Rugbymaman

Thank you! These are out of Austin. And I was looking fro flights out of Dallas, DFW. But thanks!

therealSR

Don't know if my last one got posted.

I have 143,061 PQM. have a upcoming trip to ORD, and that will add 719 + 719 PQM. So net required will be 5487 PQM

mpiotrow

I feel like you might have missed these flights that @wh6cto posted, so I'll copy them here, just in case...

mpiotrow

Here's an option, granted it's more miles than you need:
UA: $834 EWR-TXL 8274PQM
Tue 26 Dec EWR-TXL
1h20m turn in TXL
Wed 27 Dec TXL-FRA-IAD-EWR
https://goo.gl/flights/Qvdk

The same itinerary is available on Dec 27-28 also for the same price: https://goo.gl/flights/yCHd

Still trying to find something cheaper...

UPDATE: Found a trip to MXP for a few dollars cheaper...

UA: $803 EWR-MXP 8304PQM
Thu 28 Dec EWR-MXP
2h30m turn in MXP
Fri 29 Dec MPX-FRA-IAD-EWR
https://goo.gl/flights/qFfr

therealSR

Can't hit EU without visa so would try to avoid that. MEX/CAN/Asia is ok

therealSR

Can go to SJU and back the same day on first for $950. Fetches me 6432 PQM

mpiotrow

I just found a trip that will get you 5488PQM (1PQM more than your stated requirement of 5487PQM), but I'm wondering if you need to check your math. 143061+719+719 = 144499. Wouldn't you need 5501PQM? Just trying to make sure you don't mess up somehow...

If you only need 5487PQM, here's that 5488PQM option, in a more comfortable seat:
UA: $823 in first, EWR-DFW 5488PQM
Mon 25 Dec: EWR-DFW-EWR
38m turn in DFW (I think it's most likely the same plane, heading back to EWR, so if the outbound flight is delayed, it shouldn't affect your return)
https://goo.gl/flights/hV8n

Also available on a 737, rather than a regional jet on Dec 29 for $100 more, and with a 55m turn in DFW: https://goo.gl/flights/6sLB

therealSR

So the math is

143601+719 (EWR-ORD) +733 (ORD-LGA) = 145053 .-- So 4947 miles required

wh6cto

I'm sure this is inconvenient, but it's way cheaper than anything else. And no Visa required.

UA:$551 LGA-SFO 5838PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Fri 29 Dec LGA-IAD-SFO-IAD-LGA
(0h34m in SFO)
https://goo.gl/flights/joL2

Good luck!

UPDATE: With the requirement reduced to 4947PQM, it's a lot easier to find something out of EWR:

UA:$569 EWR-SFO nonstop 5130PQM
Fri 29 Dec EWR-SFO-EWR
https://goo.gl/flights/QNDG

mpiotrow

I think I confused you when I transposed 2 of the numbers in my equation above (I've since fixed it). You currently have 143061PQM, NOT 143601PQM, right?

So, the actual equation should be:
143601+719 (EWR-ORD) +733 (ORD-LGA) = 144513, so 5487PQM required.

The latest post by @wh6cto definitely is the cheapest option...

zuston

Departure Airport: PHX (or LAX or DEN would work)
Miles Needed: 13237 PQMs
Required Spend or Budget: no required spend; least expensive option preferred (ballpark limit $900)
Available Travel Dates: 27-31 Dec 2017 (48-72 hour layover at destination preferred)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: UA metal if booking in economy (which I expect to meet goal of least expensive option)

Been UA Platinum or Gold since 2012; didn't travel nearly as much in 2017 so well short of Gold qualification for 2018. Most important Gold benefit to me is E+ seat assignment upon booking; with 3 anticipated transatlantic flights planned for 2018, and E+ surcharge running ~$150 each way, that makes $900 my breakeven estimate). Additional thoughts on value proposition of Gold status welcome.

bryanwallace

thanks again for all your help and your patience-at the risk of being incredibly difficult is there anything outside asia?
i could at a push also fly from ewr

sorry again and thanks

mpiotrow

Here's the best option I can find so far...(unfortunately?) there's a 12 hour overnight layover in LAX on the outbound, and it includes a 50 hour turn in PVG. You would need a Chinese Visa for this itinerary.

UA: $927 DEN-PVG 14694PQM
Wed 27 Dec DEN-LAX
12h connection in LAX
Thu 28 Dec LAX-PVG
49h50m turn in PVG
Sun 31 Dec PVG-LAX-DEN
https://goo.gl/flights/q8VS

DELee

(I gotta get this off my chest)

Note to all of those folks who've waited until the latter part of _DECEMBER_ to decide that they're short of miles/dollars/segments/etc. in order to earn their respective status for 2018:

*** Could you plan ahead next year please and have an idea of what earning you need to reach the status you desire? *** and not wait until the very, very end of the year to a) try to find a cheap MR and/or b) not be willing to fly on Xmas, TATL or TPAC, etc. when you need over 10,000 miles or can spend only $300.

PBAudit has shown everyone on the UA side of things that, with a bit of planning, you can reach lifetime GS status with finite spending.

wh6cto, mpiotrow, Kmxu, I and others have been trying to provide some suggestions responding to folks posting requests for MR ideas. We've tried to fit within the requested schedule dates, budget figures and required miles and/or segments but many of the requests are getting a bit ridiculous since folks have waited until now and think that there's much space available for $300 or less to earn 10,000 or more miles without some flying time or spending 3 to 4 times that.

Also, if you've already decided you can't, for instance, fly across an ocean or spend more than 2 days doing a MR, please put that in your post as well.

Just letting folks know going forward: EVERYTHING is very expensive since there's, as of this evening, only 13 days left in the year 2017.

We'll try to help. But there's only so much we can do with the limited number of flight options left this year.

David

viperbrown

Is it too early to ask for 2018? Gonna submit a request shortly for the UA MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge - https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...omoCode=TB8230

Premier Gold needs 12,500 PQM or 15 PQS on flights operated by United or United Express.

Departure Airport: SFO/OAK/SJC (Los Angeles airports as a backup)
Miles Needed: 12,500 PQMs (achieved in >1 trip also works, North America or Europe only)
Required Spend or Budget: cheapest possible
Available Travel Dates: weekends ideally but 24-72 hour layover that go into weekdays is fine in January and February 2018, except Jan 12-15)
Required Metal or Codeshares okay: as above