UAL's Mileage Plus Experts ???

[Cruiser Too]

Help me here folks !

I can purchase R/T air tickets for $990 and NOT receive UAL’s FF miles.
Or I can buy them from UAL for $1,220 and receive 12,060 miles.

Which option do you recommend ???

 

[Spence]

It all depends on how YOU use YOUR miles. Nominally FFmiles are valued at .02cents making 12060miles worth $241 vs $230 in hand now. It's a wash but I'd take the cash.

 

[Cruiser Too]

Thanks Spence !

I have approximately 193K Miles with UAL and another 12K make it 205K.
That would make for a nice Business or First Class tickets

My wife has approx. 50K so 62K would also be sweet.

Wish we could combine our accounts.

 

[Dave M]

I agree with Spence, with one qualification. If those FF miles, along with others you earn this year, would get you to elite status (requiring 25,000 FF miles this year), I would go for the miles.

Elite status earned this year would earn bonus miles on other UA trips through February 2008.

 

[Cruiser Too]

If those FF miles, along with others you earn this year, would get you to elite status (requiring 25,000 FF miles this year), I would go for the miles..... Elite status earned this year would earn bonus miles on other UA trips through February 2008.

25K miles this year would be pretty tough.

Let's see:
12K miles for this trip and another R/T SFO-to-MCO wouldn't cut it

Would I have to acquire the 25K this year ???

 

[Spence]

Yes it's per calendar year.

Another caveat to go along with DaveM's is if you need some mileage credit to keep miles alive that would be forfieted because of age.

 

[Dave M]

25K miles this year would be pretty tough.

Let's see:
12K miles for this trip and another R/T SFO-to-MCO wouldn't cut it.

True.

But if you take that MCO trip between mid October and mid December, you might have a chance for 11,404 miles for that trip, if you connect in both directions through Chicago and sign up for UA's double base miles promotion (if they have it again this fall) at a probable cost of $200-$250. Then a quick trip to LAX and back (your first "Mileage Run") during that same timeframe would net another 2,000 miles and you would be over that 25K hump. That gets you into the land of bonus miles, possible upgrades, early boarding, a dedicated elite phone line, etc.

Of course, if you don't expect to fly on UA much or at all in 2007, it wouldn't be worthwhile....

...unless you are a mileage junkie like some of us. Example: This Friday, I'll fly BOS-SFO-NRT(Tokyo)-SIN(Singapore), stay seven hours in Singapore, then reverse the itinerary, getting back to Boston Sunday evening. Result: approximately 90,000 UA FF miles (mostly due to bonuses), a good book, several movies and partial credit toward 1K status on UA for next year.

 

[rickandcindy23]

For airfares that high with United, you can get $75 off each ticket....

With the coupons in the Entertainment Book. Those coupons have saved us a bunch over the years.

 

[Cruiser Too]

Is "Big Brother" reading this thread ?

Guess what I just received from UAL via email ???

If you'll be flying often enough to earn elite status for 2007, why not get it now?

With our new United Elite Prepaid Travel Card, you'll have all the benefits of elite status, as well as a convenient way to pay for your tickets.

Starting today, you can purchase:

* 1K® status for $20,000
* Premier Executive® status for $10,000
* Premier® status for $5,000

Use the card for your individual travel on united.com, through United Reservations or at any airport ticket counter. The card is not accepted at travel agencies or other non-United merchants.

It's so easy to use because each time you use the card to purchase travel on United®, United Express®, TedSM and Star Alliance® partners, the amount of the transaction will be debited from your account.

You may also use it to purchase upgrades, miles and United club memberships.

Your elite status through February 2007 means:

* Access to Economy Plus®
* Bonus Redeemable Miles for all flights (25% for Premier
and 100% for Premier Executive and 1K)
* 1Ks will receive six (6) systemwide upgrades
* A dedicated reservations number, exclusive services, such as
priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority status on the waitlist
* For a full list of benefits, visit united.com

When you purchase your United Prepaid Travel Card, your elite benefits start immediately and will be honored through February 2007.

Too rich for my blood

 

[Cruiser Too]

With the coupons in the Entertainment Book. Those coupons have saved us a bunch over the years.

Thanks for the reminder.
We're a multi-Entertainment Book customer.
(Got five 2006 books so far)

I know... I know...
I can only use ONE coupon per trip

Still.... $75 is $75 !!!

