Mileage Run Discussion - US: MR for Chairman's

A friend (ex-PHL) wants to go from absolutely zero status to Chairman's with US. He's looked at AA, DL, and UA, but this seems to be the only way to go from nothing to top-tier with a US carrier.

The cheapest way to go about this is to buy Silver using Trial Preferred (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/promotions/trialpreferred.html) and then running 30,000 EQM's/40 segments within 90 days, he'd be Chairman until February 28 2014.

Any crazy MR thoughts?

A friend (ex-PHL) wants to go from absolutely zero status to Chairman's with US. He's looked at AA, DL, and UA, but this seems to be the only way to go from nothing to top-tier with a US carrier.

The cheapest way to go about this is to buy Silver using Trial Preferred (http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/promotions/trialpreferred.html) and then running 30,000 EQM's/40 segments within 90 days, he'd be Chairman until early 2014.

Would you think he's better to try and MR it or to buy it outright for 1 flight and $2999?

$2999 would be like paying 10 cpm for every flight, and not earning any miles on any of them. Unless the time required to fly 30k miles or 40 segments is too much for him, I'd definitely fly. 6 transcons would easily do it, 5 if he is creative with routing, though he may not want to look ex-PHL as US will likely be highest for a transcon from there. Maybe EWR or BWI may serve him better to look to/from.

6 transcons should be easy w/i 90 days & maybe ~ $2kish...

friend wont have any work trips during the 90 days?

BOS-PHX nonstop is $220 RT AI on US right now, wide open the first week and a half of December, 4.8 cpm. Better than taking a bunch of short flights, or hops all over. 2294 miles each way.

Where is your friend? I gather not still in PHL ... ?

I'm always amazed at how cheap it could be to make CP first time via US. The nice thing about Silver Trial is that it is cheap and before you know it you are Gold, so he will start scoring FC tickets for the back end of the ride up.

Anyhow, the TC thing would be too much for me -- travel to nowhere, not money. From PHL, you could still do this almost in spare time -- 10 day trips PHL-DCA/CLT-RDU at $184 to $204; 4 segments per trip. A few hundred bucks and three days more than the BOS-PHX mile stuff, but easier on sleep, IRROPS, etc. Just saying ....

Where is your friend? I gather not still in PHL ... ?

I'm always amazed at how cheap it could be to make CP first time via US. The nice thing about Silver Trial is that it is cheap and before you know it you are Gold, so he will start scoring FC tickets for the back end of the ride up.

Anyhow, the TC thing would be too much for me -- travel to nowhere, not money. From PHL, you could still do this almost in spare time -- 10 day trips PHL-DCA/CLT-RDU at $184 to $204; 4 segments per trip. A few hundred bucks and three days more than the BOS-PHX mile stuff, but easier on sleep, IRROPS, etc. Just saying ....
So during the Silver trial you immediately jump to Gold and Platinum after the lower thresholds of 15,000/22,500?

The idea of 6 closely timed transcons doesn't exactly appeal to him, but $220AI isn't too shabby at all. Maybe pay the extra $200 up front for immediate Gold and bank on a few upgrades...

So during the Silver trial you immediately jump to Gold and Platinum after the lower thresholds of 15,000/22,500?

Yes.

Or segments -- don't forget the segments. I'm not ordinarily a segments guy (last couple of years I have hit Platinum in miles before Silver in segments), but I keep thinking that, in your friend's case, segments might be the way to go here.

From where will he be flying?

Yes.

Or segments -- don't forget the segments. I'm not ordinarily a segments guy (last couple of years I have hit Platinum in miles before Silver in segments), but I keep thinking that, in your friend's case, segments might be the way to go here.

From where will he be flying?
PHL, 90% domestic and the odd trip to Europe. New company doesn't pay for J. Just spoke with him and day trips seem a lot more palatable.

On a side bar, is Chairman's status at all useful when looking to status match?

I think 0 to CP within X weeks would be an interesting exercise.

I think 0 to CP within X weeks would be an interesting exercise.

I did 0 to EXP in about 14 weeks or so, using all the promos AA ran at the beginning of this year. Some people did it within 2 weeks IIRC.

Would the 30000 EQM's earned during the CP challenge count towards re-qualification?

IE: Friend becomes CP before Dec 31. Status granted until early 2014. Come January 1st does he have to earn 70000 or 100000 additional miles to stay CP until early 2015?