Good day all.

So I started my new job at the airline in DEN (long story as to why it took so long ). Some of the benefits are nearly free flights: I can fly for free on Frontier, Alaska, Continental, Delta, etc...

So I looked at the UA benefits (since it's my airline of choice) and I can fly for dirt cheap. For example, flights that are 7100-9000 miles I fly for $66. But, I won't get the miles.

So here is my problem: I want to go to Germany and Japan either this year or next year. I was also planning on doing a mileage run to Singapore next March. So I have two options:

1) Use those cheap fares and fly to the places I want for less than $100, but don't get the miles (and thus lose elite status and the redeemable miles).

2) Fly to those places on normal fares and get the miles (and thus retain elite status).

The entire purpose for me flying on MRs is to get the miles so that when I graduate college I can send my mom to Europe in at least business class on an award ticket. If I don't get the miles while flying cheap, it is pointless for me to do the MRs to send my mom to Europe. I am leaning towards option 2 so I get the miles and keep elite status. What would you do?

Notice: I might not be able to see the updates on this thread for a few days since I can only use the internet 1 time per day.