Mileage Run Deals - UA:SFO/SEA/DEN-IAD/EWR-SJU $331-340 A/I ($4.6 cpm; April through June)

UA SFO-SJU (through IAD or EWR or IAH) $331-$340 A/I

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Everyone!

Just FYI, I found this reasonable R/T SFO-SJU April through June.

Mostly during the week. I booked a couple of red-eye/same day turnaround. (fly the redeye to EWR or IAD then IAD-SJU-IAD-SFO the next day)

Fares were around $337 round trip including taxes. Roughly around $.046 CPM if done through IAD/or EWR.

Fare Basis: SXA7SNN

I routed through IAD mostly since EWR is notorious for delays the last time I did this.

Enjoy!

Seeing $319 out of DEN via IAH. Same day turn. 5CPM. Booked.

Routing:
SXA7SNN 138.00 276.00 UA ROUTE:0023

SPECIFIED ROUTE: 0023
SFO-HOU-SJU
SFO-CHI/HOU/EWR/WAS-SJU
SFO-EWR/HOU-SJU

Great find! Thanks to the OP ^

Fabulous!! Thanks OP - booked SFO-EWR-SJU-EWR-SFO Jun 8 - Jun 12. $357 a/i

Got SFO-IAD-SJU-IAD-SFO 5/7 $337.40 ai. = .042. Thanks! :D

also good out of SEA

Thanks so much OP^

Thanks OP. Booked a mini vacation. Also achieve Hyatt 16 nights with this trip.

also good out of SEA
What's the routing out of SEA?

Someone already posted here several days ago but couldn't find it.
The fare appeared gone but came back on united.com today.
The glitch on the website continues but able to book it with a phone call.
Depart 5/7 Return 5/9. 8163 miles. 4.1cpm.
Other dates available in the same week.

I really wish people (OPs, moderators?) would update thread titles regularly!!!

Someone posted that this deal was valid out of SEA as well. Since the title didn't reflect it I didn't read the thread until tonight as I bypassed it for several days.

Can the forum as a whole please be more diligent about updating thread titles with airlines, applicable cities and fares when they change from what the existing thread title shows? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
RM

I really wish people (OPs, moderators?) would update thread titles regularly!!!

....
Can the forum as a whole please be more diligent about updating thread titles with airlines, applicable cities and fares when they change from what the existing thread title shows? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
RM

Well - as long as we're nitpicking titles, shouldn't it either be:
1. $0.046/m ... or
2. 4.6 CPM
???

:rolleyes:

Nice find, no matter how you write it...!

I am getting the following for now:
SFO -> IAH - 1,635 base miles 100% qualifying. (S fare type)
IAH -> SJU - 2,007 base miles 100% qualifying. (S fare type)

Now my question is, will I get 50% bonus on the above miles being a Prem Exec?

thanks!

I am getting the following for now:
SFO -> IAH - 1,635 base miles 100% qualifying. (S fare type)
IAH -> SJU - 2,007 base miles 100% qualifying. (S fare type)

Now my question is, will I get 50% bonus on the above miles being a Prem Exec?

thanks!

You dhould if you are flying on UA metal.

Still a few days left for $336 on 1 day tours.

Still a few days left for $336 on 1 day tours.

How does the one-day tour work?

I just tried 5/7 to 5/9 and there are $404 fares.

But if I try 5/7 to 5/8 or 5/8 to 5/9, it goes over $500.

Or if I pick a weekend, then price goes way up.

See the thread below on my failed MR last night....

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1337544-sfo-iad-last-night-no-gates-mechanical-mr-disaster.html

Just be forewarned that things can go wrong pretty quickly especially since there's only one IAD-SJU flight for the day.

I just booked this in Sept for 337.00 Lots of availability in Sept,

Just finished my SFO-IAD-SJU run. FYI the plane you arrive on is the one you leave on. I think I had an entire 20 mins in Puerto Rico :-). There were 3 mileage runners on board and I met 2 more waiting to board back to SFO. Just to make it interesting I preceded this run with a SFO-JFK rt and boy am I pooped!

