Dec 31, 2018, 11:01 pm
Last edit by: Kmxu
For each request, please include the following information:
Departure Airport:
Miles Needed:
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value):
Available Travel Dates:
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay:
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?
Departure Airport:
Miles Needed:
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value):
Available Travel Dates:
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay:
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?
For each response. Please quote the original request. DO NOT START A NEW THREAD.
There are many good fares to China (PEK or PVG). If you have a Chinese visa, these options will be provided. Otherwise, you may have to take advantage of TWOV (visa on arrival). Its information can be found: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/708095-china-24-72-144-hour-transit-without-visa-twov-rules-master-thread.html
If your requested PQM is in a few thousand, please give a more accurate amount. You will get fewer options with a roundup number (eg, 5000 instead of 4830; IAD-SFO nonstop will work for the latter.)
There are many good fares to China (PEK or PVG). If you have a Chinese visa, these options will be provided. Otherwise, you may have to take advantage of TWOV (visa on arrival). Its information can be found: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china/708095-china-24-72-144-hour-transit-without-visa-twov-rules-master-thread.html
If your requested PQM is in a few thousand, please give a more accurate amount. You will get fewer options with a roundup number (eg, 5000 instead of 4830; IAD-SFO nonstop will work for the latter.)
UA/Star Alliance: 2019 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Dec 16, 2019, 5:02 pm
#886
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: United
Posts: 2
Departure Airport: EWR, LGA
Miles Needed: 2234 PQM
Maximum Budget: 350. Need 2234 PQM
Available Travel Dates: Potentially any but would prefer to avoid 2 days before/after Christmas
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Miles Needed: 2234 PQM
Maximum Budget: 350. Need 2234 PQM
Available Travel Dates: Potentially any but would prefer to avoid 2 days before/after Christmas
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Dec 16, 2019, 5:16 pm
#887
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
UA 10K MQM needed
Departure Airport: DFW > ??? > NYC
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
Dec 16, 2019, 5:57 pm
#888
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
UA:$161 or $279 EWR-BOS 1000PQM (w/ 500mi min)
UA:$161 EWR-BOS 1000PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Mon 30 Dec EWR-BOS-EWR
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/KAhB8
If not:
UA:$279 EWR-BOS 1000PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Tue 31 Dec EWR-BOS-EWR
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/TF1hE
Dec 16, 2019, 7:18 pm
#889
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,952
PQM is used for UA, $966 (abandon the train segment)
Departure Airport: DFW > ??? > NYC
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
https://www.google.com/flights#flt=/...05*2.USD.96605
Edit: The departure is a day earlier than you wanted,
Last edited by Kmxu; Dec 16, 2019 at 7:50 pm Reason: Fixed departure date
Dec 16, 2019, 9:09 pm
#890
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
UA:$1097 DFW-EWR via OGG/SEA 9782PQM
Departure Airport: DFW > ??? > NYC
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
Miles Needed: 10K MQM
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): no MQDs needed, but hoping to stay under $1000
Available Travel Dates: depart 12/27 from DFW; arrive 12/30 in NYC
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: n/a
Route(s) You've Already Searched: through PVG, PEK, NAR, Paris, London, Oslo, DUB. PVG and PEK seem like the best ($1100) but curious if other options out there exist. Thanks!
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
International travel a bonus. Thanks for your help!
This was the best I could do without a hotel:
UA:$1097 DFW-EWR via OGG/SEA 9782PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Sat 28 Dec DFW-IAH-LAX-OGG-SFO
(3h56m in SFO)
Sun 29 Dec SFO-SEA-EWR
(arrives Mon 30 Dec)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/b4M71
Dec 16, 2019, 9:20 pm
#891
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7
UA Milage run. Need 3800 PQM for gold
Hi folks, I'm quite new to the game and not really sure how to go about getting those last miles, but I read that finding a cheap flight is usually the best way to close those last few mile. How do you know how many miles you'll get when looking at prices? Are there any good options from San Francisco or San Jose? Thanks!
Dec 16, 2019, 10:28 pm
#892
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: the great Northeast
Programs: UA Silver, HH Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 223
This one is only 27PQD over:
UA:$1236 ALB-IAH in First 1113PQD
Mon 30 Dec ALB-IAD-IAH-IAD-ALB
(1h15m in IAH)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/NthhM
IAD-IAH-IAD is 757 lay-flat seats.
But the ALB segments are Economy. 
All in all, this seems pretty expensive. You might want to check Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2019 Consolidated].
UPDATE: one additonal thought...if you have the Explorer or Club Visa, how close are you to the 25k spend for PQD waiver? If within a few thousand, could you purchase a refundable ticket in December, then cancel and refund in January? Your net cost would be zero.
UA:$1236 ALB-IAH in First 1113PQD
Mon 30 Dec ALB-IAD-IAH-IAD-ALB
(1h15m in IAH)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/NthhM
IAD-IAH-IAD is 757 lay-flat seats.
But the ALB segments are Economy. All in all, this seems pretty expensive. You might want to check Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2019 Consolidated].
UPDATE: one additonal thought...if you have the Explorer or Club Visa, how close are you to the 25k spend for PQD waiver? If within a few thousand, could you purchase a refundable ticket in December, then cancel and refund in January? Your net cost would be zero.
Had one trip postpone this year which created this challenge.
Thanks for your help!
Dec 17, 2019, 6:37 am
#893
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
UA:$444 SFO-AUS (via IAH) 4270PQM
Hi folks, I'm quite new to the game and not really sure how to go about getting those last miles, but I read that finding a cheap flight is usually the best way to close those last few mile. How do you know how many miles you'll get when looking at prices? Are there any good options from San Francisco or San Jose? Thanks!
