Basic Elite Maximizer Question
 

Hi!

Stupid question most likely, so treat me gently.

I currently am 3K miles short of making Premier Silver right now with 22K miles in my United Mileage Plus Account this year. I'm about to fly on Continental a 2K mile trip which will leave me 1K short. The have presented me with the OnePass Elite Maximizer option to earn an additional 2K OnePass Elite Miles. Is it correct to assume that these extra Elite Qualifying Miles will transfer over to my MileagePlus qualifying miles and that if I purchase it I will end up with 26K miles? Just wasn't sure how the purchasing miles worked and don't want to be stuck 1K miles short.

Thanks!!

You are correct. You should connect your OnePass and MP accounts if you haven't already. After 12/31 the two accounts will be merged together and all earning for 2011 will be combined towards 2012 status and you'll be set for Silver.

The only drawback is that you'll have to wait until 1/1/12 (or thereabouts) for the status to kick in.

if you link accounts, it will happen within a week or two of the combined total crossing a status level
www.united.com/combinemyactivity

Oh wow I didn't realize that! Thanks for clarifying my misinformation.

4500 Elite Miles Needed
 

My wife will be 4500 miles short for 150K this year and wondering if it is worth it to try to get 2 extra Regionals.
How does someone get to utilize the Elite Maximizer option? Could you walk me through the process to see if it is worth it for her?

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))

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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.

So not worth it. One can fly a quick MR for half that.

In this case it might not be worth it. I'm about 600 miles short of 1K and so for me it cost less than $100 to do this. I doubt I could find a round trip for less than $100.

THANKS
 

Thanks all for the info.......Just not worth it in our case.

and with all this the EQMS actually post? EVEN AFTER canceling the flight?

yes -- the advice is to await the Maxizimer EQMs posting (appears to be within a few hours) and then cancel the underlying flight

omg I am totally insane someone shoot me eeek

wow

Another basic question here - is there a way to tell which flights are eligible for Elite Maximizer? I purchased a flight from SFO-MRY a couple of hours ago and the option to 'purchase miles' is still not showing up when I view the reservation. The reservation has been ticketed, so I'm thinking the option should be visible by now. Or am I just being too impatient...?

all flights booked (including award tickets) on CO.com are eligible (on a normal day)

you might to read this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...am-12-5-a.html

CO has flights EWR-BOS advertised for $102 r/t-- slightly over $100, but not sure you'll find anything much cheaper.