Reach Platinum and switch to Star Alliance?
Dec 17, 2021, 7:40 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,598
Correct. To your question below, the outbound is where I used 68,400 miles at the check-in counter (last minute) to upgrade to business. I earned 50XP on this leg because I had switched my ticket from economy to premium economy (paying $334 - and I believe doing so unlocked the eligibility to a business upgrade, because I had been told I wasn't able to get an upgrade from economy). BOS-CDG premium economy: 20XP x 2 (promotion) + CDG-Italy: 5XP x 2. Original economy ticket was $657. These are below average fares for a Christmastime US-EU ticket (thanks covid?). Obviously, I flew business but earned prem eco XP.
I have not, and this is not an award upgrade (which would not earn additional XP), this is a ticket change akin to my switch from economy to premium economy on the outbound leg. This causes reticketing and additional XP earning (I can say so confidently since I did it on the outbound):
My original questions were:
I have not, and this is not an award upgrade (which would not earn additional XP), this is a ticket change akin to my switch from economy to premium economy on the outbound leg. This causes reticketing and additional XP earning (I can say so confidently since I did it on the outbound):
My original questions were:
- Is this worth it?
- Is this pushing the total financial investment in this ticket ($657 + $334 + 68,400 miles + $930 = $1921 + 68,400 miles) beyond what is reasonable for a RT business class ticket from US east coast to Europe, at the net of any personal financial situation? (I thought this was an objective question to ask, but perhaps it is not)
If these 60XP make all the difference for qualifying for Plat (no other flights before renewal), that is a way to extend your STE+ for an extra year and get a comfy flight back to BOS.
I do not know how loaded is your flight. Currently, it is often the case that the premium cabins are quite full, but Y very empty (at least to Asia). Travelling in Y on a very long flight with a row to lie down for yourself is not a bad choice. But for an 8 hour day flight...
As others said, FB Gold and UA Gold are the plain-vanilla top levels for ST and *A, so Plat won't make a whale of a difference. It's really the super top airline levels (like 1K and Ulti) that make a difference.
I am not you, but personally I would be inclined to go J
Dec 18, 2021, 8:11 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Plat, *A Silver, Volare Exec (LOL), some hotels (Gold)
Posts: 623
This would be an actual ticket change to business, not a last minute upgrade, so I would earn business class XP.
I get that (also no, I dont make that kind of money) my point was more about whether the sum of all parts (cash+miles) that went into this RT ticket was exceeding normalcy for a RT US to/from Europe business class ticket. No need to reply further on this I can do my own math, was just trying to get a sense of whether I was crazy or not.
Ive been able to check 2 bags free with delta as STE+! I guess it may vary.
I get that (also no, I dont make that kind of money) my point was more about whether the sum of all parts (cash+miles) that went into this RT ticket was exceeding normalcy for a RT US to/from Europe business class ticket. No need to reply further on this I can do my own math, was just trying to get a sense of whether I was crazy or not.
Ive been able to check 2 bags free with delta as STE+! I guess it may vary.
Dec 19, 2021, 12:38 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,182
Even from DEN, Star Alliance European coverage with LH and UA is not that great. There are many destinations that would require a change of plane somewhere. If you strongly prefer DL, their DEN coverage is actually not bad and can get you to most places in Europe with one stop. Also I think AF started a CDG flight from DEN.
Dec 20, 2021, 2:10 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 261
Dec 22, 2021, 3:27 pm
#22
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,404
Well, I do that for most of my tickets, changing my company-issued Y tickets to W or C/J and paying the fare difference. I've never had a problem. I would probably be both upset and confident that a call to AF would solve the problem instantly.
Dec 23, 2021, 4:43 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,696
$379 + $930 = $1309 for the return portion of your flight.
It's a perfectly average figure, if certainly not deep discount territory.
Don't overthink it. Forget the outbound, it's spent.
Your alternatives would be to get a double or triple intra EU flight in J. That will cost you north of $600 and earn you 200+ XP.
Is that an option for you? Maybe. Doing Mile Runs during a pandemic that don't serve a travel purpose? Maybe not.
I do not live in the US but if it were me I would probably go the extra mile to keep flying DL rather than switch to UA or AA. But I am the kind of person who like extending their flying time if they get the chance, so would even be 2 birds 1 stone!
It's a perfectly average figure, if certainly not deep discount territory.
Don't overthink it. Forget the outbound, it's spent.
Your alternatives would be to get a double or triple intra EU flight in J. That will cost you north of $600 and earn you 200+ XP.
Is that an option for you? Maybe. Doing Mile Runs during a pandemic that don't serve a travel purpose? Maybe not.
I do not live in the US but if it were me I would probably go the extra mile to keep flying DL rather than switch to UA or AA. But I am the kind of person who like extending their flying time if they get the chance, so would even be 2 birds 1 stone!
Jan 3, 2022, 8:06 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 203
Alright, forked the money, enjoyed a nice, restful, relaxing business class trip back to BOS, and reached Platinum. The "upgrade" was effectively a ticket class change earning additional XPs. I got to fly one of the new A220 on the European leg and it was slick. The business cabin was also one of the newest and it really does feel premium.
This is reassuring to hear. On the one hand, I'd be sad not to enjoy the extra benefits coming from being Platinum, including increased chances of DL upgrades in the US. On the other, Omicron will likely squash chances of at least 2 business trips in Q1 this year, one domestic and the other international -- reaching status on United doesn't feel within easy reach any more, with or without a status match challenge. Sadly, it also really doesn't seem like DEN has good coverage regardless of airlines... I'll definitely miss the convenience of living in BOS flight wise.
I'll see as I go but sticking to DL/AF/KL feels familiar territory, plus I really dislike United vs Delta. Wifi on United is terrible, economy seats are crammed, their outlets *never* work... I wouldn't be happy with an alliance switch.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!
Even from DEN, Star Alliance European coverage with LH and UA is not that great. There are many destinations that would require a change of plane somewhere. If you strongly prefer DL, their DEN coverage is actually not bad and can get you to most places in Europe with one stop. Also I think AF started a CDG flight from DEN.
I'll see as I go but sticking to DL/AF/KL feels familiar territory, plus I really dislike United vs Delta. Wifi on United is terrible, economy seats are crammed, their outlets *never* work... I wouldn't be happy with an alliance switch.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice!
Jan 3, 2022, 1:24 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,182
You’re welcome. I really dislike United and I used to live in Chicago! At the time it would have been easy to fly mostly United as the hometown airline but I chose to mainly fly Alaska and Delta.
As for why I dislike United, it seemed to me that United didn’t really care about passengers. I had too many experiences with seeing hostile employees (FAs and GAs) acting more like prison guards than hospitality agents. This culminated in the Dr Dao dragging incident and UA reneging on lifetime club membership terms.
As for why I dislike United, it seemed to me that United didn’t really care about passengers. I had too many experiences with seeing hostile employees (FAs and GAs) acting more like prison guards than hospitality agents. This culminated in the Dr Dao dragging incident and UA reneging on lifetime club membership terms.