JT, you seem to be doing pretty well on your own! I don't understand how you calculate segments/miles, though:
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Outbound
Thurs, 1/12 - NYC-LAX - 9p/12:25a - $189 - 2475 MQM/1 segment
Fri, 1/13 - NYC-LAX - 7a/12:05p - $180 - 2811 MQM/2 segments
Why do you have two nonstop flights listed, but for two different mileage amounts? Why does the second flight have two segments listed? Are you including a stopover that is not shown?
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Fri, 1/13 - NYC-CLT - 6a/10:33a - $213 - 1261 MQM/2 segments
CLT-LAX - 11:15a/3:07p - $314 - 2446 MQM/1 segment
TOTAL NYC-CLT-LAX - $527 - 3707 MQM/3 segments
Same question. Why is NYC-CLT two segments?
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Return
Mon, 1/16 - LAX-NYC - 11p/9:22a - $200 - 2480 MQM/2 segments (arrives Tue)
Again, this looks like one segment to me.
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Mon, 1/16 - LAX-ATL - 12:15p/7:33p - $379 - 1946 MQM/1 segment
ATL-NYC - 8:45pm/11:05p - $209 - 760 MQM/1 segment
Mon, 1/16 - LAX-SLC - 6p/8:52p - $115 - 590 MQM/1 segment
SLC-NYC - 12:55a/9:55a - $329 - 2350 MQM/2 segments (arrive Tue)
TOTAL LAX-SLC-NYC - 2940 MQM/3 segments
Again, don't see the two segments for SLC-NYC, and would think that the trip is 2 segments, not 3.
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Is there a formula I should be using (eg cents per mile) to decide the best deal?
Calculate cents per mile, and also calculate cents per segment. You said you had 24 segments last year -- does this mean you do a lot of short distance, but frequent, flying? You can easily get silver with just 5 transcontinental trips...
If you think you'll make status by segments, not miles, then you'll want to choose based on cents per segment. If you'll make status based on miles, you'll want to use cents per mile.
Originally Posted by
JTbeatsNYC
Again, my last question from above - is voluntarily bumping to a later flight with transfers going to yield more MQMs, or just some sort of voucher or upgrade on the new flights?
I've never heard of someone getting bumped and getting extra MQMs. You might get a voucher or upgrade -- when you get upgraded, I
think , but am not positive, that you earn miles based on the originally purchased class of service. So if you buy economy, get bumped, and get upgraded to first, I don't think you get the 150% first class bonus.