Just finished my SFO-IAD-SJU run. FYI the plane you arrive on is the one you leave on. I think I had an entire 20 mins in Puerto Rico :-). There were 3 mileage runners on board and I met 2 more waiting to board back to SFO. Just to make it interesting I preceded this run with a SFO-JFK rt and boy am I pooped!

sounds like a fun trip with many people on board.

do you see any more days at the lower fare? everything I price out ends up being at least $560+?

I just booked this in Sept for 337.00 Lots of availability in Sept,

Yes, I see September ... and as a bonus, I see that US Airways and American have both matched ($337!!!)

I just booked this in Sept for 337.00 Lots of availability in Sept,

It seems to me that UA's lowest fare in September for weekend turn-arounds is $404, although the same flights can be booked from US for $337. :rolleyes:

I really wish people (OPs, moderators?) would update thread titles regularly!!!

Someone posted that this deal was valid out of SEA as well. Since the title didn't reflect it I didn't read the thread until tonight as I bypassed it for several days.

Can the forum as a whole please be more diligent about updating thread titles with airlines, applicable cities and fares when they change from what the existing thread title shows? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
RM

Just FYI, only the moderators can edit thread titles, unless the edit is made within a certain short amount of time after the original posting. (I don't remember the threshold, but it's on the order of minutes, IIRC.)

So the OP (or someone else, such as yourself), has to contact the moderator to get the title changed.

Edit to add: And by the way, the moderators cannot POSSIBLY spend the time to read every single thread that is posted on their forum(s) and update all the titles, make other edits, move or merge threads!!! Moderators are unpaid volunteers who have lives (you know, regular jobs and other activities to attend to). They cannot spend 24/7 -- generally, not even 8/7 -- doing their moderating. That is why you have to alert a moderator if something needs changing, using either a PM or the "alert a moderator" icon. And then allow a reasonable amount of time for them to read the messages and take appropriate action.

Well - as long as we're nitpicking titles, shouldn't it either be:
1. $0.046/m ... or
2. 4.6 CPM
???

:rolleyes:

....

Not nitpicking -- there's a hundred-fold difference there!!!

.046 CPM would be a spectacular deal. :eek:

Yes, I see September ... and as a bonus, I see that US Airways and American have both matched ($337!!!)

I just checked United.com for September for SFO-SJU and the best price I'm seeing is $404 round trip A/I. Am I doing something wrong when I search the calendar for this flight? Should I be populating something in the search criteria?

My flight would depart on a Friday evening, go through ORD and arrive in SJU at like 205pm on Saturday. I'd depart SJU at 255pm through IAD and arrive back in SFO at around 1045pm that same day.

Still available from SEA during Sept/Oct/Nov for $337.

I really wish people (OPs, moderators?) would update thread titles regularly!!!

Someone posted that this deal was valid out of SEA as well. Since the title didn't reflect it I didn't read the thread until tonight as I bypassed it for several days.

Can the forum as a whole please be more diligent about updating thread titles with airlines, applicable cities and fares when they change from what the existing thread title shows? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
RM
Hi RobOnLi
I expect that issues that worry you so much, that you can take the time and effort to contact Mods on the forum, to send an alert!!!

Did you or someone send an Alert to request the addition of a city into the title?
The Alert button looks like this: http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.flyertalk.com/get/forum/images/buttons/report.gif
It is on the bottom-left corner of every post, so that you can alert to a particular post. In this case you should make an alert about the OP's post.

Reality check:
I do have a life and a job and do not scour every single post at every minute of every day, so please have reasonable expectations that Moderators, who volunteer their time, will most likely only make title updates as they see a need - or at the suggestion of a FTer, via an Alert.http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.flyertalk.com/get/forum/images/buttons/report.gif

If you take the time to send an Alert to request a title update, one of the four forum moderators should be able to respond in a reasonable amount of time.

Since FlyerTalk is an international forum for people who travel frequently, moderators are not necessarily living their lives at the exact same hours as yourself or any specific member, so any Alert may be attended to at any hour of the day or night.

