It's great that things are working out for the folks who are quoted, but I am just the tiniest bit worried that when too many people begin to notice that something is a great deal, the value of the deal gradually evaporates.
It's great that things are working out for the folks who are quoted, but I am just the tiniest bit worried that when too many people begin to notice that something is a great deal, the value of the deal gradually evaporates.
If somebody thinks 1K is worth investing $7000 and all that time for MRs, let him - he's in for a surprise. Also, most people don't have time for MRs, and vacation runs actually cost money. As to the guy mentioned in the article, 6+cpm int'l flights hardly qualify as MRs. Great deals, especially if he gets to burn GPUs, yes, but no MRs.
Programs: UA 1K, H.H. Gold, Hyatt GP Plat, SPG Gold, Enterprise Plat, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 248
Quote:
Originally Posted by mherdeg
It's great that things are working out for the folks who are quoted, but I am just the tiniest bit worried that when too many people begin to notice that something is a great deal, the value of the deal gradually evaporates.
Not that worried for two reasons :
1) A lot of folks will balk at the $4,000 - $7,000 line. I don't spend half of that even at the lower out of pocket to run 50-60k per year on UA.
2) As those of us who MR know - time is a huge sacrifice/price to pay. As cool as what I do sometimes sounds to friends and family, none of them are THAT interested that they would spend three days flying and sleeping in hotels.
If you don't believe me - check out the comments section. The general populous thinks we are nuts, weather we MR or just fly 75k+/yr.
You would be stupid to spend that much of your own money for 1K these days. Most of us aren't even spending our own money and it's only marginally worth it to keep flying United vs the alternative.
I think there is a disconnect between the 100K per year flyer and the rest of the world (and the author of this article). A once or twice per year flyer thinks that first class, the lounges, boarding early, bypassing the security lines, etc. are all GREAT perks and it's all gravy. While they are certainly nice, those of us that fly regularly realize that those perks are not what the media and the general public makes them out to be.
Spending $7000 on 1K status just for the sake of doing it seems strange to me. The idea of a MR is usually to take advantage of great deals between two city pairs that nets you the EQM's needed to reach a certain goal. If you aren't a regular flyer than why would the benefits of 1K matter to you anyway; even if you can "buy" it for a couple thousand dollars?
How many of us are "typically" getting "domestic first-class upgrade confirmed four to seven days before departure???"
Not me - I looked through my flights for 2012 and am batting 24% for the year (21/89) on CPU-eligible segments.
Now, I do travel every week ORD-BOS-ORD at consultant-heavy times, but if I split these segments off I'm still not doing great at 48% on my leisure segments (12/25), which leaves me at a horrible 14% (9/64) for upgrades during business traveler-heavy times.
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT 1K MM, Avis PC, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 7,358
I have talked to Scott McCartney many times on the MegaDos, since he is a regular attendee. Most of those on the MegaDOs are top tier and mileage run. So attending a MegaDO provides a perspective that many mileage run for status, perks, and International F rewards - which is true. Lot's of people do what he describes - but in MegaDO terms - everyone does.
Programs: Formerly over-entitled UA 1K, now under-entitled UA PP.
Posts: 2,966
Quote:
Originally Posted by FrequentFlyKid
I think there is a disconnect between the 100K per year flyer and the rest of the world (and the author of this article). A once or twice per year flyer thinks that first class, the lounges, boarding early, bypassing the security lines, etc. are all GREAT perks and it's all gravy. While they are certainly nice, those of us that fly regularly realize that those perks are not what the media and the general public makes them out to be.
Spending $7000 on 1K status just for the sake of doing it seems strange to me. The idea of a MR is usually to take advantage of great deals between two city pairs that nets you the EQM's needed to reach a certain goal. If you aren't a regular flyer than why would the benefits of 1K matter to you anyway; even if you can "buy" it for a couple thousand dollars?
It's lunacy, that's what it is. And, the article is a ridiculous waste of space.
For $7,000 you can buy two P fares in J class to anywhere in the world, at the right time of course.
If you want to see the world, why not spend that same money to splurge on two faraway journeys. Then, just relax. The guy lives in Aspen after all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by howl0007
Not me - I looked through my flights for 2012 and am batting 24% for the year (21/89) on CPU-eligible segments.
Now, I do travel every week ORD-BOS-ORD at consultant-heavy times, but if I split these segments off I'm still not doing great at 48% on my leisure segments (12/25), which leaves me at a horrible 14% (9/64) for upgrades during business traveler-heavy times.
That's about 1,300% higher than my success rate. It's all relative. ;-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by cova
I have talked to Scott McCartney many times on the MegaDos, since he is a regular attendee. Most of those on the MegaDOs are top tier and mileage run. So attending a MegaDO provides a perspective that many mileage run for status, perks, and International F rewards - which is true. Lot's of people do what he describes - but in MegaDO terms - everyone does.
The point is he suggests that 1K is a path to first class. That's nonsense. It isn't anymore.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Dec 21, 12 at 2:02 am..
Reason: merge
It's lunacy, that's what it is. And, the article is a ridiculous waste of space.
For $7,000 you can buy two P fares in J class to anywhere in the world, at the right time of course.
If you want to see the world, why not spend that same money to splurge on two faraway journeys. Then, just relax. The guy lives in Aspen after all.
Totally agree. I took my first MR this year and it ended up working in my favor many times over because of upgrades, IRROPS, a VDB, etc. However, I spent $225 on a ticket that netted me $700 in eCerts and mileage credit based on the F/Y rebookings.
