I am M+ *S at 43,544 EQM with 2870 (LAX-SFO-KOA) remaining for '07. (I have 972 in Retro credits under dispute)

I can depart LAX or SNA, on Oct 19-21, Nov 2-3, Dec 1-2
Budget No more than $500, I have 100 UA dollars

Here is what I have found.

Option 1 Quick Visit to NYC
Main Leg US: LAX-CLT-EWR-CLT-LAX = 5294 EQM @ $317 = .059 per mile.
25% Bonus RDM: 1324 = $.048 per mile
43544+5294=48838 (Still need LAX-KOA in Dec for *G)

Optional Leg A UA: EWR-ORD-EWR = 1434 EQM @ $209 = .146 per mile
25% Bonus RDM: 359 = $.117 per mile
48838+1434=50272 *G

Optional Leg B US: EWR-CLT-RIC-CLT-EWR= 2056 EQM @ $172 = $.084 per mile
25% Bonus RDM: 514 = $.067 per mile
48838+2056=*G

(NOT AN OPTION)
Option 2 1 Day in Honolulu
Aloha: SNA-HNL-SNA = 5158 EQM @ $439 = $.085 per mile
No Bonus
43544+5158=48702 (Still need LAX-KOA in Dec for *G)


Option 3 (Weekend in Chicago)
US: SNA-PHX-ORD-PHX-SNA 3880 EQM @ $230 = $.059 per mile
25% RDM Bonus: 970 = .0474 per mile
43544+3880=47424 (Still need LAX-KOA in Dec for *G)

Booked it! The lady at USAir (their .bomb exploded on my lap) sounded freaked out I wanted to make this flight, but she booked it at $230+10 for the call. It is on hold, let me know if it looks worthwhile:

I am leaning towards Option 3.
I must be missing something here. Anyone see it? Last year I flew LAX-FRA for $405, and a year before LAX-LHR for $380. Thanks for taking a look.

New Option (Pure MR)
Main Leg US: SNA-PHX-CLT-FLL-PHL-LAX = 6288 EQM @ $230 = .037 per mile.
25% Bonus RDM: 1572 = $.029 per mile
43544+6288=49832 (Still need LAX-KOA in Dec for *G)

Flights on Aloha only give RDM on UA, not EQM.

Flights on Aloha only give RDM on UA, not EQM.

So glad I posted, thanks! I thought Aloha earned EQM, does that mean Emriates does not either?

You should really familiarize yourself with www.farecompare.com Getaway maps. With a little planning, it should be easy to put together a 6500 EQM+ MR for $300 from LAX or SNA. Hint - consider a short hop on the west coast (i.e. SNA-LAX or LAX-SFO) then a transcon to IAD, followed by another hop to the east coast. ITA Software is also your friend ;) Might be able to manage a red-eye transcon to cut down on the need for a hotel and allow you to limit your time from departure to landing to less than 24 hrs.

Try this:

1-Nov-07
US 66/564
LAX-LAS-MCO

2-Nov-07
US 1250/1421
MCO-PHL-LAX

5802 Base miles RT+ 25% bonus = 7252.5 miles.

Total cost: $369.10, or roughly 5 cents per mile (.05089)

Hope this helps! :)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, the outbound leg is a red-eye, and you'll have approx. 3 hours in MCO, so no hotel to buy, either.

I have tried with fare compare, but I guess I just didn't get it. I was utilizing Kayak mostly. Ill take a look though. I am trying to stick to weekends, so I can keep my day job. :) Thanks

Try this one, miles better (no pun intended ;))!

Nov 1

US1750/187
LAX-LAS-FLL

Nov 2

US1594/1421
FLL-PHL-LAX

Total Miles: 6559 + 25% bonus = 8198.75, or

Total: $269.10, or .0328 per mile. Damn good! ^

:o I've had the wrong dates plugged in the whole time! I feel so stupid!

Either way, my second suggestion still holds, with different dates and flight numbers, and even more miles! ;)

2-Nov

US 1488/989
LAX-CLT-FLL

3-Nov

US 1616/735
FLL-PHL-LAX

Total Miles: 6642 + 25% bonus = 8302.5 miles

Total Cost: $268.10, or .03229 per mile. Even better! ^

So glad I posted, thanks! I thought Aloha earned EQM, does that mean Emriates does not either?

Correct.
If you fly Emirates you can accrue Redeemable miles on UA M+, but these miles don't count towards status.
Luke

New Option (Pure MR)
Main Leg US: SNA-PHX-CLT-FLL-PHL-LAX = 6288 EQM @ $230 = .037 per mile.
25% Bonus RDM: 1572 = $.029 per mile
43544+6288=49832 (Still need LAX-KOA in Dec for *G)

I think this is pretty damn good.
I leave at 8pm Friday, and back in Los Angeles at 7pm the next night.

Anyone see a way to do better or squeeze out 170 more EQMs?

The one way I found that you could get the status for the whole flight involves leaving at 9:15 AM in the morning and costs an extra $183 or so. So I would simply go with the previous recommentdation of the LAX-FLL-PHL-LAX run and I would buy a seperate LAX-OAK-LAX ticket on UA for $98 on December 8 to reach the 1P status. I did a similar thing last year where I flew ORD-MKE-ORD on December 29 just to hit the 1P mark.

The one way I found that you could get the status for the whole flight involves leaving at 9:15 AM in the morning and costs an extra $183 or so. So I would simply go with the previous recommentdation of the LAX-FLL-PHL-LAX run and I would buy a seperate LAX-OAK-LAX ticket on UA for $98 on December 8 to reach the 1P status. I did a similar thing last year where I flew ORD-MKE-ORD on December 29 just to hit the 1P mark.

I found one that is better, and I am earning 2800 more on Dec 21, so I may not make this such a huge MR, and just go to ORD for a weekend.

But this MR is 230 and nets me 6200, just 170 short of gold, so my Dec 21 flight can be gold with bonus.