LHR->NYC->SFO/LA->HNL flight plan/ideas

dickydonkin

stoneman wrote: »

I flew BHX-DUB-LCY-JFK-LAX-LIH-LAX-JFK-DUB-EMA last year all in just over 4 days. Cost a tad over £1000 all in business or First.

A week, pfff, luxury

I suspect the OP is looking for a leisure trip as opposed to a tier point run.

Each to their own of course, but those who require a tier point run to attain a desired status with a particular airline, suggests that they don't fly often enough to achieve it organically - which is fine of course, but many may fail to see the point if the only time they get the benefit of status is the next time they have to do another tier point run to maintain it! :huh:

In most cases, the major benefits of a shiny card (lounge access, priority boarding/check in, fast track etc.) are pointless if you are travelling in a premium cabin as you will have most of the benefits anyway.

I have done two of the Hawaii runs EX Dublin in the past 16 months....purely for leisure and I can assure you these were by the most direct routes possible.

In respect of the OP in Hawaii, I don't care too much for Honolulu but that is a personal opinion - I prefer Maui and Kauai but it is a great destination, however, don't let fatigue spoil it.

SW17

dickydonkin wrote: »

I suspect the OP is looking for a leisure trip as opposed to a tier point run.

Each to their own of course, but those who require a tier point run to attain a desired status with a particular airline, suggests that they don't fly often enough to achieve it organically - which is fine of course, but many may fail to see the point if the only time they get the benefit of status is the next time they have to do another tier point run to maintain it! :huh:

In most cases, the major benefits of a shiny card (lounge access, priority boarding/check in, fast track etc.) are pointless if you are travelling in a premium cabin as you will have most of the benefits anyway.

Getting a little OT, though I guess that doesn't matter now the OP has abandoned their plan to visit HNL...

Can't quite agree with your implication that people who get status from TP runs don't fly otherwise. It could be the case, but equally possible their normal pattern is to fly a lot of short haul, deeply discounted (or bought with Avios) economy, and such flying would make it difficult to get status at 5 TPs a sector (zero with redemptions). For those people, having status is quite valuable.

If that status were BA Gold or higher, it also has other benefits not gained merely by flying premium cabins, in particular increased Avios redemption availability.

dickydonkin

SW17 wrote: »

Can't quite agree with your implication that people who get status from TP runs don't fly otherwise. It could be the case, but equally possible their normal pattern is to fly a lot of short haul, deeply discounted (or bought with Avios) economy, and such flying would make it difficult to get status at 5 TPs a sector (zero with redemptions). For those people, having status is quite valuable.

I never stated that those who undertake a tier point run 'don't fly otherwise'.

You have confirmed the point I made that someone on a tier point run may be doing so as they cannot achieve status organically or by their 'normal patters' of flying.

If they do actually fly 'a lot' of short haul on BA for example, they would achieve status that would allow lounge access and other benefits by flying 50 revenue sectors - irrespective of tier point accrual on those routes.

That of course depends on your definition of 'a lot'.

Many airline FF schemes are eroding their benefits and I suspect that achieving status may become more difficult in the future.

Apologies for the topic drift.

SW17

dickydonkin wrote: »

I never stated that those who undertake a tier point run 'don't fly otherwise'.

You have confirmed the point I made that someone on a tier point run may be doing so as they cannot achieve status organically or by their 'normal patters' of flying.

If they do actually fly 'a lot' of short haul on BA for example, they would achieve status that would allow lounge access and other benefits by flying 50 revenue sectors - irrespective of tier point accrual on those routes.

That of course depends on your definition of 'a lot'.

Many airline FF schemes are eroding their benefits and I suspect that achieving status may become more difficult in the future.

Apologies for the topic drift.

It does indeed depend on your definition of "a lot", I'd guess some people would still think they flew enough to justify the TP run if they didn't do 50 eligible sectors. Value in these matters is always in the eye of the beholder.

BA has already made it more difficult to achieve status by introducing 5TPs for some fare classes, which will impact those going for Silver in particular. You may well be right that this is not the end of it, though for now they remain one of the more generous FFPs out there in terms of status earning.

I think topic drift is fair game at this point in this thread..:)

dickydonkin

SW17 wrote: »

BA has already made it more difficult to achieve status by introducing 5TPs for some fare classes, which will impact those going for Silver in particular. You may well be right that this is not the end of it, though for now they remain one of the more generous FFPs out there in terms of status earning.

I think topic drift is fair game at this point in this thread..:)

Totally agree on all points.

principlecounts

richardw wrote: »

Is the wedding off now?

Ha Ha. :money:

Not quite. I'll be postponing my extended trip to another time. Just the NY trip for now.

stoneman

dickydonkin wrote: »

I suspect the OP is looking for a leisure trip as opposed to a tier point run.

Each to their own of course, but those who require a tier point run to attain a desired status with a particular airline, suggests that they don't fly often enough to achieve it organically - which is fine of course, but many may fail to see the point if the only time they get the benefit of status is the next time they have to do another tier point run to maintain it! :huh:

In most cases, the major benefits of a shiny card (lounge access, priority boarding/check in, fast track etc.) are pointless if you are travelling in a premium cabin as you will have most of the benefits anyway.

I have done two of the Hawaii runs EX Dublin in the past 16 months....purely for leisure and I can assure you these were by the most direct routes possible.

In respect of the OP in Hawaii, I don't care too much for Honolulu but that is a personal opinion - I prefer Maui and Kauai but it is a great destination, however, don't let fatigue spoil it.

Oh I fly enough alright. Just not enough to get 1500 TP's.
I look on it as a nice weekend away.
I get wined and dined, I can get lots of work done in a comfy seat, and the next time I buy an economy ticket I will either get upgraded (depending on capacity) or get chapmpagne and a Clubworld meal brought back to me and my wife. And of course all the extRa Adios.

dickydonkin

stoneman wrote: »

I look on it as a nice weekend away.

Each to their own of course.

The novelty wears off I can assure you.