best way to get to STT
Dec 6, 2012, 10:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
best way to get to STT
My wife and I are thinking of going to St Thomas next July. What would be the cheapst way to get an award flight there?
I had my first churn ever in November and i signed up for the following
Explorer card - 55k UA
Sapphire prefeared - 40k UA
US air - 40k
SPG card - 25k for use C&P
I also have 30k Amex MR points if that matter at all...
is it worth getting more UR points or UA to spend? i looked on UA and need about 35k miles a way for two -they didn't have saver awards? or maybe they are not posted that far in advance? don't need first class , coach is fine.
any suggestions for next churn or ways to go about minimizing cost to get there? we'll fly from IAH.
I had my first churn ever in November and i signed up for the following
Explorer card - 55k UA
Sapphire prefeared - 40k UA
US air - 40k
SPG card - 25k for use C&P
I also have 30k Amex MR points if that matter at all...
is it worth getting more UR points or UA to spend? i looked on UA and need about 35k miles a way for two -they didn't have saver awards? or maybe they are not posted that far in advance? don't need first class , coach is fine.
any suggestions for next churn or ways to go about minimizing cost to get there? we'll fly from IAH.
Dec 6, 2012, 2:45 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA,AA,Marriott Platinum
Posts: 329
Usw thw flexible award search feature at ual.com
Once you find your award you can book online.
If you have us miles write down the flight numbers and call us airways as thats the only way you can book with us miles.
Once you find your award you can book online.
If you have us miles write down the flight numbers and call us airways as thats the only way you can book with us miles.
Dec 6, 2012, 3:18 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
If you can find MileSAAver award seats for IAH-MIA-STT and/or STT-MIA-IaH at aa.com, then you can redeem BA Avios for the AA flights. Only 15,000 Avios each way, per person. Note that there is currently a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR to Avios.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
Originally Posted by jordandawg05
My wife and I are thinking of going to St Thomas next July. What would be the cheapst way to get an award flight there?
I had my first churn ever in November and i signed up for the following
Explorer card - 55k UA
Sapphire prefeared - 40k UA
US air - 40k
SPG card - 25k for use C&P
I also have 30k Amex MR points if that matter at all...
is it worth getting more UR points or UA to spend? i looked on UA and need about 35k miles a way for two -they didn't have saver awards? or maybe they are not posted that far in advance? don't need first class , coach is fine.
any suggestions for next churn or ways to go about minimizing cost to get there? we'll fly from IAH.
I had my first churn ever in November and i signed up for the following
Explorer card - 55k UA
Sapphire prefeared - 40k UA
US air - 40k
SPG card - 25k for use C&P
I also have 30k Amex MR points if that matter at all...
is it worth getting more UR points or UA to spend? i looked on UA and need about 35k miles a way for two -they didn't have saver awards? or maybe they are not posted that far in advance? don't need first class , coach is fine.
any suggestions for next churn or ways to go about minimizing cost to get there? we'll fly from IAH.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
Dec 7, 2012, 8:18 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
If you can find MileSAAver award seats for IAH-MIA-STT and/or STT-MIA-IaH at aa.com, then you can redeem BA Avios for the AA flights. Only 15,000 Avios each way, per person. Note that there is currently a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR to Avios.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
If you can find MileSAAver award seats for IAH-MIA-STT and/or STT-MIA-IaH at aa.com, then you can redeem BA Avios for the AA flights. Only 15,000 Avios each way, per person. Note that there is currently a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR to Avios.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
Dec 7, 2012, 12:54 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
If you can find MileSAAver award seats for IAH-MIA-STT and/or STT-MIA-IaH at aa.com, then you can redeem BA Avios for the AA flights. Only 15,000 Avios each way, per person. Note that there is currently a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR to Avios.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
If you can find MileSAAver award seats for IAH-MIA-STT and/or STT-MIA-IaH at aa.com, then you can redeem BA Avios for the AA flights. Only 15,000 Avios each way, per person. Note that there is currently a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR to Avios.
Also, BA Avios and UA miles can each be redeemed for one-way travel.
Dec 7, 2012, 1:14 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
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You don't need an AAdvantage number to check award-seat availability on aa.com. Just check the "Use AAdvantage miles" box on the search engine that appears on the left side of the aa.com homepage.
I suggest that you do one-way searches, as there might be SAAver availability in one direction, but not the other.
You don't need an AAdvantage number to check award-seat availability on aa.com. Just check the "Use AAdvantage miles" box on the search engine that appears on the left side of the aa.com homepage.
I suggest that you do one-way searches, as there might be SAAver availability in one direction, but not the other.
Dec 7, 2012, 2:08 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
You don't need an AAdvantage number to check award-seat availability on aa.com. Just check the "Use AAdvantage miles" box on the search engine that appears on the left side of the aa.com homepage.
I suggest that you do one-way searches, as there might be SAAver availability in one direction, but not the other.
You don't need an AAdvantage number to check award-seat availability on aa.com. Just check the "Use AAdvantage miles" box on the search engine that appears on the left side of the aa.com homepage.
I suggest that you do one-way searches, as there might be SAAver availability in one direction, but not the other.
Dec 7, 2012, 2:13 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
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So you can use your BA Avios and fly the outbound on AA; and use your UA miles for the higher-priced return flight.
So you can use your BA Avios and fly the outbound on AA; and use your UA miles for the higher-priced return flight.
Dec 7, 2012, 2:35 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
booking tickets and research on flights . i am going to apply for the AA cards in jan or feb, but i am not sure if i'll have the miles by then and probably the sooner the better on reserving these tickets.
Dec 7, 2012, 2:46 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,588
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At least on AA, the 35K one-way Coach award is an AAnytime award, which can be booked anytime, as long as the flights are not completely sold out. Not sure if the 35K UA awards work the same way, but if they do, you could just book the outbound on AA now, using BA Avios. Then you could use AA or UA miles later to book the return. It's even possible -- but not assured -- that SAAver seats will open up on AA or UA for the return in the interim.
At least on AA, the 35K one-way Coach award is an AAnytime award, which can be booked anytime, as long as the flights are not completely sold out. Not sure if the 35K UA awards work the same way, but if they do, you could just book the outbound on AA now, using BA Avios. Then you could use AA or UA miles later to book the return. It's even possible -- but not assured -- that SAAver seats will open up on AA or UA for the return in the interim.
Dec 10, 2012, 12:09 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 771
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At least on AA, the 35K one-way Coach award is an AAnytime award, which can be booked anytime, as long as the flights are not completely sold out. Not sure if the 35K UA awards work the same way, but if they do, you could just book the outbound on AA now, using BA Avios. Then you could use AA or UA miles later to book the return. It's even possible -- but not assured -- that SAAver seats will open up on AA or UA for the return in the interim.
At least on AA, the 35K one-way Coach award is an AAnytime award, which can be booked anytime, as long as the flights are not completely sold out. Not sure if the 35K UA awards work the same way, but if they do, you could just book the outbound on AA now, using BA Avios. Then you could use AA or UA miles later to book the return. It's even possible -- but not assured -- that SAAver seats will open up on AA or UA for the return in the interim.
oh and on the outbound to STT, there is a 30k per person business/first Saaaver award so its cheaper than the anytime award so for 60k avoid and MR we can fly first/business which will be cool i guess since its our anniverary trip ( i tried to get my wife to leave a day after our anniversary since we can book the 17.5 miles but that didn't work hahah).
i guess UA posts available awards as they get them from other alliances so i keep checking so often to see if any developments happen ..i may just book once my UA points post to my account.