Thanks for the suggestion and please keep the helpful suggestions regarding specific Mileage Run forum threads coming, via Alerts. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.flyertalk.com/get/forum/images/buttons/report.gif :)

Best regards!!!
BiziBB, Moderator Mileage Run (currently GMT +10)

PS. Note that I did read your post and my first response was to add SEA to the title, per a post after yours.
Before I took the time to explain how you can constructively suggest changes to thread titles.

It seems to me that UA's lowest fare in September for weekend turn-arounds is $404, although the same flights can be booked from US for $337. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I'm seeing nothing but $404. Is this worth it? If so, I'm taking the 09/14 1 day tour and leaving SFO at 1110pm and arriving in SJU via ORD at 206pm with 255pm departure from SJU back to SFO at 1045pm via ORD.

If you think you're taking this same flight, let me know, I'll guest you a the Club in ORD on the outbound flight (inbound there is only a 55min window to catch flight back to SFO).

Eric

Eric - I think it's better to take the SDO-IAD-SJU-IAD-SFO routing, since I believe that is the same plane and you won't get stuck in SJU.

Unless, of course, that's what you are hoping for. ;)

I'm not currently planning to do this. But, am I correct that if I booked it on US for the cheaper price, I would be eligible for complementary (CPU) upgrades within 24 hours of departure?

Eric - I think it's better to take the SDO-IAD-SJU-IAD-SFO routing, since I believe that is the same plane and you won't get stuck in SJU.

Unless, of course, that's what you are hoping for. ;)

I'm not currently planning to do this. But, am I correct that if I booked it on US for the cheaper price, I would be eligible for complementary (CPU) upgrades within 24 hours of departure?

Whoops, no, I don't want to get stuck in SJU. Thanks for pointing that out. I can't comment on complementary upgrades though as I don't have status just quite yet (this will put me over for Silver qualification).

Trying to book the following on the US Airways site for September 14 for $337, but it won't allow the turn in SJU as it is under 1 hour. Based on what I've read here it is the same United plane flying in and out of SJU. Is that what you all are seeing?

6484
10:30 PM SFO 6:43 AM IAD Operated by United

6591
8:15 AM IAD 12:07 PM SJU Operated by United

Return
6590
12:55 PM SJU 4:47 PM IAD Operated by United

6761
6:45 PM IAD 9:35 PM SFO Operated by United

OK-this is not a trick flight so I figured it would be OK to call. They told me that I couldn't book it because I would have to allow time to go through immigration. When I pointed out I would just be in transit they said they just could not allow it as it breaks their rules and so I should either call United and book there (United is charging more though now so that's not great) or book as two one-way tickets (also not good as that pushes the price out of MR category.) :(

I encountered similar problems before. It is silly. The workaround is to use 3rd party online booking enginee. Unless you have voucher to use with US Airways, you'd better booking somewhere else since you may even get cashback from online portals...

Good luck.

Trying to book the following on the US Airways site for September 14 for $337, but it won't allow the turn in SJU as it is under 1 hour. Based on what I've read here it is the same United plane flying in and out of SJU. Is that what you all are seeing?

6484
10:30 PM SFO 6:43 AM IAD Operated by United

6591
8:15 AM IAD 12:07 PM SJU Operated by United

Return
6590
12:55 PM SJU 4:47 PM IAD Operated by United

6761
6:45 PM IAD 9:35 PM SFO Operated by United

OK-this is not a trick flight so I figured it would be OK to call. They told me that I couldn't book it because I would have to allow time to go through immigration. When I pointed out I would just be in transit they said they just could not allow it as it breaks their rules and so I should either call United and book there (United is charging more though now so that's not great) or book as two one-way tickets (also not good as that pushes the price out of MR category.) :(

^ Thanks for the tip! The 3rd party online booking engine allowed it.

Hello Everyone!