UA:$444 SFO-AUS (via IAH) 4270PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Fri 27 Dec SFO-IAH-AUS-IAH-SFO
(7h21m in AUS)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/NpC5k
If you have any specific requirements (i.e. travel dates), please use the form in the wiki, at the top of the first page.
Dec 17, 2019, 7:41 am
#894
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,952
Slightly more expensive for nonstops, $473
Hi folks, I'm quite new to the game and not really sure how to go about getting those last miles, but I read that finding a cheap flight is usually the best way to close those last few mile. How do you know how many miles you'll get when looking at prices? Are there any good options from San Francisco or San Jose? Thanks!
Unfortunately, with 14 days left in the year, it seems everything out of SFO area has dried up. Best I can do:
UA:$444 SFO-AUS (via IAH) 4270PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Fri 27 Dec SFO-IAH-AUS-IAH-SFO
(7h21m in AUS)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/NpC5k
If you have any specific requirements (i.e. travel dates), please use the form in the wiki, at the top of the first page.
UA:$444 SFO-AUS (via IAH) 4270PQM (w/ 500mi min)
Fri 27 Dec SFO-IAH-AUS-IAH-SFO
(7h21m in AUS)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/NpC5k
If you have any specific requirements (i.e. travel dates), please use the form in the wiki, at the top of the first page.
https://www.google.com/flights#flt=S...00*2.USD.47300
Dec 17, 2019, 5:23 pm
#896
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2
Departure Airport: BOS or MHT
Miles Needed: No miles needed, need PQD of $330
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): domestic: $500; international: $1000
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 - 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares ok if booked through United
Route(s) You've Already Searched: N/A
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Miles Needed: No miles needed, need PQD of $330
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): domestic: $500; international: $1000
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 - 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares ok if booked through United
Route(s) You've Already Searched: N/A
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Dec 17, 2019, 7:45 pm
#897
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Mileageplus
Posts: 1
Need 2263 PQMs for Silver- First timer in Flyertalk
Departure Airport: EWR
Miles Needed: 2263
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): $250
Available Travel Dates: 12/27-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD, EWR-DEN,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No
So close to getting to Silver. I have one flight left but it's a United Express and not upgradeable (ERJ-145) and the Accelerator cost is over $1000!
Current stats: 21,139 PQM, plus last flight of year will take me to 22,737. I only have 18 of 30 required PQS so I figure PQMs are the way to go. Already have $5992 of required PQD ($3000). I have the minimum 4 segments on United/United Express.
I'd like to get the miles in one day, so I don't incur hotel charges.
HELP! Any ideas?
Miles Needed: 2263
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): $250
Available Travel Dates: 12/27-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD, EWR-DEN,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No
So close to getting to Silver. I have one flight left but it's a United Express and not upgradeable (ERJ-145) and the Accelerator cost is over $1000!
Current stats: 21,139 PQM, plus last flight of year will take me to 22,737. I only have 18 of 30 required PQS so I figure PQMs are the way to go. Already have $5992 of required PQD ($3000). I have the minimum 4 segments on United/United Express.
I'd like to get the miles in one day, so I don't incur hotel charges.
HELP! Any ideas?
Dec 17, 2019, 10:15 pm
#898
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
UA:$383 BOS-IAD for 335PQD
Departure Airport: BOS or MHT
Miles Needed: No miles needed, need PQD of $330
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): domestic: $500; international: $1000
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 - 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares ok if booked through United
Route(s) You've Already Searched: N/A
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Miles Needed: No miles needed, need PQD of $330
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): domestic: $500; international: $1000
Available Travel Dates: 12/26 - 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares ok if booked through United
Route(s) You've Already Searched: N/A
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
UA:$383 BOS-IAD 335PQD
Sat 28 Dec BOS-IAD-BOS
(0h52m in IAD)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/1wuMA
Dec 17, 2019, 10:32 pm
#899
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (2020:Exp), United Gold
Posts: 1,525
UA:$391 EWR-SRQ for 2803PQM
Departure Airport: EWR, LGA
Miles Needed: 2234 PQM
Maximum Budget: 350. Need 2234 PQM
Available Travel Dates: Potentially any but would prefer to avoid 2 days before/after Christmas
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Miles Needed: 2234 PQM
Maximum Budget: 350. Need 2234 PQM
Available Travel Dates: Potentially any but would prefer to avoid 2 days before/after Christmas
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: Codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched:
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)? No
Departure Airport: EWR
Miles Needed: 2263
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): $250
Available Travel Dates: 12/27-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD, EWR-DEN,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No
Miles Needed: 2263
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): $250
Available Travel Dates: 12/27-12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD, EWR-DEN,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No
UA:$391 EWR-SRQ 2803PQM
Tue 31 Dec EWR-ORD-SRQ-EWR
(6h40m in SRQ)
Link: https://flights.app.goo.gl/zmVKR
Dec 18, 2019, 3:36 pm
#900
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: United mileageplus
Posts: 3
600 miles needed
Departure Airport: EWR
Miles Needed: 700
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): cheapest available
Available Travel Dates: up until 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No
Miles Needed: 700
Required Spend or Maximum Budget (choose one, and state the value): cheapest available
Available Travel Dates: up until 12/31
Required Metal or Codeshares Okay: I think codeshares OK
Route(s) You've Already Searched: EWR-ORD,
Do you have a Chinese Visa (Yes/No)?No