Mileage Run Discussion - Will need 16k more miles for Gold

Upon completion of my Nov trip to Dublin in November from SFO, I am going to be 16k miles shy of Gold on United. I am hoping that I'll be able to do 1-2 mileage runs between now and the end of the for under $1k to get those needed miles.

Is this realistic even with keeping a vigilant eye on the Mileage Run Deals thread? Or am I just kidding myself and should settle for being Silver (which I did not mind on the pre-merger CO)?

Any input welcome.

maybe a 2x promo will come up....the sfo-ord deal was a winner....

3 trans cons comes close....sometimes under $300....

so, keep an eye out...

maybe a 2x promo will come up....the sfo-ord deal was a winner....

3 trans cons comes close....sometimes under $300....

so, keep an eye out...

If I could find a trans con flight @ $300 or thereabouts, I'd take those for sure. Is it worthwhile watching US Airways too, since they're *A memebers as well?

I'm in the exact same position just opposite coast. After a trip this weekend, I'm going to need 16k for *G on A3. If anyone has any ideas from IAD or DCA to SFO or vice versa, that'd be awesome.

I'm in the exact same position just opposite coast. After a trip this weekend, I'm going to need 16k for *G on A3. If anyone has any ideas from IAD or DCA to SFO or vice versa, that'd be awesome.

Good luck to you too. BTW, are you a Michigan State alum? SJSU Spartan alum here.

I flew IAD-ORD-HKG-NRT-IAD in march for $1034. You can find cheaper at times and can route better. This scored me 16,977 eqm. HKG is worth staying a few days and E+ is a must on ORD-HKG.

If I could find a trans con flight @ $300 or thereabouts, I'd take those for sure. Is it worthwhile watching US Airways too, since they're *A memebers as well?

If you don't have July 4th plans: 5279miles/4.9cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United San Francisco (SFO) to Houston (IAH) - Wed, Jul 4
United 224 Dep: 6:04AM Arr: 12:06PM 4h 2m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAH 1h 48m

United Houston (IAH) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 4293 Dep: 1:54PM Arr: 5:28PM 2h 34m Embraer ERJ-135/145 Economy (G)

OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Jul 4
United 6172 Dep: 7:58PM Arr: 9:05PM 1h 7m Embraer ERJ-145 Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 1h 2m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 225 Dep: 10:07PM Arr: 12:41AM 5h 34m Airbus A319 Economy (G)

Thu, Jul 5
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $259.70
Total cost for 1 passenger $259.70

Also, found the following in August with some limited availability, none on weekends though SFO-CHS 5720miles/4.7cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Charleston (CHS) - Tue, Aug 21
United San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD) - Tue, Aug 21
United 105 Dep: 11:11PM Arr: 7:08AM 4h 57m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAD Wed, Aug 22 0h 52m

United Washington (IAD) to Charleston (CHS) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 8:00AM Arr: 9:38AM 1h 38m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Charleston (CHS) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United Charleston (CHS) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 10:04AM Arr: 11:34AM 1h 30m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 0h 46m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United 548 Dep: 12:20PM Arr: 3:08PM 5h 48m Airbus A320 Economy (G)


Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $267.20
Total cost for 1 passenger $267.20

I flew IAD-ORD-HKG-NRT-IAD in march for $1034. You can find cheaper at times and can route better. This scored me 16,977 eqm. HKG is worth staying a few days and E+ is a must on ORD-HKG.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep my eye on the economy route thread. Is that how you found that price or did you find it yourself? Still new to all this stuff.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep my eye on the economy route thread. Is that how you found that price or did you find it yourself? Still new to all this stuff.

Found this on my own. At 6.1CPM, it's not a great mileage run candidate, but I wanted to spend a few days in HKG anyway, so I jumped on it. With some looking, you should be able to find fares around that mark, if not lower. The economy route thread is pretty useful for cities whose fares I don't normally keep an eye on.

Good luck!

If you don't have July 4th plans: 5279miles/4.9cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United San Francisco (SFO) to Houston (IAH) - Wed, Jul 4
United 224 Dep: 6:04AM Arr: 12:06PM 4h 2m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAH 1h 48m

United Houston (IAH) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 4293 Dep: 1:54PM Arr: 5:28PM 2h 34m Embraer ERJ-135/145 Economy (G)

OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Jul 4
United 6172 Dep: 7:58PM Arr: 9:05PM 1h 7m Embraer ERJ-145 Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 1h 2m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 225 Dep: 10:07PM Arr: 12:41AM 5h 34m Airbus A319 Economy (G)

Thu, Jul 5
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $259.70
Total cost for 1 passenger $259.70

Also, found the following in August with some limited availability, none on weekends though SFO-CHS 5720miles/4.7cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Charleston (CHS) - Tue, Aug 21
United San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD) - Tue, Aug 21
United 105 Dep: 11:11PM Arr: 7:08AM 4h 57m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAD Wed, Aug 22 0h 52m

United Washington (IAD) to Charleston (CHS) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 8:00AM Arr: 9:38AM 1h 38m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Charleston (CHS) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United Charleston (CHS) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 10:04AM Arr: 11:34AM 1h 30m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 0h 46m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United 548 Dep: 12:20PM Arr: 3:08PM 5h 48m Airbus A320 Economy (G)


Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $267.20
Total cost for 1 passenger $267.20

Thanks!