Not really a MR, but I booked a flight over a weekend in September SEA-ORD-SJU-IAD-SEA for $316 A/I. (I've done several 1 hour turn arounds and I'm ready to take a short vacation instead)

I actually ticketed yesterday at $336 but called back today and had it repriced at $316 :-)

FYI, I had to book this on segment by segment. Originally found the fare on Orbitz under a US codeshare, but priced out correctly on United.com if you booked by segment.

M.

LAX for $324, wide availability

the return IAD-LAX is on a 777

Am I missing something? Why is there immigration involved?

(emphasis mine)



*snip*
6484
10:30 PM SFO 6:43 AM IAD Operated by United

6591
8:15 AM IAD 12:07 PM SJU Operated by United

Return
6590
12:55 PM SJU 4:47 PM IAD Operated by United

6761
6:45 PM IAD 9:35 PM SFO Operated by United

OK-this is not a trick flight so I figured it would be OK to call. They told me that I couldn't book it because I would have to allow time to go through immigration.

...

Am I missing something? Why is there immigration involved?

(emphasis mine)

I've done this dozens of times and THERE IS NO IMMIGRATION/CUSTOMS involved.

It's just like taking a domestic flight. Sometimes the TSA or CBP do spot checks on the jetway just before boarding...I've only encountered that twice in all of my trips there.

Even with the secondary check, you're already pretty much on board so its no hassle.

That's what I thought! Thank you for the clarification :)

I've done this dozens of times and THERE IS NO IMMIGRATION/CUSTOMS involved.

It's just like taking a domestic flight. Sometimes the TSA or CBP do spot checks on the jetway just before boarding...I've only encountered that twice in all of my trips there.

Even with the secondary check, you're already pretty much on board so its no
hassle.

I snagged one of these out of DEN a few weeks ago...g class...

At IAH the GA made an announcement. "ladies and gentlemen, we do not need.to see your passports. Puerto Rico is in the United States of America." Lol.

I have seen APHIS do checks in SJU before.

Looks like I waited to long on this one as it's now $424 for SFO-SJU via ORD.

Looks like I waited to long on this one as it's now $424 for SFO-SJU via ORD.

Depends when you are going. I'm looking at 9/7 weekend and it is still $317 both through ORD and IAD but you do have to stay over the weekend.

Try booking per segment too/multiple destinations, sometimes that helps or book through a third party website or US.

AA flights has MUCH more dates available from Sept-Nov at $337 and also have more creative routing for more miles (hence same cpm)
Example: SEA-ORD-MCO-MIA-SJU (with 500 min add up to 4.26k miles), or even SEA-JFK-SJU is over 4k miles

AA flights has MUCH more dates available from Sept-Nov at $337 and also have more creative routing for more miles (hence same cpm)
Example: SEA-ORD-MCO-MIA-SJU (with 500 min add up to 4.26k miles), or even SEA-JFK-SJU is over 4k miles

Depends when you are going. I'm looking at 9/7 weekend and it is still $317 both through ORD and IAD but you do have to stay over the weekend.

Try booking per segment too/multiple destinations, sometimes that helps or book through a third party website or US.

Unfortunately, what made the original run appealing was that I could easily be on a return flight within hours. I'll have to keep my eyes open for similar mileage runs again. I've got to do about 16k miles between now and the end of the year and this would have helped me get to Gold for sure.

Schedule Change Alert! - United flights in September

Looking for a SEA originating flights but all are over $800 (some over $1k) for a Friday departure and Monday return. Is this gone? Or were those departure day of week just bad?

Interesting saga on this.
Original booking SFO-IAD-SJU-IAD-SFO for September
1. United good prices were gone
2. US Airways had the old price (for the United flights) but their booking engine wouldn't allow it due to connect time in SJU.
3. So..Booked on Expedia, which didn't see an issue with the connect time, for the US Airways flights at the good price. ^
United changes schedule but the connection times in IAD are pretty tight.
1. Called United and they were ok with moving flights to allow more connect time but couldn't bc tickets were issued by Expedia (no real surprise there).
2. Called Expedia who called United - United says no flight change it's a legal connect.
OK - just reissue tickets with new flight numbers/times
1. Expedia can't reissue bc they get an illegal connect time in their system for connection through IAD.
2. Expedia calls United to ask them to reissue, but they won't help bc the tickets were issued under US Airways.
3. Expedia calls US Airways, but they say they won't assist bc United was the one making the schedule change. :(
4. Lots of going back and forth with Expedia rep talking to their technical group, calling United, calling US Airways.
5.After three hours, most of which I was on the phone with Expedia, Expedia was finally able to reissue the tickets by working with United.

