seks

I just need 4000 miles to hit P25k. Not that P25k is anything special but since I'm only for 4000 miles short.

YYC to SIN on UA for $618 CAD roundtrip in K. Should I do that just to get the 4000? Or what do you guys suggest?

alc

IMO, P25K is not worth $618. do you not have any more flights schedule until end of the year?

canadiancow

I agree.

If you have a 3200 mile trip planned, and can stretch it to 4000, I think THAT is worth it.

What does P25K offer that a similar priced credit card doesn't? Priority standby? 20 eUps?

That being said, maybe you deserve a long weekend in Mexico. A short vacation. And if that happens to bump you up to P25K, then so be it.

Seat13F_AC_CRJ

Not worth it, especially considering there is no early recognition for P25k. Your benefits will not kick in until 2018.
--
13F

Adam Smith

My question as well. 4K is a long way to go for not a lot of benefit, but there's a lot of time left in the year.

seks

The 21k AQM is based on a YYC-BKK round trip that is already booked for Oct. So ya...4k AQM remaining. Perhaps there may be better mileage run deals coming up next few months which I can take before end of 207.

RZR

I don't think it's worth it for you , you don't fly often at all.

jc94

Flex YYZ to SFO or YVR is 10 eUps and often $700-$1000 from low-flex to P.
If you can use them, eUps can be quite valuable. If you're flying TATL/TAPC with co-pay routes it's not worth it.

But as mentioned there are 6 months left and P25k doesn't qualify for early recognition. I would wait until later on in the year and when you also have a clearer idea of what travel plans you have for 2018.

Remember you also need $3k AQD if resident in Canada.

Edit - You are doing YYC-BKK in October. In what class? What's the price differential to move from Tango at 50% AQM to Low-Flex at 100% of to PY at 125%.
Given that's a ~7000 mile route, even 25% is going to cover almost half of your missing AQM. Any other trips booked on Tango or low-flex with minor price differentials?

flyquiet

My inclination is to increase your earning % rather than spending a heck of a lot of time in a very small, poorly cushioned seat on an aircraft at 50%.

For P25K?

The suggestion to upfare from Tango to Flex or Flex to PY on your existing booking would be my call.

Bear in mind "only 4000 miles short" is a full 16% off. It's not like 4,000 short of SE.

Arguably, 400 miles short might be worth making up, but unless you expect to get early recognition of E35K next year, I'm not sure what value P25K would have for you. After my first P25K year, I ended the next at 21K and did not run for it. I did do early qualification for 35 the next year.

If you don't want to or cannot upfare your BKK trip, I suggest taking the 21K and start working on your spreadsheet for 2018. Strategically select long flights for PY (or even J) fares and get the multipliers working for you.

Save a tedious mileage run for when you have the status to make it more comfortable.

My 2c.

seks

Its only the YYC-YVR and YVR-YYC segments that are in A/L. If my calculations are correct, instead of 854 total for both, I will only get 213 total. So not much of a difference if I upgrade those two to P.

I thought the 21k is only towards 2018 status. I didn't think you can carry it over for 2018 and use it towards 2019 status?

Guess I'll just forget about pursuing based on opinions here

Segment Class Distance AP earning AP earned
YYC-YVR L 427 25% 106.75
YVR-NRT P 4667 150% 7000.5
NRT-BKK P 2892 100% 2892
BKK-HKG I 1051 125% 1313.75
HKG-YVR P 6388 150% 9582
YVR-YYC A 427 25% 106.75
21001.75

expert7700

If you are over revenue requirement, why not polish off P25 AND E35k (for which I think there IS early recognition and *S benefits!

Do a YYZ-HNL on UA. Often in the low $500s each way. Lieflat on many of the long segments from EWR IAD MDW and DEN Same day turns too. Should net you ~7500 AQM each direction.

RatherBeInYOW

Some AC status is somewhat useful if you are flying a lot, although that mostly only kicks in with E35 or E50. It is some small amount of time and comfort back in exchange for spending a lot of time in a metal tube in the air.

If you are flying once twice a year Altitude status is mostly useless. Pay the fee for a CC with travel benefits and/or buy a lounge pass & PE / preferred seating and get the same benefits for a lot less money than your mileage run. Never mind the cost of your time to do the run.

Edit:

This is pretty much the worst advice. Look $1000+ and a couple of days of lousy food and sleep in exchange for E35 / *S. Talk about a total waste of time and money for an infrequent flier.

BlondeBomber

infrequent flyer is they key

Unless planning on ramping up flying, there is no point to all this (IMHO)

flyquiet

Right - I meant, take the 21K and end the year as Tangerine for 2018. (They are still redeemable miles, for what that's worth...)

If you plan on flying a lot in 2018, the thread suggests two options. One is to just take the Tangerine and try to early qualify for 35K in 2018. If your high-mile trips are earlier in the year, it could make the rest of the trips more comfortable, even, than P25K from March 1 would do.

For the option of MR, it was suggested by others to consider MR for 14,000 rather than 4,000 as P25K is not worth much. In my experience, E35K is also not that valuable unless most travel is domestic and transborder, as it gets no international lounge access and of course the upgrade window only beats P25K. So then, the challenge escalates to E50K at least, for *G, more than double the miles your natural travel accrues.

I'm of the mind that status could reasonably motivate consolidating travel to the same alliance/operator but should not make most people travel (and $pend) unnecessarily. I've certainly been swayed by miles-earning when making a decision whether to attend an event, and once considered the UA-J-December-Hawaii-weekend play, and mentioned it to a friend slightly short of 50K, but for me, the line is drawn. A pure MR takes considerable time, money, and often (if not J) discomfort just to get a luggage tag (and P25K doesn't even get luggage tags). Amex gives many of the same benefits for $500 (net of the travel credit).

quantumofforce

look at a flight with TG out of bKK for a quick excursion in Asia.