Book FC award ticket from PIT to HKG

PcolaPaul · Nov 29, 12, 9:56 am

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning a trip to HKG in March using miles. She has about 400k miles and I have about 350k. Looks like to book a round trip FC from PIT to HKG is about 320k miles each.

So do we have to book separately since neither of us have enough miles to book 2 fc tix?

Paul

6rugrats · Nov 29, 12, 10:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by PcolaPaul

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning a trip to HKG in March using miles. She has about 400k miles and I have about 350k. Looks like to book a round trip FC from PIT to HKG is about 320k miles each.

So do we have to book separately since neither of us have enough miles to book 2 fc tix?

Paul

Yes, or you could book two one ways. Use the miles from your account to book the outbound, and from her account to book the return; that way you are on the same PNR.

flyingmusicianlax · Nov 29, 12, 10:09 am

Are you looking at booking a standard award first class award via United.com? Keep an eye out for saver awards... those should cost you each 140k miles (or 280k total for both) roundtrip to Asia.

Example:

2 award 280,000 miles
Additional taxes/fees $86.00
Total Price 280,000 Miles and $86.00

Tue., Mar. 12, 2013 | Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) to Hong Kong (HKG)
Depart:
6:00 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)

Arrive:
6:45 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Flight Time:
1 hr 45 mn
Flight: UA1190
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Fare Class: United First (I)
Meal: None
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Depart:
8:00 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)

Arrive:
10:42 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Flight Time:
4 hr 42 mn
Flight: UA761
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
Fare Class: United First (IN)
Meal: Food for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 2 hours 38 minutes.
Depart:
1:20 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
San Francisco, CA (SFO)

Arrive:
7:00 p.m. +1 Day
Wed., Mar. 13, 2013
Hong Kong (HKG)
Flight Time:
14 hr 40 mn

Travel Time:
25 hr 0 mn
Flight: UA869
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (ON)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.

Tue., Mar. 26, 2013 | Hong Kong (HKG) to Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
Depart:
11:10 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Hong Kong (HKG)

Arrive:
12:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Flight Time:
14 hr 20 mn
Flight: UA896
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (ON)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Depart:
4:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)

Arrive:
7:13 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia)
Flight Time:
2 hr 13 mn
Flight: UA688
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Fare Class: United First (I)
Meal: Food and Beverages for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia) is 57 minutes.
Depart:
8:10 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia)

Arrive:
9:39 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
Flight Time:
1 hr 29 mn

Travel Time:
22 hr 29 mn
Flight: US3307
Operated by US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-REPUBLIC AIRLINES.
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175
Fare Class: First (O)
Meal: None

787fan · Nov 29, 12, 10:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by PcolaPaul

Hi All,

My wife and I are planning a trip to HKG in March using miles. She has about 400k miles and I have about 350k. Looks like to book a round trip FC from PIT to HKG is about 320k miles each.

So do we have to book separately since neither of us have enough miles to book 2 fc tix?

Paul

Any reason you're booking standard award levels? Saver 3-class First is only 70K one-way, or 140K roundtrip per person.

PcolaPaul · Nov 29, 12, 10:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

Yes, or you could book two one ways. Use the miles from your account to book the outbound, and from her account to book the return; that way you are on the same PNR.

Smart! That's why I asked on here, lots of smart folks

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 787fan

Any reason you're booking standard award levels? Saver 3-class First is only 70K one-way, or 140K roundtrip per person.

I guess I need to look again. This was just an initial glance. Thanks for the heads up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingmusicianlax

Are you looking at booking a standard award first class award via United.com? Keep an eye out for saver awards... those should cost you each 140k miles (or 280k total for both) roundtrip to Asia.

Example:

2 award 280,000 miles
Additional taxes/fees $86.00
Total Price 280,000 Miles and $86.00

This is much better. Thanks for the help.

rankourabu · Nov 29, 12, 10:35 am

as its been said - 140K should be tops!

And dont just count on United!

Air China has a superior F cabin on their 777s and plenty of US->China availability.

flyingmusicianlax · Nov 29, 12, 10:49 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by rankourabu

as its been said - 140K should be tops!

And dont just count on United!

Air China has a superior F cabin on their 777s and plenty of US->China availability.

CORRECT. For example, you can piece together O/W availability going PIT-LAX, LAX-PEK, PEK-HKG at the same cost in miles. The website may not be able to process it, but if the availability is there, a phone agent will do it for you. This is how I managed to put together IST-WAW-ORD-CLT with the WAW-ORD segment on LOT's new 787. Website wouldn't show this routing independently.

