Why?

[Ergel]

can you stop in the north american gateway on a one way AA redemption

Sure

[Marco Polo]

One possible route:

Outbound -- JFK/LAX-DXB-SIN(EK F)-SYD(SQ R) [Can stopover in DXB, SIN, and SYD; uses AS miles and SQ miles; well over 20 hours in EK F]
Inbound -- AKL-BKK-FRA(TG F)-NYC(LH F)-LIR [Access to TG F Spa and FCT; using UA miles; and I'd try to finagle a stopover the last leg even though it isn't technically valid]

Outbound #2 -- LIR-NYC(stop)-HKG-DPS(CX F) [Can stop in NYC; uses AA miles]
Inbound #2 -- SIN-NRT-LAX(SQ R)-NYC(WN) [Have to return home using WN CP]

Wow, this is a bit more complicated than even I thought, but I do build in a "free" trip to LIR and get to experience SQ R, EK F, LH F, TG F, and CX F.

Thoughts? Suggestions for improvement?

Did that this summer, they have very limited flights they offer and maybe one which is non-stop. Wasn't so happy with it, though for $20 RT two people, i sucked it up.

[jj1000]

Give me a break JJ this doesnt need to be in one of those threads

+1

I am specifically looking for routing suggestions, not destination suggestions. Also, I don't see why creating a thread for these (my?) trips specifically is any crime.

Also, I'm not looking for help finding availability. I can do that all my own.

Just figure that with all the creative people on here, this would be somewhat like thinking what you'd do with the money if one won the lottery 

50% cynicism 50% jest.

Don't worry when I decide to burn my stockpile I will drive everyone nuts with the planning. I'm thinking year long honeymoon trip around the world

[AJK]

Sure

+1, one of the few advantages of AA's routing rules.

Did that this summer, they have very limited flights they offer and maybe one which is non-stop. Wasn't so happy with it, though for $20 RT two people, i sucked it up.

Did what? The LAX-NYC on WN?

They don't offer any non-stops that I'm aware of, but I will Gd willing have the CP, so why not use it?

Unless you know a way to not have to by reconstructing the itin?

[meshugener]

Ever been to Williamsburg?
Take the J, $2.25 surcharge per passenger.

[AJK]

Why?

Well, I don't HAVE to use WN, but it'd be my cheapest, most effective way that I'm aware of, as--at least on this version of the itin--I can't build it in for free.

[AJK]

Ever been to Williamsburg?
Take the J, $2.25 surcharge per passenger.

Once. Never again.

[jj1000]

Once. Never again.

Had skirt above the knees?

[AJK]

Had skirt above the knees?

Was wearing a kippa sruga.

[Marco Polo]

+1, one of the few advantages of AA's routing rules.

Did what? The LAX-NYC on WN?

They don't offer any non-stops that I'm aware of, but I will Gd willing have the CP, so why not use it?

Unless you know a way to not have to by reconstructing the itin?

Yes.

I think i recall seeing one non-stop flight being offered, but may have been out of ISP.

The issue with that flight is having a SO and flights are only offered until 12PM daily (someone CMIIW and it changed). With the SO, you eat up a whole day regardless when you leave LA.

I used my CP because like i mentioned, $20RT for two people is great. I paid for wifi on way home so i did not have to miss work, otherwise i would "splurge" on a regular award redemption.

Not sure of a way to rework the itin.

[AJK]

Yes.

I think i recall seeing one non-stop flight being offered, but may have been out of ISP.

The issue with that flight is having a SO and flights are only offered until 12PM daily (someone CMIIW and it changed). With the SO, you eat up a whole day regardless when you leave LA.

I used my CP because like i mentioned, $20RT for two people is great. I paid for wifi on way home so i did not have to miss work, otherwise i would "splurge" on a regular award redemption.

Not sure of a way to rework the itin.

No such route.

But, yeah, the connection is annoying, but like you, I'll do work on the plane if I must.

[jmansour]

Need some crowdsourcing on planning the routing for my next two trips or so.

Goals:

(i) Maximize time in nice F cabins, (ii) extract maximum value by,  for instance, turning the two trips into three, utilizing "free one ways" (more technically known as open jaws and stopovers, e.g. (a) NYC-BKK-NYC(stop)-HNL and then (ii) HNL-EWR-SIN-SYD-EWR, giving me a free "third" trip to HNL).

Assumptions:

--First destination will be New Zealand (a lot of fun routings that way)
--Second destination will also be somewhere in Asia/Oceania (another destination for nice routings)
--Two people are traveling
--I have 500,000 of each mileage currency.
--I'd like to fly SQ R, EK F (a380), OZ F (772), LH F (744)
--I try to avoid YQ unless it's completely necessary (e.g. SQ R, but not LH F through M&M)

Notes:

--I'd like to burn UA miles before 2/1/14 which may lead to using booking *A as my first outbound given LH's tendency to only release F space two weeks out (and also, since there have been no announcements by EK/AS/JL to deval EK awards, or SQ to deval theirs, I feel a bit more comfortable holding off if necessary with them).
--I don't mind paying additional for positioning flights (I should have a WN CP to use, Gd willing).
--OZ F award availability on their JFK route, which is currently the only route that has the new F,  has largely become nonexistent in the last 8 weeks for whatever reason. So even though I'd like to try it, it may not be possible.

Now, I figure this should be a (somewhat) fun exercise, so given the above,  let your imaginations run wild!

wow this one looks interesting excited to see what everyone comes up with