 

[Cruiser Too]

But if you take that MCO trip between mid October and mid December, you might have a chance for 11,404 miles for that trip, if you connect in both directions through Chicago and sign up for UA's double base miles promotion (if they have it again this fall) at a probable cost of $200-$250.

No Can Do !
Flying to MCO the last week of March 2006

...unless you are a mileage junkie like some of us. Example: This Friday, I'll fly BOS-SFO-NRT(Tokyo)-SIN(Singapore), stay seven hours in Singapore, then reverse the itinerary, getting back to Boston Sunday evening. Result: approximately 90,000 UA FF miles (mostly due to bonuses), a good book, several movies and partial credit toward 1K status on UA for next year.

By definition I am NOT a mileage-junkie in any way, shape or form.

Besides... I couldn't spend just 7-hours in Singapore !
It'd have to be at least a week for me

 

[Pat H]

No Can Do !
Flying to MCO the last week of March 2006



By definition I am NOT a mileage-junkie in any way, shape or form.

Besides... I couldn't spend just 7-hours in Singapore !
It'd have to be at least a week for me

It's not even 7 hours IN Singapore, I'll bet he doesn't even leave the airport!

 

[LisaH]

Doug,

Why is the difference? Is the cheaper airfare bought from the wholeseller? Shoot me an email and I might be able to help...

 

[Icarus]

...unless you are a mileage junkie like some of us. Example: This Friday, I'll fly BOS-SFO-NRT(Tokyo)-SIN(Singapore), stay seven hours in Singapore, then reverse the itinerary, getting back to Boston Sunday evening. Result: approximately 90,000 UA FF miles (mostly due to bonuses), a good book, several movies and partial credit toward 1K status on UA for next year.

On FT they call it March Madness. One of the choices you could make if you flew an extra increment over 1k qualifying levels in 2005, was triple miles for March. There's a huge contingent of FT-ers that will be flying around on mileage runs in March. How cheap were your BOS-SIN tix?

Don't forget the two days you'll need to detox

-David

 

[Dave M]

Don't forget the two days you'll need to detox

No detox necessary and no jet lag. I drink a lot of liquid on planes, but always of the type that would allow me to drive after drinking if I were on the ground! And I sleep well on these trips, making it easy to get on with my routine when I return.

 

[Spence]

Guess what I just received from UAL via email ???

If you'll be flying often enough to earn elite status for 2007, why not get it now?

With our new United Elite Prepaid Travel Card, you'll have all the benefits of elite status, as well as a convenient way to pay for your tickets.

Starting today, you can purchase:

* 1K® status for $20,000
* Premier Executive® status for $10,000
* Premier® status for $5,000

Use the card for your individual travel on united.com, through United Reservations or at any airport ticket counter. The card is not accepted at travel agencies or other non-United merchants.

It's so easy to use because each time you use the card to purchase travel on United®, United Express®, TedSM and Star Alliance® partners, the amount of the transaction will be debited from your account.

You may also use it to purchase upgrades, miles and United club memberships.

Your elite status through February 2007 means:

* Access to Economy Plus®
* Bonus Redeemable Miles for all flights (25% for Premier
and 100% for Premier Executive and 1K)
* 1Ks will receive six (6) systemwide upgrades
* A dedicated reservations number, exclusive services, such as
priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority status on the waitlist
* For a full list of benefits, visit united.com

When you purchase your United Prepaid Travel Card, your elite benefits start immediately and will be honored through February 2007.

Too rich for my blood

Seems like a good deal as long as
1) you have some trips planned for coming year like Europe or Hawaii
2) the money on the card doesn't expire or go 'poof' end of Feb07
3) 'not transferable' doesn't mean you can't by tickets for others

 

[pwrshift]

It really depends on how you use your points. I always fly business class which is about 50% more FF miles than economy ... but when paying cash there's a tremendous difference for such added comfort.

Brian

Help me here folks !

I can purchase R/T air tickets for $990 and NOT receive UAL’s FF miles.
Or I can buy them from UAL for $1,220 and receive 12,060 miles.

Which option do you recommend ???

 

[Cruiser Too]

Doug,

Why is the difference? Is the cheaper airfare bought from the wholeseller? Shoot me an email and I might be able to help...

Will do later tonight or tomorrow...