Originally Posted by njcommodore (Post 17642253)

660 miles after your IAH-PHL flight? I wouldn't count on anything being gifted. Look for an elite maximizer and do so quickly, the price is going to skyrocket over the next 2 weeks.



As long as you buy a refundable ticket or cancel within 24 hrs nothing to worry about.

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa (Post 17642394)

yes, upon completion of the IAH-PHL/PHL-IAH I will be 660 miles short.

I checked the elite maximizer earlier and it was $398!

I will probably buy it for my return leg...I seem to recall being able to buy the miles at kiosk.

I think on my last PHL-IAH it was $145 for 1324 miles

Originally Posted by raka2000 (Post 17643006)

seeking some more information from the experts.

I currently have 19K EQMs, 1K Flex EQM, and I have a trip coming up frpm PIT-IAH giving me about 1K EQM. Thus I will have about 21K EQM by end of the year. Now, if I buy additional miles on my ticket it costs me $135 for 4,468 (triple) miles. But my return trip is on Jan 2 from IAH to PIT.

1) if I buy these triple miles will I become Silver Elite on Continental for 2012? i.e. will these additional miles get added to my account instantly or will they be added after I complete the trip? ...

Originally Posted by raka2000 (Post 17643006)

...
2) Continental is giving me an option to buy additional Elite Maximizer miles for $671. What is this option? Is it giving me a gold status or something? ....

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA (Post 17643019)

The extra miles will post in a few hours (does not matter the return is in 2012) BUT from the price -- this appears to be the RDM option -- not EQMs.

these are the EQMs and added to your 21K EQMs will get you Silver status for 2012.

Originally Posted by raka2000 (Post 17643742)

Thanks WineCountryUA. So the miles I will buy are regular miles for reward ticket and to get to Elite I need to pay almost $800. So, when people talked about getting a ticket and paying for additional miles and then cancelling the ticket in 24 hours. They mean buying the Elite Maximizer miles that cost so much more. Is this really worth it? :(

Originally Posted by ramblers63 (Post 17643804)

Any reports on the current maximizer rate? Was only 13 cpm last weekend.

Originally Posted by raka2000 (Post 17643742)

... Is this really worth it? :(

Originally Posted by ramblers63 (Post 17650768)

Are you able to cancel an international ITN within 24 hrs?

Originally Posted by dergon darkhelm (Post 17552593)

Current Elite maximizer rate is around $0.13/mile. That puts you at $ 585 for those 4500 EQM and 2 certs. It's your choice whether that is a good value. (( Note: Elite maximizer rate will likelycontinue to increase to the end of the year))

__

How to Maximize:

1) Find a flight that ihas a true miage equal to or just over the number of EQM you need. ((A r/t with about 2,250 miles each way))

2) Book the flight. You can either do a fully refundable fare so you have time to subsequently cancel *or* you can be sure to cancel within 24 hours. You are NOT planning on actually flying this flight...so be sure you do this in a way that you don't get hit for any fees....either fully refundable or within 24hours.

3) Now go to your home page and find the flight in your reservation.

4) "View" the flight
5) On this page there will be an option of "buy extra miles for this trip" ... choose that option
6) Click the "purchase double miles" tab. This will produce an additional (invisible until this point) called "add elite maximizer". ...click it.
7) Buy the EQM.
8) The EQM will now shortly appear in your Continental account.
9) Cancel the flight.

...... profit.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by hstang99 (Post 17694617)

Does this work on one-way fares? ...

Originally Posted by hstang99 (Post 17694617)

...And how do I search for a ticket that is refundable?