Mileage Run Deals - UA: BWI-CLD $230 a/i

Hi all, this is my first time posting a mileage run, so please be gentle!

I've been doing some research for a same-day out and return to the West coast. I found and booked BWI-LAX-CLD-LAX-BWI, departing and returning on 4/29 (overnight, so land at BWI on 4/30), all UA metal, for $230. If I'm correct that the 86-mile flights between LAX and CLD will net Elite passengers 500 miles apiece, then that's just over 5600 miles, or 4.08 cpm. Btw, this price appears to be available sporadically throughout the next few months.

After being a user of the great info on this site, just trying to give back!

You can also do BWI-EWR-LAX-CLD for $238 (3.4 CPM).

You can also do BWI-EWR-LAX-CLD for $238 (3.4 CPM).

Where are you finding that fare? I'm searching on ITA and can't find it for less than $328. Thanks.

BWI-EWR-LAX-CLD is valid every Tue/Wed in March (continental.com) for $119 and 3454 EQM.

CLD-LAX-EWR-BWI is valid every Mon/Tue in March (continental.com) for $119 and 3454 EQM.

I booked BWI-ORD-LAX-CLD-LAX-ORD-BWI May 14-15. 4 cpm

This was "advertised" in the OP as UA flying, then a CO alternative was suggested. Forgive me for my ignorance born of the fact that much has changed in the course of my extended absence from the skies and FT, but what are the implications of UA vs CO flying at this time.

Did UA elites get the same treatment when flying on CO metal as on UA metal with respect to seating, upgrades(!), and other considerations, e.g., same day standby (does that still exist on UA)? A UA elite may as well go with the CO options as the UA ones to save $$$ or earn more EQM/RDM? Or it's still better for the present for a UA elite to stick with UA metal when possible?

This was "advertised" in the OP as UA flying, then a CO alternative was suggested. Forgive me for my ignorance born of the fact that much has changed in the course of my extended absence from the skies and FT, but what are the implications of UA vs CO flying at this time.

Did UA elites get the same treatment when flying on CO metal as on UA metal with respect to seating, upgrades(!), and other considerations, e.g., same day standby (does that still exist on UA)? A UA elite may as well go with the CO options as the UA ones to save $$$ or earn more EQM/RDM? Or it's still better for the present for a UA elite to stick with UA metal when possible?

UA elites can pick CO ELR seats (exit rows and bulkheads)

They are eligible for upgrades, with similar rankings to the CO elite levels. But lower. So CO silver would outrank a UA 2P.

UA elites can pick CO ELR seats (exit rows and bulkheads)

They are eligible for upgrades, with similar rankings to the CO elite levels. But lower. So CO silver would outrank a UA 2P.So, that means CO elite status is trump over UA elite status when flying CO metal? (And the other way around CO elite flying UA metal?)

CO cabins don't have an E+ vs E difference, the only more commodious rows being the bulkheads and exit rows?

Is "same day standby" still around for UA elites (only 1Ks?), allowing them to shift the time(s) of their flight(s) if they're willing to chance it that there will be seats for them if they delay until after their booked flights go? I very much appreciated that perk, and it helped with MRing on a number of occasions. (I fear the answer will be, "no, that went away and if you want to go out on another flight, albeit on the same day, you'll have to pay to 'confirm,' and only within a narrow time window.)

So, that means CO elite status is trump over UA elite status when flying CO metal? (And the other way around CO elite flying UA metal?)

CO cabins don't have an E+ vs E difference, the only more commodious rows being the bulkheads and exit rows?

Is "same day standby" still around for UA elites (only 1Ks?), allowing them to shift the time(s) of their flight(s) if they're willing to chance it that there will be seats for them if they delay until after their booked flights go? I very much appreciated that perk, and it helped with MRing on a number of occasions. (I fear the answer will be, "no, that went away and if you want to go out on another flight, albeit on the same day, you'll have to pay to 'confirm,' and only within a narrow time window.)

YEP - It did go out the window (sameday standby for NON-1Ks) within the past year.

I'm on a MR right now to SAN (albeit not CLD) and just tried to hop on the earlier flight from SFO, and the woman denied me, and said it would be $50. When my flight was $210 total r/t, $50 EXTRA for one segment seems pretty stupid. Too bad as well, because there were 37 seats open, and they might need my seat on the next flight...

Oh well, a fight to the bottom for all air carriers!

-jeremy

YEP - It did go out the window (sameday standby for NON-1Ks) within the past year.

I'm on a MR right now to SAN (albeit not CLD) and just tried to hop on the earlier flight from SFO, and the woman denied me, and said it would be $50. When my flight was $210 total r/t, $50 EXTRA for one segment seems pretty stupid. Too bad as well, because there were 37 seats open, and they might need my seat on the next flight...

Oh well, a fight to the bottom for all air carriers!

-jeremySo same day standby without fee does remain an option for 1Ks, though it has ceased to be one for non-1Ks? Well, if that's the case, then the "relative" value of 1Kness is therefore greater.

As for them refusing to let you go earlier with the payment of a $50 fee, it must be that UA crunched the numbers and found that allowing such switches would cost them on average something like $.37, so not in their self-interest to do it. And about opening a seat for a later flight when they might need it, well there's got to be a compelling reason why they don't see it that way, because they don't do anything that doesn't make good sense, at least nothing that doesn't make good sense from their short-sighted (stupid?) perspective. (There used to be a certain person on the UA forum who always stepped up to serve as UA's apologist, explaining why what we expected of the airline was unreasonable, while what the airline did was somehow right. I don't know what he would say about this same day standby stuff, but I'm sure he would come up with something to explain it.)

YEP - It did go out the window (sameday standby for NON-1Ks) within the past year.

I'm on a MR right now to SAN (albeit not CLD) and just tried to hop on the earlier flight from SFO, and the woman denied me, and said it would be $50. When my flight was $210 total r/t, $50 EXTRA for one segment seems pretty stupid. Too bad as well, because there were 37 seats open, and they might need my seat on the next flight...

Oh well, a fight to the bottom for all air carriers!

-jeremy

Ridiculous. They will probably be full on the next flight and be offering vouchers to people who will take a later flight. Ha.