Question - other than tight connection times the schedule looked fine on my account on the United site. Was it really necessary to get Expedia/US Airways involved to reissue anything? Anyone else have this experience?

Looking for a SEA originating flights but all are over $800 (some over $1k) for a Friday departure and Monday return. Is this gone? Or were those departure day of week just bad?

Mikelat: I still see wide open availability for flights matching your parameters in September for $317 on DL. I didn't check other months.

Interesting saga on this.

Question - other than tight connection times the schedule looked fine on my account on the United site. Was it really necessary to get Expedia/US Airways involved to reissue anything? Anyone else have this experience?

Sounds like you are victim of the 'CODESHARE' dream - it in theory should make things easy to work on partner airlines but never is the experience pleasant. Add fuel to fire add a 3rd party ticket agent.

I don't have enough hours to detail the issues encountered with KLM/AF and Delta (if Delta issued the ticket). Standing in front of an AF representative willing to make the change but she must get on the phone with DL and request a change she would've done for free but DL charged $300.

Mikelat: I still see wide open availability for flights matching your parameters in September for $317 on DL. I didn't check other months.

I don't even both with Delta. No point dealing with skypesos.

I was looking for either CO/UA or AA. DL is worthless to me :)

still see it for $323 on UA

I don't even both with Delta. No point dealing with skypesos.

I was looking for either CO/UA or AA. DL is worthless to me :)

I credit DL to AS, whose points are much more valuable. In my case, I hardly consider DL miles worthless.

I credit DL to AS, whose points are much more valuable. In my case, I hardly consider DL miles worthless.

Good point there. Had forgotten about option to credit to AS. Unfortunately, even with that, I wouldn't have enough qualifying miles on AS & partners to even hit MVP so I have 0% chance at upgrades on DL (not that it'd be that much higher than 0% even if I were MVP Gold). So, I'll reserve my flying $$ for primariliy AA trips and occasional CO/UA where I have a shot at upgrades. I do realize that may not be the same for everyone though.

Just booked on US/UA for 9550 EQM SEA-SJU, $316.40.

Just booked on US/UA for 9550 EQM SEA-SJU, $316.40.

Cool. Just found some in Sept. I'll see if I can find anything that works...

Just booked on US/UA for 9550 EQM SEA-SJU, $316.40.

nevermind, read the thread title :)

Cool. Just found some in Sept. I'll see if I can find anything that works...

Okay, I'm booked on US Air for flight from SFO-SJU RT AFI $316.40 ($0.039 CPM) I'll be flying outbound via PHL and inbound via IAD, all flights operated by UA. I depart SJU on 09/08 at 1242pm local time, so will be arriving at the airport probably no later than 10-1030am. I'll be hanging in the lounge (not sure if it'll be a United, US Air or *A lounge), so if you'd like to get access, PM me.

See ya in Puerto Rico!

Eric

I'll be hanging in the lounge (not sure if it'll be a United, US Air or *A lounge), so if you'd like to get access, PM me.


Are you sure there is a lounge at all? There are no United clubs listed there on United's site and when searching for *A clubs on the *A site there are none listed either. US Air doesn't show any either.

Are you sure there is a lounge at all? There are no United clubs listed there on United's site and when searching for *A clubs on the *A site there are none listed either. US Air doesn't show any either.

Yeah, I was doing some research after I made the post. Looks like I'm outta luck from a lounge perspective.

Just checked both UA/US and looks like the best you can do RT AFI is in the low $400's now.

