United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - *A upgrade help from the experts (why can't I have everything the way I want it)

Hello All!

Fair warning, I've never done upgrades before, awards I have limited experience, upgrade never.

I've been rummaging through FT for a couple of days now, as well as calling airlines and checking other sites. I find myself in a bit of a pickle as to how to make a trip for two, to Venice, in business, work for a reasonable amount. I would call $2k and under p/p, reasonable, which leaves me with trying to find inventory for mileage upgrades or full award tickets.

I'm looking at leaving on May 16th, coming back on May 20th. For the weekend basically, a friend is getting married. I'm looking at Business to lessen the impact of only going for the weekend.

Here is the situation:

I have:
130k Onepass (currently Plat, exp March)
200k Us airways (no status)
50k Amex
30k Delta (Currently Gold, exp Feb)
also 40k starwood if that helps.

Delta flies direct, but I don't have enough miles to upgrade and I'd have to wait until 24 hrs before the flight to know whether we were going to get the upgrade or not.

Swiss only has inventory on the 14th and 21st. Which when I think about it is pretty good, the only problem is I'm pretty set on the days I can fly.

Amex Plat companion pass quoted me $10k for the one ticket, second flies free. Which is insanity given that I can buy two low business tickets for much less.

I looked at Continental flying to Munich, but they still use those old recliners on that route though my understanding on inventory is that, compared to Delta, the miles + Co pay is more likely to result in an upgrade well ahead of the day of departure? I could be wrong.

I looked at other CO options too. I also do not yet understand how United handles upgrades? I would gladly transfer my miles over if needs be.

Here's the kicker - I'm trying to maximize my time in VCE.
Leaving NYC between 3pm and 11pm on May 16th
Arriving in VCE between 9am and 2pm on May 17th

Leaving VCE between 2pm and 10pm on May 20th
Arriving in NYC between 6pm and 11pm on May 20th

I really don't mind where we fly through to achieve this, knowing full well that it's unlikely we'll be able to fly direct - Delta problems....

I've been obsessively checking the Mileage Run forum too. As yet no dice.
I think that covers everything.

If there are any kind hearted FT souls out there who could lend this Newbie a hand I would be very appreciative.

Many thanks!

First off, not sure why you posted on UA?
You have miles and points all over the place.
This sounds like a job for a professional.
There are quite a few folks who frequent these boards who you can pay to come up with an itinerary for you using your miles.
I suggest you use them.
One suggestion is lucky9876coins. I know he does it.
I have never used his services.

Thanks UAPE, sorry for posting on the wrong board, I posted to the UA Consolidated as I thought that was the right one now that CO and UA are merged.

Thanks for the suggestion on using a professional, I didn't know that kind of service existed! Will definitely reach out to Lucky.

Appreciate the reply.

Doing it in business with those time restrictions will be a bit more difficult. Doing it is coach is possible, though, again, the timing you've presented isn't great. You're basically limited to a single connection with perfect timing. On the return in particular it will be difficult to leave VCE after 2pm and still make it to NYC that night.

I'd also expect that a regular ticket + upgrade will come out way above the $2000/person numbers you're hoping to hit.

I am afraid that this will be quite a challenge. I see almost no TA seats available in J that week. And you don't have enough miles for 2 people on *A. There are 2 seats from IAD to GVA on the 16th, but that is all I could find in a quick search.

Leaving VCE as late as you want will also be a problem- even the non-stops leave before 2pm and VCE is a 2 hour check-in airport.

If it were me, and I were that restricted, I'd take the non-stop from JFK on DL. Not the most comfortable but better than any other coach option.

Good luck.

And you don't have enough miles for 2 people on *A.The 200K on US should be sufficient for two C return tickets.

Thank you all very much!

I am reluctantly realizing that my expectations were unrealistic. You've all be most kind in illuminating me to the pitfalls of my grand design.

I'm going to have to be a bit more flexible to make this work, and will likely have to give up most of Sunday for the return.

I am also totally down with what SeattleB suggested, flying into any EU airport where I can book a different connection to VCE, doesn't need to be same ticket or in business, by that point I'm close enough.

Back to the hunt!

Thanks again

Take a water taxi from VCE into the city.
The trip is awesome day or night.
It can drop you off directly at hotels on the Grand Canal.

For a hotel, I can recommend the Danieli and Gritti Palace,

Just one thought. Your best bet for a combo of miles & money may be to stay on UA/CO metal to get to Europe. You can buy a cheap Y ticket and then use miles plus copay to upgrade to C. There are definitely a few routes if you go to secondary connection points like MUC that often have upgrade space available. On UA/CO you can upgrade from Y to C with 20K miles plus $300-$550 depending on booking code. (Yes I hate the new upgrade scheme).

One thing you probably cannot do is a *A upgrade, that is using UA/CO/US miles to upgrade a Y ticket on a *A partner. These upgrades can only be done with Y or B fares which will probably exceed your budget.

Good luck.

With that short and inflexible of time, I would just take DL economy (EC) from JFK to VCE nonstop. It is really not that long and you can maximize the time in Venice.
Have fun!

Just one thought. Your best bet for a combo of miles & money may be to stay on UA/CO metal to get to Europe. You can buy a cheap Y ticket and then use miles plus copay to upgrade to C. This plan is dependent on finding a cheap trip to Europe and then finding a cheap intra-Europe ticket on top of that. Plus paying up to $1100 and 40K points per person on top of that. The cheap flights to Europe pretty much don't exist (NYC-VCE those days on UA is about $1500 right now on a split Q/S fare and one of the TATL segments isn't even on UA metal so no upgrade there) and the rough value of $1100 in co-pay plus the 40K points is darn close to just spending the 100K points that US would charge per passenger.

The upgrade scheme and recent rise in "cheap" fares to Europe has made upgrades when you're also having to buy the base ticket (as opposed to bought for you by work) a very bad deal in most cases.

Thank you all. I've continued to work on this, including reaching out to paid professional award ticket advisers.

The DL EC options is possible, though I'm not seeing any EC seats on the out bound.

The UA/CO upgrade option is also possible, but again I'm not seeing UG inventory. Plus, the various routes I try result in needing to book very expensive intra EU economy tickets - $790 LH Frankfurt to VCE return! Amazing!

I also understand that even with out the UG inventory, we can choose flights likely to have J seats open in the final 24hrs, there by winning the UG. Though it would be a bit of a nail bitter to see if we got it.

I'm not sure what sbm12 meant by the US 100k option? Is there a way to us the US miles on US to guarantee J Envoy seats?

You've all been most kind in helping me! Thank you.
I'm kind of wondering why I have all these miles right now...
Can't seem to use them... yet!

Also, maybe someone could help me with this development - I'm seeing Easypass inventory on CO.com for EWR to FRA in BE. But I can't see it on ana.com? Is this only for CO members to book? Or can any *A member book one of these?
Could I call US and have them see the same inventory on CO?

Take a water taxi from VCE into the city.
The trip is awesome day or night.
It can drop you off directly at hotels on the Grand Canal.

For a hotel, I can recommend the Danieli and Gritti Palace,

I've stayed at both the Danieli and Gritti Palace. Both good choices, but I would recommend the Cipriani. Beautiful outdoor pool and clay tennis court, impeccable service, great restaurant and only 5 minutes from St. Marks Square by hotel launch.