Elite miles vs. SSWU
Jan 25, 2006, 9:34 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K2MM ACMME50 SQPPS HHDiamond Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,391
Originally Posted by tw1tch
I'm not sure how anyone could pick 5000 status miles over two SSWU's. 5000 status miles can be had for about ~$600. A J ticket difference (between cheapest Y and C) could easily be ~$1800 (domestic), and ~$5000+ (international).
5000K easy with one transcon.
Most elites will only have this option to secure two SSWU.IMHO this option will be heavily exercised.Most likely the elites will keep them for that one International trip.As there will be no transferability in 2006.
International upgrades will be more difficulty to get for the above reason than transborder & domestic IMHO.
March-June is heavy International travel both business & leisure.
Especially Asia & India (especially Delhi as one poster noted, many J-Class pax buy discounted C tickets.)as there are limited number of daily flights.
Europe is served via LHR by several daily flights.Thus it is not common to have 100% upgrade success.Similiarly transborder & domestic.
As large % of SE are International travellers any upgrades available on Asia & India routes are given to SE I would think.
Jan 25, 2006, 12:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Originally Posted by tw1tch
I'm not sure how anyone could pick 5000 status miles over two SSWU's. 5000 status miles can be had for about ~$600. A J ticket difference (between cheapest Y and C) could easily be ~$1800 (domestic), and ~$5000+ (international).
Jan 25, 2006, 12:52 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Toronto, ON AC*E
Posts: 160
Am I the only one that chose the 4 SWUs? (A lot of my flying this year might be with co-workers so I wanted the extra UGs.) Anyway, my gamble to forgo the SSWUs paid off -- I just received 2 - 2006 SSWUs in the mail today for passing 45K on December 12. 
Jan 25, 2006, 1:02 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 472
Originally Posted by wali
I chose the 5000 status miles because I will be flying to DEL quite a bit this year. this will get me to Elite 2007 a little bit faster.
I think the upgrade chances on that routing aren't very good because many people flying to DEL(in J class) buy discounted business class tickets, so there might not be that many seats available for an upgrade...hence no use for the SSWU.
I think the upgrade chances on that routing aren't very good because many people flying to DEL(in J class) buy discounted business class tickets, so there might not be that many seats available for an upgrade...hence no use for the SSWU.
Makes sense, I'm coming from a position where I clearly pass Elite mid-way through the year. Everyone is talking about upgrade chances, which is true. The way I see it, it can't be THAT hard to make use of two SSWU's throughout the year, so at some point I will get my value from them, regardless of how easy/difficult it is to upgrade.
Jan 25, 2006, 1:04 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Elite, SPG Platinum
Posts: 472
Originally Posted by waitlist
Am I the only one that chose the 4 SWUs? (A lot of my flying this year might be with co-workers so I wanted the extra UGs.) Anyway, my gamble to forgo the SSWUs paid off -- I just received 2 - 2006 SSWUs in the mail today for passing 45K on December 12.
Jan 25, 2006, 3:33 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YVR/YYZ/EWR/ATL/LHR/GLA
Programs: Air Canada Altitude S100k / Star Alliance Gold
Posts: 142
Originally Posted by tw1tch
I'm not sure how anyone could pick 5000 status miles over two SSWU's. 5000 status miles can be had for about ~$600. A J ticket difference (between cheapest Y and C) could easily be ~$1800 (domestic), and ~$5000+ (international).
I was one who selected the 5,000 status miles. I made Elite this year with just over 36,000 status miles, and will be likely fly around the same number of miles this year, so 5,000 bonus miles make a difference. I'd rather requalify as Elite than sit upfront for a flight!
Jan 25, 2006, 3:39 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YEG
Programs: Now AC Peon, *A nobody, SPG Gold, Hertz 5*, FPC Platinum
Posts: 1,427
Originally Posted by Always@YVR
I was one who selected the 5,000 status miles. I made Elite this year with just over 36,000 status miles, and will be likely fly around the same number of miles this year, so 5,000 bonus miles make a difference. I'd rather requalify as Elite than sit upfront for a flight!
This was my exact situation! I waffled for weeks about it...but in the end, the chance to upgrade a single NA flight both ways was outweighed by the though of dropping back to Prestige...
For my international flights (2-3 times a year, the SWU are good enough), upgradable fares are easier for the accountant to swallow than domestic latitude...
Jan 25, 2006, 3:49 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Platinum, former AC E35K
Posts: 6,335
I will start off this year with 4 SSWU's, 2 SWU's and 4 NAU's. A couple trips to Asia will eat up my SWU's, and leave me with 4 SSWU's to upgrade all 4 of my domestic only runs. Pretty happy camper, just wish my SSWU's for crossing 45K 5 weeks ago would arrive.