MilesBuzz! - best use of a chunk of EQMs on a non-partner airline

As recipient of a holiday RT ORD-HNL-ORD, I will benefit from 9-10k EQMs within the first week of 2004. Unfortunately, they will not be on my primary airline or its partners (NW gold), or even my secondary airline (AA)… they are on UAL. The flight is already ticketed and, as a gift, I am looking forward to the trip foremost; however, I'd like to get at least SOME utility from the miles (whether to trade, transfer, etc.)...

Though I am Chicago-based, I've not flown UAL in over 5 years and I don't even think I have a FF number with them any more. Curious to know if anyone has any thoughts on how I might be able to use or leverage these miles in any capacity. I could potentially switch secondary carriers to UAL from AA as I don't have any status on AA; however, I have some personal problems with UAL due to a problem I had with them (uh oh) 5 years ago and have avoided them since and have no real desire to switch. I anticipate flying about 60k-70k miles next year, and would hate also to give up the perks of NW gold.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas.

You could always sign up for the UA cc with one of the 10K deals, then find another way to pick up a few more thousand (idine, etc), take the free ticket, then go back to your normal flying habits.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MeLike2Travel:
You could always sign up for the UA cc with one of the 10K deals</font>

Current best offer is 20k signup bonus (http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webcgi/webserve.cgi?card=5SZN&mkid=6B01&partner_dir_name=united_signature_20k).

Move from UA miles to HH points. Some loss, in the process but useful.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chapie:
Move from UA miles to HH points. Some loss, in the process but useful.</font>

No longer an option, except via Diners Club.

UA --&gt; HHonors transfers were shut down about 8 months ago IIRC.

Join Mexicana, credit the United flight miles to Mexicana, and then transfer them to HHonors.

Djlawman

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Djlawman:
Join Mexicana, credit the United flight miles to Mexicana, and then transfer them to HHonors.

Djlawman</font>

Not sure, but I think that the UA/Mexicana agreement has either ended or will be ending soon. I recommend earning the miles on UA, spending 60 bucks and getting the UA card (link above)= ~29K + 1K with signing up for online account management = 30K

If you let me refer you to UA (or anyone else for that matter), you'll get an additional 5K (as would I if you let me refer you) = 35K - with this 35K, you can get a trip to Hawaii or some other carribean locations - if you wanted to, you could also switch your long distance to Sprint and bill it to your UA card and in 6 months, you'll get another 10K = 45K overall, then you'll have more than enough for a domestic F ticket (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,1142,00.html) or be just short 5K of a Y ticket to europe or two domestic Y tickets.

If you want to get the extra 5,000 miles and you're willing to let me refer you, e-mail me at sbhat235@yahoo.com and I'll give you the link.

Editted to Add that after you sign up for a UA account, you could get them to comp you to Premier, possibley Premier Executive and get a mileage bonus of 25-50% depending on what level they comp you to - according to many posts, they'll do this as a one time thing, but according to some FT'ers they'll do it more than once, so if you don't plan on making UA your regular carrier and you're willing to "risk" it, you can at least earn more miles and get easier check-in and E+ elite seating for a trip to HNL in Y.



[This message has been edited by bhatnasx (edited Dec 04, 2003).]

Agree with the previous post. Assuming you don't have a problem with applying for and carrying one extra credit card, the UA visa 20K mile bonus is one of the best out there. Once you get the UA visa card, you can upgrade it to gold for an extra annual fee of $25 (on a prorata basis) and get an extra 5K miles. Another option for gaining some miles is to sign up for an account at Ameritrade and earn some bonus miles depending on how much you deposit.

http://www.ameritrade.com/united/

Note that you have to keep your account open for at least six months with the minimum deposit level (unless you have trading losses). I use Ameritrade and find them to be pretty good.

Finally, if you apply for the UA visa card quickly enough, you can then use it to purchase US Savings Bonds at www.savingsbonds.gov. (http://www.savingsbonds.gov.) The option to buy bonds with your credit card will disappear after December 31, 2003. There are several primers on this if you want to do a search here.

So, between the flight already booked, the UA visa card bonus, the Mileage Plus signup referral bonus from the previous poster (although I'm not sure if that requires you to fly on certain fares), the other bonuses associated with the visa card, an Ameritrade account opening (say 8K miles for a deposit of $5K), Sprint LD or cellular service, you could be well on your way to a return ticket to Hawaii in First Class by the middle of next year http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif And if you need someone to refer you if you decide to obtain a UA MP visa card and/or Ameritrade account, I would be happy to offer some small goodies for the favor.


[This message has been edited by fallinasleep (edited Dec 04, 2003).]