Looking at Silver vs Gold on the UA/CO site, it seems like the biggest difference/value-add (at least in my opinion) is the Lounge access for Intl travel & 3 free checked bags vs just 1. The 25% vs 50% miles bonus is minimal, but lounge access & free bags are nice. If, in the next year, you think you'll be able to enjoy the lounge access on Intl flights and save some $$$ when checking more than one bag then the MR is probably worth it. But, if you don't plan on flying much internationally or checking more than 1 bag then its probably not worth the cost/time to get Gold.

Looking at Silver vs Gold on the UA/CO site, it seems like the biggest difference/value-add (at least in my opinion) is the Lounge access for Intl travel & 3 free checked bags vs just 1. The 25% vs 50% miles bonus is minimal, but lounge access & free bags are nice. If, in the next year, you think you'll be able to enjoy the lounge access on Intl flights and save some $$$ when checking more than one bag then the MR is probably worth it. But, if you don't plan on flying much internationally or checking more than 1 bag then its probably not worth the cost/time to get Gold.

2 other perks that I can think of that can be nice is free same-day flight changes, and free E+ at booking instead of check-in.

2 other perks that I can think of that can be nice is free same-day flight changes, and free E+ at booking instead of check-in.

Are those UA Premier Gold benefits or *G?

If you don't have July 4th plans: 5279miles/4.9cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United San Francisco (SFO) to Houston (IAH) - Wed, Jul 4
United 224 Dep: 6:04AM Arr: 12:06PM 4h 2m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAH 1h 48m

United Houston (IAH) to Greensboro/High Point (GSO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 4293 Dep: 1:54PM Arr: 5:28PM 2h 34m Embraer ERJ-135/145 Economy (G)

OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United Greensboro/High Point (GSO) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Jul 4
United 6172 Dep: 7:58PM Arr: 9:05PM 1h 7m Embraer ERJ-145 Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 1h 2m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Jul 4
United 225 Dep: 10:07PM Arr: 12:41AM 5h 34m Airbus A319 Economy (G)

Thu, Jul 5
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $259.70
Total cost for 1 passenger $259.70

Also, found the following in August with some limited availability, none on weekends though SFO-CHS 5720miles/4.7cpm

San Francisco (SFO) to Charleston (CHS) - Tue, Aug 21
United San Francisco (SFO) to Washington (IAD) - Tue, Aug 21
United 105 Dep: 11:11PM Arr: 7:08AM 4h 57m Boeing 757 Economy (G)

Layover in IAD Wed, Aug 22 0h 52m

United Washington (IAD) to Charleston (CHS) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 8:00AM Arr: 9:38AM 1h 38m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS

Charleston (CHS) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United Charleston (CHS) to Washington (IAD) - Wed, Aug 22
United 5735 Dep: 10:04AM Arr: 11:34AM 1h 30m Canadair Reg. Jet Economy (G)
OPERATED BY EXPRESSJET AIRLINES DBA UNITED EXPRESS Layover in IAD 0h 46m

United Washington (IAD) to San Francisco (SFO) - Wed, Aug 22
United 548 Dep: 12:20PM Arr: 3:08PM 5h 48m Airbus A320 Economy (G)


Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $267.20
Total cost for 1 passenger $267.20

Without asking you to give away the keys to the crown jewels, how do you find these routes and price combos?

Looking at Silver vs Gold on the UA/CO site, it seems like the biggest difference/value-add (at least in my opinion) is the Lounge access for Intl travel & 3 free checked bags vs just 1. The 25% vs 50% miles bonus is minimal, but lounge access & free bags are nice. If, in the next year, you think you'll be able to enjoy the lounge access on Intl flights and save some $$$ when checking more than one bag then the MR is probably worth it. But, if you don't plan on flying much internationally or checking more than 1 bag then its probably not worth the cost/time to get Gold.

Well, I'll be flying twice next year for sure for work, and getting upgrades (if any) would be nice. Plus since I have the United Club Card getting a 3rd checked bag free due to Gold status would be good. I do plan taking 2-3 international trips next year as well, potentially LHR, EDI and someplace in the APAC area, I think Gold would be great to have to ensure I get into the *A lounges.

Well, I'll be flying twice next year for sure for work, and getting upgrades (if any) would be nice. Plus since I have the United Club Card getting a 3rd checked bag free due to Gold status would be good. I do plan taking 2-3 international trips next year as well, potentially LHR, EDI and someplace in the APAC area, I think Gold would be great to have to ensure I get into the *A lounges.I would add up the cost of the extra benefits you expect to receive as Gold versus Silver and see if that is more or less than $1000:

--From the complaints on the United thread, it sounds like it is much easier to buy a cheap paid upgrade at an airport kiosk compared to getting free upgrades as a Gold. $1000 is a lot of "tens-of-dollars" upgrades. :D
--Do the lounges you plan to visit as a *G allow paid entry? (Assuming the international lounge visits aren't covered by the United Club card...)
--How often will you check a 3rd bag and what fee would you have to pay as Silver?
--How many bonus miles will you receive as Gold compared to Silver given your travel patterns?

etc.