sb3

After the trip ticketed, I clicked on the upgrade button and that was the miles/$ option. Not everything cleared at once, but all segments did eventually clear. I have no idea if this was a glitch or if it still works, thus the YMMV.

For the trip I took, it was continuous, with no stop longer than 4 hours.

bkhalsa

Need ~18k United miles to keep my Silver status for 2015, (newb, i know).. Any good runs out of Newark/JFK? Appreciate your help!

TomA

So you're thinking it just charged you for a one-way?

TomA

That would be a round trip to Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok if you want to do a single trip in Y.

I'm not sure about the value of silver being worth it... especially if you only fly 7K miles in a year, but you didn't ask for any opinions on that issue.

steveman518

Take a peek at the mileage run forum, perhaps you'll find some ideas there.

I feel like 18k (and how many ever PQDs you need) to keep silver isn't really worth it IMO. Might as well get the CC and get all the silver benefits except E+ and CPUs (not that you'll get CPUs as a silver in EWR)

Mike Jacoubowsky

If you're that desperate for lowly 2P on UA, I'm wondering if you plan to do a lot of flying in 2015?

You'd likely have to spend $1000+ to obtain UA Silver (lowly 2P) for 2015. How about doing this-

1. Get an Explorer Card and get free baggage plus Group 2 boarding
2. Spend $499 to get an E+ Subscription, covering every flight for the year, E+ at time of booking, no waiting until t24 and hoping to get something other than a middle seat.
3. Spend $500 and get a United Club subscription.

If you look at it that way, you're miles ahead of every other lowly 2P, in every way, other than being taken care of during irregular ops. And if you're traveling with others (one other, anyway, since you're allowed just one guest), they're going to be more impressed by your Club Card than your elite status.

I've never really thought about it this way until now. Best part about it is that the Club Card benefits don't require that you fly United... you can pick & choose, fly SouthWest if you want, and still use the United Clubs. Of course, they might not be very close to the terminal you're flying out of...

steveman518

Take note that the $499 E+ subscription is for one person domestic flights ONLY, and excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Whether that suffices for you is a different story. A global E+ subscription is $699/year for one person (though if you were making international trips you'd need far fewer miles for silver)

TomA

That's good advice! ^

Mike Jacoubowsky

Clearly it doesn't suffice for me; otherwise I wouldn't have done 18-20k MRs the past two years so I could avoid the lowly 2Ps and Explorer Card holders in the Group 2 line.

This year's different; no MRs! Platinum with "normal" flying, if you consider a trip to Africa with my wife "normal", followed a month later with a trip to Lima with my daughter to see Machu Picchu, which, at conclusion, will get me just past 75k. Not that I would have planned it that way. Of course not.

But you make a good point about E+ not being applicable to overseas or Hawaii flights for the $499 rate.

So how about a Club Card CC for $400, plus $699 for global E+. $100 more than my original quote, but likely still less than the 18k mileage run.

maduarte

Due to a miscalculation, I find myself in an interesting situation: by the end of the year, I will have 101000 PQM but only $9925 PQD. Any ideas on how to get the additional $75, other than scheduling an additional flight? It seems that Economy Plus grants PQDs, but as a 1K i get it for free...

steveman518

Haha of course I agree that I don't think it's worth it-I was just nitpicking the finer details of the E+ subscription :P

I don't really think there's another way...

TomA

The OP has 7000 miles in a year--that's likely all domestic, so I think your original suggestion was the best one in that case. (If it is international, or transcons, then buying up to E+ ad hoc would probably be better.)

bkhalsa

thanks for all the replies!! much appreciated.

I've been an explorer card holder for 4 years now and do enjoy that safety net it provides if I lose premiere qualification.

surprisingly, I've been lucky enough to get CPU upgrades even on my silver status about 4/5 times in the past year. that's why I was interested in keeping my status alive. since my original post, I now need 16,400 more PQM and $1000 PQDs. I will keep looking for ideas! Thanks again

Tblack15

Ugh, I have a feeling a lot of people will be doing this... Thoughts on creating a "PQD Run" forum?

Sadly from what I understand, it's tickets (less taxes) & E+ purchases only that apply to PQD.

Hopefully, you can do a quick run LAX/SFO RT or something of the like from your home airport...

Edit: Now that I think about it.. what about a buy-up? If you're doing a trip in Y, maybe you're in a high booking class that will offer a cheap buy-up to F.. I had one once for $50 DEN-ORD that credited to PQD.

Mike Jacoubowsky

An enterprising person with a history of being loyal (at the 1K level) to UA might float the idea to United Insider that you could choose to donate not just miles to $$$ through UA to a charity and have those $$$ count as PQDs maybe? Would be a win-win for all, I'd think.