US Airways Dividend Miles - 143 Miles from Gold (Race to Prefered)

I currently have 9126 miles during the race for preferred promotion and I'm considering doing a MR to boost me to gold.

I've found a RT to SEA from BWI that would give me 5,700 miles and would put me within 143 miles from 15k. You think US would boost me to gold?

I've read they normally do within 500 but I don't know about the current promotion.

Maybe I should post in the MR section to find a better flight. I want to keep this under $300.

You dont say your entire routing, but I assume SEA-PHL-BWI. If you could add PHL-CLT in the middle on one side of the journey, that should do it. Plugging in a random date, showed it would be about $50 extra.

If it was normal qualification, they would probably give it to you, but not in the race to preferred scenario. And it is worth it for *G in my opinion.

Cheers.

I believe it was BWI-PHL-SEA-PHX-BWI

Ideal would be BWI-PHX-SEA-PHX-BWI but it was 400+

I can travel just about on any days but Monday's and Thursdays (Well as long as I'm back by Monday night / Thursday night).

Strange ... it seems I can book a one way ticket from DCA-PHX-SEA and SEA-PHX-DCA for 130 each way - only shows up on priceline for some reason.

At ~ 6100 miles RT that seems that's going to do it!

From BWI, don't overlook adding SAN into the mix.

Try something like BWI-PHL-SAN-(SEA/SFO) and return...

From BWI, don't overlook adding SAN into the mix.

Try something like BWI-PHL-SAN-(SEA/SFO) and return...

See my post above ... think I'm going to book DCA-PHX-SEA-PHX-DCA

The flight gets in at 9PM and leaves the next day at 8:30am ... how nice of a airport is SEA to sleep in?

Try something like BWI-PHL-SAN-(SEA/SFO) and return...I don't believe there are any US flights from SAN that could be used (Race to Preferred requires US metal).

I've found a RT to SEA from BWI that would give me 5,700 miles and would put me within 143 miles from 15k. You think US would boost me to gold?

I've read they normally do within 500 but I don't know about the current promotion.

I am sorry if I offend anyone, but US should not yield by a single mile on this promotion. But they should yield some miles for elites with a history with the airline...REAL PREFERRED MEMBERS :). This is a awfully generous promotion as it is. Good luck with a MR.

Did you try routing through Florida? DCA-FLL, FLL-PHL-SFO (cheaper to fly into than SEA), and SFO-CLT-DCA gets you in at over 7000 miles. You can play with the dates-I've seen it in the low 300s but you said you wanted to be under 300, which is difficult for multiple legs and a West Coast run. You may have to stay over somewhere.

On edit, I am doing this run from BOS in December, and it amounts to 8000 miles with my Gold 500 mile bonuses.

I am sorry if I offend anyone, but US should not yield by a single mile on this promotion. But they should yield some miles for elites with a history with the airline...REAL PREFERRED MEMBERS :). This is a awfully generous promotion as it is. Good luck with a MR.

I've been Gold for years, and, because I do short hops BOS/MHT/PVD to LGA/DCA/PHL, I have a hard time rising above this status. I somewhat agree with you that this allows infrequent flyers benefits that we enjoy, but it also helps those of us long-time shuttle bums. :)

I don't believe there are any US flights from SAN that could be used (Race to Preferred requires US metal).

:confused:

US has no non-stop metal from SAN to SFO or SEA, but many connecting through LAS or PHX!

I've been Gold for years, and, because I do short hops BOS/MHT/PVD to LGA/DCA/PHL, I have a hard time rising above this status. I somewhat agree with you that this allows infrequent flyers benefits that we enjoy, but it also helps those of us long-time shuttle bums. :)

I agree with you! And that is why the PAID challenge/trial is great! If you increased trip distance in your case, simply trial/challenge and if your flying patterns in those 90 days meets those of a year for lexel X you should be granted it. You put your flying and money and time to prove it and have shown loyalty by previous business to US. Personally, they should let it be 1/2 price for esisting preferred members challenging to a higher status, IMO.

But auto registering every DM account for free is too generous! These people who get it for free from base generally will be the same people buying cheap fares, not the point of Preferred Status for the most part...reward people who fly a lot (since they are loyal and generally will be willing to pay higher fares). Hopefully these complete (base to X elite level for FREE) free challengers will not be around in following years and actually loyal customers who are willing to make sacrifices for status (in the form of miles AND money) will compose the DM Preferreds...this promotion is too generous! Hopefully base fliers are not begging for exceptions and taking the DM Department resources from loyal customers :)

Haha just booked DCA-PHX-SEA-PHX-DCA through premierpass for an equivalent of $260 - not bad at about .0423 cents per mile (Or ~6144miles)!

I've never been to Seatle nor done a mileage run so this should be fun.