PcolaPaul · Nov 29, 12, 11:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingmusicianlax

CORRECT. For example, you can piece together O/W availability going PIT-LAX, LAX-PEK, PEK-HKG at the same cost in miles. The website may not be able to process it, but if the availability is there, a phone agent will do it for you. This is how I managed to put together IST-WAW-ORD-CLT with the WAW-ORD segment on LOT's new 787. Website wouldn't show this routing independently.

Interesting. Wow so many options. I will take a look at Air China as well.

drewguy · Nov 29, 12, 12:06 pm

And if you're willing to fly "BusinessFirst" you may see additional options on CO metal (e.g., from Newark).

rankourabu · Nov 29, 12, 12:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PcolaPaul

Interesting. Wow so many options.

Thats the point we are trying to make. One should NEVER even consider paying standard awards. One should NEVER have United F as their first choice for first class travel.

malgudi · Nov 29, 12, 12:25 pm

Unfortunately, there are a lot of folks like the OP who see "availability" and go ahead with the booking/travel. A co-worker of mine did the same thing last week, I heard about it only when she got back from her trip ... could've suggested alternatives

Quote:

Originally Posted by rankourabu

Thats the point we are trying to make. One should NEVER even consider paying standard awards. One should NEVER have United F as their first choice for first class travel.

PcolaPaul · Nov 29, 12, 12:58 pm

Yes this is my first time trying to use award miles for an international first class ticket. That's why I asked the well traveled folks on here first

I would like to fly first because I want to say I've flow first class international. Kind of a bucket list thing I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingmusicianlax

Are you looking at booking a standard award first class award via United.com? Keep an eye out for saver awards... those should cost you each 140k miles (or 280k total for both) roundtrip to Asia.

Example:

2 award 280,000 miles
Additional taxes/fees $86.00
Total Price 280,000 Miles and $86.00

Tue., Mar. 12, 2013 | Pittsburgh, PA (PIT) to Hong Kong (HKG)
Depart:
6:00 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)

Arrive:
6:45 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Flight Time:
1 hr 45 mn
Flight: UA1190
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Fare Class: United First (I)
Meal: None
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Depart:
8:00 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)

Arrive:
10:42 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Flight Time:
4 hr 42 mn
Flight: UA761
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
Fare Class: United First (IN)
Meal: Food for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in San Francisco, CA (SFO) is 2 hours 38 minutes.
Depart:
1:20 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 12, 2013
San Francisco, CA (SFO)

Arrive:
7:00 p.m. +1 Day
Wed., Mar. 13, 2013
Hong Kong (HKG)
Flight Time:
14 hr 40 mn

Travel Time:
25 hr 0 mn
Flight: UA869
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (ON)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.

Tue., Mar. 26, 2013 | Hong Kong (HKG) to Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
Depart:
11:10 a.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Hong Kong (HKG)

Arrive:
12:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Flight Time:
14 hr 20 mn
Flight: UA896
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Fare Class: United Global First (ON)
Meal: Lunch
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Depart:
4:00 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)

Arrive:
7:13 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia)
Flight Time:
2 hr 13 mn
Flight: UA688
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Fare Class: United First (I)
Meal: Food and Beverages for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Change Planes. Connect time in New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia) is 57 minutes.
Depart:
8:10 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
New York, NY (LGA - LaGuardia)

Arrive:
9:39 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 26, 2013
Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
Flight Time:
1 hr 29 mn

Travel Time:
22 hr 29 mn
Flight: US3307
Operated by US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-REPUBLIC AIRLINES.
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175
Fare Class: First (O)
Meal: None

I looked on united.com for this. Can't find it. All I see is standard awards for first class :/

rankourabu · Nov 29, 12, 1:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PcolaPaul

I looked on united.com for this. Can't find it. All I see is standard awards for first class :/

some of these are elite inventory - ON/IN - make sure you are logged in as Plat.

787fan · Nov 29, 12, 1:42 pm

it takes time (lots of it) to stitch together a great international J/F itinerary, searching segment by segment, but just last week, with 3 days notice, i've managed to do this :

outbound :JFK-ZRH-BKK-TPE on LX J and TG J

inbound : TPE-HKG-MUC-FRA-JFK on TG J and LH F, including extended layovers at HKG to visit parents and FRA for quick sightseeing

Don't forget that PIT-HKG could be routed via either Pacific or Atlantic, so any of the following could be your potential F seat (UAMP attainable) :

LH, TG, NH, OZ, CA, UA

If you don't mind extra stops, TG availability from Europe to BKK is excellent

PcolaPaul · Nov 29, 12, 1:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rankourabu

some of these are elite inventory - ON/IN - make sure you are logged in as Plat.

good idea. thanks