Eric

I am looking at booking this flight again for October. I arrive at 1207pm on 10/06 and depart for home that afternoon on a 255pm flight. Is that too tight a arrival/departure window out of SJU?

Thanks!

I am looking at booking this flight again for October. I arrive at 1207pm on 10/06 and depart for home that afternoon on a 255pm flight. Is that too tight a arrival/departure window out of SJU?

Thanks!

I've done 55mins. You'll be fine. No customs/immigration, and you can buy booze while you're there!

I've done 55mins. You'll be fine. No customs/immigration, and you can buy booze while you're there!
Well, I am going to have to remember this for next year! I am going to stay 1 night at a Hilton property and then fly back the next afternoon. This flight is the flight that will complete my miles for 50k EQM's for SFO-SJU on 10/1 and return on 10/3.

So long as I make all 3 of my final flights, which I will, I will qualify for Gold when I get back from Dublin in November.

Again, thanks for the info on the 55 min turn around being good!

Eric

I'll be hanging in the lounge (not sure if it'll be a United, US Air or *A lounge), so if you'd like to get access, PM me.



I complete this MR last week and had a 4 hour layover in SJU. If you have a Priority Pass card (include Select card), you can use the AA Admirals Club. It is a 5-10 minute walk, but all airside.

I complete this MR last week and had a 4 hour layover in SJU. If you have a Priority Pass card (include Select card), you can use the AA Admirals Club. It is a 5-10 minute walk, but all airside.

Sadly, I could not find any flights on US that had a four hour layover (only the roughly 1 hour layover) so I chose to spend a night at a Hilton property within a few miles of the airport. Next year, when I have a better plan for using this route as the bread and butter of getting back to Gold, I will be keep that in mind. Sadly, I don't have a Priority Pass card and I believe I could get in with my AMX Platinum, however, then I would have had to pay with that card and bought my ticket on AA (which isn't *A I believe).

But still good info. Thanks!

Eric

Sadly, I could not find any flights on US that had a four hour layover (only the roughly 1 hour layover) so I chose to spend a night at a Hilton property within a few miles of the airport. Next year, when I have a better plan for using this route as the bread and butter of getting back to Gold, I will be keep that in mind. Sadly, I don't have a Priority Pass card and I believe I could get in with my AMX Platinum, however, then I would have had to pay with that card and bought my ticket on AA (which isn't *A I believe).

But still good info. Thanks!

Eric

I am not familar with the AMX Platinum card, but I thought they offered the Priority Pass Select card. The PP Select card is obtained through financial institutions and is not valid at domestic United Clubs. They are, however, valid at most US Airways and Alaskan Club rooms.

I obtained my Priority Pass Select card via Ameriprise World Elite Mastercard. They charge $150/year, but I believe they now provide a $50 travel credit. Also, if you spend a minimum amount, $36k/year (?), they will waive the fee. With the PP Select card, you do not have to show your boarding pass, so you can be flying any airline.

I am looking at booking this flight again for October. I arrive at 1207pm on 10/06 and depart for home that afternoon on a 255pm flight. Is that too tight a arrival/departure window out of SJU?

Thanks!

Not at all. I just made a risky 46 minute international non-connection at SJU. Arrived on CM, outbound on UA. Bear in mind that I had to immigrate and pick up luggage and clear customs prior to rechecking bags. CM was about 5 mins early, which helped.

I checked in on UA.COM and obtained my BPs from their counter at PTY. Using these, I asked CM to interline so my bag tags showed my final. I knew it would be tight. It was. Although my bags technically violated the cutoff, the fact they had already been interlined and showed on the record helped my case and they did make it all the way.

Without bags, this would have been a non-issue.

November is opening up - I see a one night turn 11/3-11/4 for 3.75 cpm

November is opening up - I see a one night turn 11/3-11/4 for 3.75 cpm

Can be had for lower from SEA (and PDX). See DL: West Coast - SJU $299 RT all in (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals/1362617-dl-west-coast-sju-299-rt-all.html)

Hope this flight will still be around next year as the basis of earning Gold again!