DHutchy

Hi,

I've really scaled back on my travel this year and I'm trying hard to keep my gold status on United. I recently did a 18,000 mile run (SLC-LAX-SFO-HKG-SGN-HKG-SFO-SLC) on use it or lose it United vouchers. Now I need to fork out a little cash and get my last 11,000 miles to keep gold. I'm new to the mileage run concept, so any pointers here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

jbeckett

Have a look here if you need advice of how to find a mileage run -
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...h-me-fish.html
Also look through this forum and the mileage run forum for ideas.

If you are looking for help with a specific mileage run, at minimum post your starting city and any date restrictions. It is helpful too to know exactly how many miles you need.

Madone59

^^

Welcome to FT DHutchy. You are going to MR that much for gold? Are you expecting to travel more in 2015? Why not get the mileage plus explorer card? Zone two boarding, free checked bags....less chance of DVT .

wh6cto

Since OP needs 11k for Gold, this means he is already Silver...so he already has one free bag and Zone 2 boarding. So I'm not sure Explorer card will benefit him.

But I agree, cost seems high to get to Gold. I don't see any obvious way below around $800 (SLC-IAH-EWR-BQN + SLC-LAX), and the easiest way (SLC-ICN) is around $900. Key benefits of Gold is free SDC, 3 checked bags (latter which you can get with Club Visa card). Still Zone 2 boarding.

That being said, I worked very hard to get to Gold myself, I can't fault the OP for also wanting to do the same.

Kmxu

If you can persuade a UA agent to split the POS-EWR segment into POS-IAH and IAH-EWR. This is a good deal, $584.20 for 11,900 miles.

Fri., Dec. 5, 2014 | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) to San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Depart:
6:00 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
Arrive:
7:12 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Flight Time:
2 hr 12 mn
Distance:
590 miles
Flight:UA6465
Operated by SKYWEST DBA UNITED EXPRESS.
Aircraft: Canadair Regional Jet 200
Fare Class: United Economy (G)
Meal: None
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in Los Angeles, CA (LAX) is 2 hours 22 minutes.
Depart:
9:34 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Arrive:
11:04 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Flight Time:
1 hr 30 mn

Travel Time:
6 hr 4 mn
Distance:
337 miles
Total Distance:
927 miles
Flight: UA239
Aircraft: Airbus A319
Fare Class: United Economy (G)
Meal: None
No Special Meal Offered.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014 | San Francisco, CA (SFO) to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Depart:
2:59 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Arrive:
11:19 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Flight Time:
5 hr 20 mn
Distance:
2,565 miles
Flight:UA1120
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
Fare Class: United Economy (K)
Meal: Meals for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 40 minutes.
Depart:
11:59 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 5, 2014
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Arrive:
5:54 a.m. +1 Day
Sat., Dec. 6, 2014
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Flight Time:
4 hr 55 mn

Travel Time:
10 hr 55 mn
Distance:
2,216 miles
Total Distance:
4,781 miles
Flight: UA1505
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Fare Class: United Economy (K)
Meal: Snacks for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Sat., Dec. 6, 2014 | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS) to New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Depart:
7:34 a.m.
Sat., Dec. 6, 2014
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
Arrive:
6:54 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 6, 2014
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Flight Time:
12 hr 20 mn

Travel Time:
12 hr 20 mn
Distance:
2,216 miles
Flight:UA1459
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Fare Class: United Economy (T)
Meal: Meals for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
1 Stop. Time on the ground in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) is 2 hours 41 minutes. Change Planes. Equipment changes in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) to a Boeing 757-200.
Equipment changes in Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) to a Boeing 757-200.
Sun., Dec. 7, 2014 | New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) to Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
Depart:
6:00 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, 2014
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Arrive:
7:36 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, 2014
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Flight Time:
2 hr 36 mn
Distance:
719 miles
Flight:UA1455
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Fare Class: United Economy (T)
Meal: Snacks for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) is 5 hours 14 minutes.
Depart:
12:50 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, 2014
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Arrive:
3:25 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 7, 2014
Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
Flight Time:
3 hr 35 mn

Travel Time:
11 hr 25 mn
Distance:
1,249 miles
Total Distance:
1,968 miles
Flight: UA6227
Operated by SKYWEST DBA UNITED EXPRESS.
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175
Fare Class: United Economy (T)
Meal: Snacks for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.

DHutchy

I appreciate the feedback so far. As some of you have figured out, I am originating from SLC. I already have the MP Explorer Card. (I have been with United as a MP member since 1999.) Keeping my gold status is vitally important to me. I travel internationally one to two times a year. The access to club lounges across the globe and the mileage bonuses are clearly very valuable.

It looks like heading to Port of Spain is probably my best bet. I'll see what I can do. But please, keep the recommendations coming. I have until the end of the year to make this happen.