I agree with you! And that is why the PAID challenge/trial is great! If you increased trip distance in your case, simply trial/challenge and if your flying patterns in those 90 days meets those of a year for lexel X you should be granted it. You put your flying and money and time to prove it and have shown loyalty by previous business to US. Personally, they should let it be 1/2 price for esisting preferred members challenging to a higher status, IMO.

But auto registering every DM account for free is too generous! These people who get it for free from base generally will be the same people buying cheap fares, not the point of Preferred Status for the most part...reward people who fly a lot (since they are loyal and generally will be willing to pay higher fares). Hopefully these complete (base to X elite level for FREE) free challengers will not be around in following years and actually loyal customers who are willing to make sacrifices for status (in the form of miles AND money) will compose the DM Preferreds...this promotion is too generous! Hopefully base fliers are not begging for exceptions and taking the DM Department resources from loyal customers :)

I moved about $2200 of my travel to US between Novmeber 11th and December 12th to make gold for this year up from BIS silver the past few years. However, I think they should have had a simple registration process with this to weed out any accidental silvers.

I moved about $2200 of my travel to US between Novmeber 11th and December 12th to make gold for this year up from BIS silver the past few years. However, I think they should have had a simple registration process with this to weed out any accidental silvers.

I think registration would have been a good idea to weed out the casual travelers from the business travelers. They do this for other promos, just not this one.

I think registration would have been a good idea to weed out the casual travelers from the business travelers. They do this for other promos, just not this one.

Registration for sure...what about even half price of the normal since you dont receieve the status till next year? But honestly, if you want something you need to make sacrifices for it...relationship (time and effort) money (job/work) elite status (actually fly the requirements).

I just hope that loyal fliers are still treated right and that base people stealing status do not downgrade the program and airline. And honestly, if you are making transcon mileage runs to make silver in this promotion, do you really have a hope in future years? :D

For the mileage runner to SEA - I did one earlier this year from FLL via PHX - rented a car for the day - had about 9 hours to explore, went to Boeing Museum (on the way in from airport to city center) went to Pikes Place Market and had a nice dinner before returning on redeye via CLT. Definitely will do it again when and if I need to make a run...

And honestly, if you are making transcon mileage runs to make silver in this promotion, do you really have a hope in future years? :D

I wonder how many people can afford the time and money to make these one-off mileage runs anyway. Fares go way up in December due to holiday travel. And what is the point of earning status for one year? I can see if you have an uptick in your business travel trying to get to the next level, but if you're a casual flier it seems like a waste of time and money.

See my post above ... think I'm going to book DCA-PHX-SEA-PHX-DCA

The flight gets in at 9PM and leaves the next day at 8:30am ... how nice of a airport is SEA to sleep in?

There are plenty of hotels, some literally within walking distance, around Sea-Tac which aren't terribly expensive. Try Priceline/Hotwire.

Even though I am one of them (an occasional mileage runner) I don't think there are many people who will buy even an inexpensive ticket to attain/move up/retain elite status. I just don't see that many people doing it. Wack-o's like me are few and far between! ;)

As for the "Accidental Silvers" (those who don't even know about the Race to Preferred promo and end up with Silver for 2010)... what's the real harm? If they don't fly all that often, they aren't goping to take upgrades away from anyone. If they do start to fly US a lot because they now have status, then it's a win finacially for US.

And lets be completely honest, I'll tip my hat to a CP who has CP without the benefit of a single promotion. Good for you and I hope you do get upgraded before me. As for rest of us who have Preferred miles from ANY promotion (generous or not), what's fair for one ought to be fair for all...

As far as sleeping in SEA - there's a 24 hour Starbucks there as well as other food vendors open all night - I unfortunately ended up there after HIE at airport "cancelled" my confirmed reservation with a 1:30 a.m. flight arrival last year - but there are several other options around the airport as well - I can tell you from first hand experience nodding off in that terminal isn't terribly comfortable.

There are plenty of hotels, some literally within walking distance, around Sea-Tac which aren't terribly expensive. Try Priceline/Hotwire.

Agree with this-there are some decent ones in the $60-$90 range, which priceline would probably offer at an even lower price. beats sleeping in the airport!

There are plenty of hotels, some literally within walking distance, around Sea-Tac which aren't terribly expensive. Try Priceline/Hotwire.

I got a hostel downtown for $28 near Pikes Market, I also got a earlier flight that gets in at 1:40 so I have time to explore some.

I wonder how many people can afford the time and money to make these one-off mileage runs anyway. Fares go way up in December due to holiday travel. And what is the point of earning status for one year? I can see if you have an uptick in your business travel trying to get to the next level, but if you're a casual flier it seems like a waste of time and money.

I am a casual flier, but with a GF in PHX for grad school, I've got plans on making the BWI-PHX direct flight at least 4~5 times over the next 6 months. Gold will be worth it IMO for such a long flight. If I don't get F, at least I'll have exit rows.