SFO - ICN, SIN & MLE airline strategies

flyme2theriver · Dec 25, 12, 2:14 pm

I apologize in advance as this isn't really a MR discussion topic but I couldn't find anywhere else to post ...

Wife want's to go to Maldives and Singapore , I want to keep CPM lower than 7.5 I was somewhat successful with SFO-ICN-SIN-MLE with 3 days in each location using ITA and /minconnect 3000

$1500 ai (7.2 CPM and 21,250 miles)

Any thoughts on how to make it better? Also, the fare ends up on Singapore airlines doesn't accept UA CPUs, so any thoughts on how to get to the front of the plane as a UA 1k would be very helpful as well.

clacko · Dec 25, 12, 2:23 pm

post the ticket info & ask for help to max the mi's....dates, flight #'s, $s....

this is a fare request imho, which is a ft no no...

kaushik123 · Dec 25, 12, 2:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyme2theriver

I apologize in advance as this isn't really a MR discussion topic but I couldn't find anywhere else to post ...

Wife want's to go to Maldives and Singapore , I want to keep CPM lower than 7.5 I was somewhat successful with SFO-ICN-SIN-MLE with 3 days in each location using ITA and /minconnect 3000

$1500 ai (7.2 CPM and 21,250 miles)

Any thoughts on how to make it better? Also, the fare ends up on Singapore airlines doesn't accept UA CPUs, so any thoughts on how to get to the front of the plane as a UA 1k would be very helpful as well.

There is no way you can get in the front of the plane in SQ using UA miles. SFO-SIN is operated by their 77W aircraft for which business and first redemption/upgrades is blocked. You may have a chance to upgrade with miles on the SIN-MLE sector - that too if you book in a high enough fare class. For $1500 I bet this is a cheapo non-miles earning fare class that SQ offers.

Do you have enough UA miles to redeem a J award? If so, redeeming on UA/NH/OZ upto SIN and then purchasing a SIN-MLE-SIN on SQ maybe an option

paullevi · Dec 25, 12, 2:52 pm

Going to Maldives and pinching pennies are not compatible goals.

flyme2theriver · Dec 25, 12, 3:11 pm

Thanks @kaushik123 I'm looking at booking class W which seems upgradable and earns on UA. Are you saying all 777 can't be upgraded? We will do SFO-ICN which is the leg that I am most concerned with. I was hoping to transfer UA miles to Kris if all fails.

@paullevi thanks for the response, but have to disagree..
pinching pennies allows me to plan many more trips in a year. Last summer I spent $15k for a trip to Bora Bora, after finding FT and a few other sites, I've come to realize that I could have done the same trip for probably 1/2 the cost out of pocket.

Also, beyond just saving $ I am interested in learning the best way to construct the most advantageous fare.

AeroWesty · Dec 25, 12, 3:19 pm

My suggestion: Bone up on how to upgrade on UA, i.e. finding inventory in the upgrade class, then decide upon some dates to play with. The UA forum may be one of the better forums to begin in. UA miles don't transfer to SQ (everyone and his dog would be doing it, if it could be done).

Also learning how to use the travel tools as listed in the sticky at the top of the forum is an absolute essential. Visit the TravelTools forum for add'l help.

Happy holidays.

fanger · Dec 25, 12, 6:18 pm

Also you mention CPUs but in case you weren't clear you would need a GPU on a UA operated flight of W class or higher to use it. CPU and RPU aren't relevant here except for a few regional UA operated flights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyme2theriver

I apologize in advance as this isn't really a MR discussion topic but I couldn't find anywhere else to post ...

Wife want's to go to Maldives and Singapore , I want to keep CPM lower than 7.5 I was somewhat successful with SFO-ICN-SIN-MLE with 3 days in each location using ITA and /minconnect 3000

$1500 ai (7.2 CPM and 21,250 miles)

Any thoughts on how to make it better? Also, the fare ends up on Singapore airlines doesn't accept UA CPUs, so any thoughts on how to get to the front of the plane as a UA 1k would be very helpful as well.

**tcook052** · Dec 25, 12, 9:01 pm

While this clearly isn't a MR topic and while I too feel this reads like a fare request, which means asking for ticket prices between two airports on specific dates, as you haven't specified those dates I'll move this discussion over to the Budget Travel forum so you can work on getting the biggest value for your travel bucks if possible.

tcook052
Mileage Run Forum Moderator

flyme2theriver · Dec 25, 12, 10:49 pm

I didn't realize what I was asking for was a no no

**EmailKid** · Dec 26, 12, 10:38 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyme2theriver

I didn't realize what I was asking for was a no no

Well, it is, especially over in MR forum

We're a little more relaxed here in BT forum with less traffic

And back OT, you need to fly UA metal with W or higher fare to use a GPU

You also need to fly UA metal to use Ca$h and miles to upgrade, or what is normally a very expensive B or higher fare to upgrade with miles alone

There are *A u/g, but you have to ticket in top fare classes, so if you're trying to stay on a budget, those are nonstarters

So you could try to get to SIN either via ICN or NRT, and then try to get a separate flight from there. Of course if you want some stopovers along the way, it could raise the price of the ticket.

EmailKid
Budget Travel moderator