This is FT. One needs to think out of the (UA) box :D

So if you buy EQMs and go over one of the thresholds for earning SWUs or another instrument, will your purchased EQMs qualify for earning the instrument?

Not only do you get 1K, but also a free business class ticket to Europe (100K RDMs) and all those GPUs/RPUs. It's really not that bad of a deal...

And by the way, other than mileage runs and other cheap fare sales, it's difficult to earn EQMs cheaper than $0.06-0.08 in real life. And it can cost a lot more, particularly for premium class travel (even the Thanksgiving BF fare sales cost ~$0.15/EQM). $0.075 is a pretty reasonable price.

Especially, since UA/CO doesn't have to FLY you anywhere; but the flipside is neither do you; it's such a time saver over mileage runs.

It's actually quite ingenious: pay us NOW for something that is only tangible when you actually FLY again (some promise of benefit in the FUTURE); we don't have to transport you anywhere; this almost pure profit for the airline. The customer gets instant gratification and doesn't have to do needless MRs to get the best benefits when they MUST travel.

It could indeed be win-win for the airline and the passenger (in certain situation). Interesting to see if the new UA will continue this practice.

Does it have to be CO metal, or do UA codeshares booked via CO work?

Edit: Second question; I assume I need to use my CO FF #, not my UA #?

ANY reservation - even award tickets - that is visible on co.com will have the maximizer option.

I just pulled up a reservation booked on .bomb and holding my UA MP#. It doesn't show in my regular reservations list on co.com. I imported it via the CO PNR and last name (it does have a CO flight in it) and I'm given the option to buy miles. The number of miles on offer is based on the total itinerary, not just the one CO metal segment on the trip.
http://millerworks.smugmug.com/photo...-mQn3hmK-M.jpg

Correct -- you can actually change your information and add your CO OP # for it to work.

If one flies so little that one needs to buy 100,000 miles instead of flying a substantial portion of them, then what's the benefit of being 1K while you sit in your living room watching Pan Am and not flying?

RNE, saying, "Yeah. I have a thing for Christina Ricci."

You don't have to travel that much between now and 1/31/2013 to get value out of the 100k RDMs, 6 GPUs and 4 RPUs. Even $7k of value, if you need to go to Europe in, say, the next week or two.

I don't get it. Educate me with some specific flight examples, please. What can I get if I buy 100,000 EQMs today that I can't get from spending $7000 directly on it?

Absolutely!

Any word on if the Elite Maximizer option will be around after the new year?

It is also an interesting idea for someone who will not make 2P, since it also adds 100% mileage bonus, or maybe 20,000 miles on top of the 100,000 miles. Once you include the savings on the baggage fees, purchased upsells to E+, award fees, upgrade copays on international flights, and so on, the true cost is probably lower than your estimate. But:

1. Elite status requires "four paid flights" (whatever that means) in 2012, and so you can't get the 1K status till then.
2. If you do it on Jan 1 the 100 EQMs do not go towards million miler status if you don't already have it.

BTW, US charges $3,999 for Chairman's preferred, which has fewer upgrade certs and no redeemable miles.

It means 4 one-way flights (as long as you pay for them). This is probably put in place to prevent those who achieve elite status by just spending money on their card.