Help with maximizing CLE-SEA
 

I know it's not a "true" mileage run, but I have to get from CLE to SEA in a few weeks, and am trying to maximize my CO miles (and EQMs if possible, though I'd have to go thru co.com to do that, I suppose).

I'm trying to keep the cost somewhere under about $375, and can travel CLE-SEA all day 3/2, with a return on 3/4 or 3/5. I've found played around with forcing some out of the way connecting cities (TPA, BWI, etc.), but am having more trouble than usual. Any suggestions from the resident brain trust? :D

Thanks in advance ...

I've done a few MRs from CLE-IAH-SEA-IAH-CLE for around 279. all on CO.

Not sure if you already did this, but the CO routing for CLE-SEA is:

ROUTING 422 *** TRAVEL MUST NOT BE NONSTOP ***
422 FROM CLE-
TO LAX-SEA*
OR TO HOU/CVG/DFW/SLC-SEA*

After running that through faremetrics.com, it gives:

Route Segments Mileage
CLE-LAX-SEA 2 3006
CLE-HOU-SEA 2 2999
CLE-IAH-SEA 2 2965
CLE-DFW-SEA 2 2691
CLE-CVG-SEA 2 2469
CLE-SLC-SEA 2 2252

I would try those connecting cities and see what you get. I also only searched for CO flights, not any partner flights which would allow you to get CO mileage credit, so that may open up some possibility if you investigate routings on alternate carriers. Good luck.

I just checked this out, so it is valid, at least for now.

If you choose multi-destination and use the following routing, it will yield 7,218 EQMs with no bonuses. The cost is $378.20. $3.20 over, but close.

CLE-BWI 3/2/05
BWI-SEA 3/2/05
SEA-BWI 3/5/05
BWI-CLE 3/5/05

The return flight leaves at 12:30 am, but it works.

Rick

Using BWI in this fashion works great for a lot of west coast destinations. It is not all that far out of the way for the extra 1000 minimum extra miles you get along with decent connections and usually decent fares.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions public and private. Fares must have crept downward a bit overnight (or some seats opened up), as I was able to find CLE-IAH-SEA-EWR-BUF-CLE for $339 just now ... not ideal, but much better than I had been finding, pricewise and mileswise!

-Paul