Well, considering I am the newbie who posted the other thread, I guess I will respond here. Last year was the first year I hit 2p, not that I was even trying, I just happened to have a busy year and suddenly I realized, wow, I am one of those Elite members I always had to wait behind for an exit row! This year, I am 2p again but am considering MR's to reach 1P.

I always seem to book flights before the promos occur. Last year, I had a Shanghai flight about 10 days before the promo started, and one about 10 days after. Last week, I booked for my wife and self a DEN-MCO flight for Labor Day weekend, and another DEN-SFO-PVG fight for next March. I used my MP c.c. to charge the $2500 in fares. Then, a couple days later I get an MP mailer asking me to upgrade to Platinum, so I will get a 5000 EQM bonus, plus EQM's for every United.com fare I book on the card. Damn, just missed 2500 EQM's by booking ahead of the promo! How do I always do that?

Anyhow, I do intend to make the MR's for 1P, but now my question I am asking myself is this:

Do I start booking MRs now for Sept to assure I have time to make my miles, or do I wait to see if the Double EQM's is offered, and then run the risk of cramming flights at the end of the year if not offered?

Ah, decisions decisions, I think I will wait a bit of time to see how friendly the friendly skies want to be. As for market research, I think UA should not rest on their laurels and they really should give a damn about us......I am sure there are thousands of m-runners who will find empty seats somewhere, and for UA, I am sure we mean millions of $$ to them. If UA is smart, they would run the D-EQM not only for the added revenue it would produce now, but more importantly...to continue to garner loyalty by rewarding the big $$ producers for next years revenue and customer retention.

And let me not fail to mention the bait is all over FT about switching to AA...