Logistics of a Switch
Jan 6, 2015, 11:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: AC Elite 50K
Posts: 367
Logistics of a Switch
Hi All:
I have a quick question for you. Here is my reality. Travel patterns have changed greatly. A lot of Singapore... And thats quite a bit more expensive to do Via AC metal... This means a lot of UA...
Do I use my AC status for this year to access gold benefits and accumulate to UA? Or do I try to swing enough segments on connecting to stay with AC... With a non US address its my understanding I could qualify for P1K in like 5 trips...
I mean its not like I can use the Eupgrades on UA flights... Thoughts?
I have a quick question for you. Here is my reality. Travel patterns have changed greatly. A lot of Singapore... And thats quite a bit more expensive to do Via AC metal... This means a lot of UA...
Do I use my AC status for this year to access gold benefits and accumulate to UA? Or do I try to swing enough segments on connecting to stay with AC... With a non US address its my understanding I could qualify for P1K in like 5 trips...
I mean its not like I can use the Eupgrades on UA flights... Thoughts?
Jan 6, 2015, 11:23 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,300
Hello
There are so many threads on this site on this matter. Dolllar for dollar UA is cheaper than AC and in SIN UA actually has a lot of flights out of there to non US destinations.
If I lived closer to a US airport or outside of Canada, I would go UA, but that is me.
I am sure several others a lot smarter than me will share their knowledge with you. ^
There are so many threads on this site on this matter. Dolllar for dollar UA is cheaper than AC and in SIN UA actually has a lot of flights out of there to non US destinations.
If I lived closer to a US airport or outside of Canada, I would go UA, but that is me.
I am sure several others a lot smarter than me will share their knowledge with you. ^
Jan 6, 2015, 11:25 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 25K only, he said through tears from the back of the aircraft...
Posts: 563
Jan 6, 2015, 11:26 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
Status match or challenge.
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Jan 6, 2015, 1:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
Status match or challenge.
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Jan 6, 2015, 4:14 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: AC Elite 50K
Posts: 367
I love CX but their program just isnt competitive and I live in Halifax... And going the other way around the world to do SQ is $1-2K more a trip.... I can buy PE for that... on CX or AC...
Staying with AC means routing through China on purpose... Which I will have to go 2 or 3 times. So I would probably have no problem making AC50K again.
But Im going to be hauling butt on UA a lot to Singapore. Its just cheaper and frankly the connection is better (hard to miss connect when you come in on the aircraft going to SIN...) Im thinking it might be nice to upgrade. And as P1K when I do go domestic USA (not so often) an upgrade should be pretty easy for USA Canada - after all are they not unlimited?
I also don't think it would impact my ability to choose the ANA lounge in Tokyo over the crowded UA lounge as they are both *G.
Jan 6, 2015, 4:17 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: AC Elite 50K
Posts: 367
Status match or challenge.
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Jan 6, 2015, 4:22 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
Economy Plus until then though, but not with AC status.
Jan 6, 2015, 4:29 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ/YUL
Programs: UA 1K, AC nadda, DL, WS-Nadda
Posts: 1,476
Status match or challenge.
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
Has been discussed many times. Get AS or DL to match your AC status, and then do a UA challenge
You can always accumulate UA and use your AC benefits (boarding, lounge) until you get gold on UA.
The new earning scheme will severely affect your mileage earnings on UA though. A $1000 ticket to SIN will only earn 5000 miles at first. That will hurt, on a roundtrip of over 20000 miles.
Status mileage hasnt changed, and you will indeed be 1K after 5 trips to SIN.
So what do you want, status benefits? guaranteed economy plus? redeemable miles?
Once 1K, you will get 6 upgrades that you can use on W fares or higher. (3 RTs)
They will status match via challenge off your AC 50K. They did for me. I am now 1K, and have not looked back. When I asked, I was holding a confirmed and paid for ticket to HKG. Benefits took effect immediately, challenge was
20K in 3 months, that was accomplished off the first flight. Even as a PM gold, I found they bent the rules from time to time to make sure things worked out for my travels. It was kinda of cool being addressed by name on the Premier line, more often than not, and being thanked for my loyalty to UA.
Jan 6, 2015, 5:18 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
I have a GS friend with two expiring, but I don't have TIME to travel before the end of the month
. At least I got an RPU out of her 
Jan 6, 2015, 5:30 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
Generally January is fire sale month - they go for next to nothing.
$400 is normal for 2016 expiring ones
Last edited by rankourabu; Jan 6, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Jan 6, 2015, 6:49 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
Has anyone every tried that with AC? I'm pretty sure I know what the response would be, but I can't recall reading about any failed attempts.
Jan 6, 2015, 8:13 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
