Advice Sought From a Young FT Member Who is Interested in Obtaining Top Elite Status
Mar 11, 2011, 7:49 am
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tel Aviv
Programs: United Premier, Air France Silver, AAdvantage, Matmid Gold
Posts: 469
Same day.
Is it ridiculous to fly down to SYD, wait 8 hrs, and fly SYD-SFO-LAX?
Are the 15,000 EQMs worth it?
What's service like in Y?
I have a weekend route in the works.
Lax-syd-SFO-lax. Friday through Sunday. Eight hour layover at kingsford smith.
Any suggestions for the layover, or should I go onto MEL?
Are the 15,000 EQMs worth it?
What's service like in Y?
As you may find, you are into Easter period, with fares way up, planes pretty full, and cheap fares almost non-existent. Until Labor Day you won't easily find many discounts or bargains. Maybe to the Far East, or to Australia late May to early June (when I often go to SYD and MEL), you can sometimes find good fares. Otherwise domestic flights that are cheap and available will be a tough find.
One other thing to consider. If you really only want to fly a few times a year, and would like to go international, consider forgetting the status and just buy Z fares to international destinations. You get business class seats and benefits, the option to buy up to F, and not spend all that much more money while saving a lot of time. As has been posted before, unless you are going to fly an awful lot every year, status benefits can be bought with certain fares.
One other thing to consider. If you really only want to fly a few times a year, and would like to go international, consider forgetting the status and just buy Z fares to international destinations. You get business class seats and benefits, the option to buy up to F, and not spend all that much more money while saving a lot of time. As has been posted before, unless you are going to fly an awful lot every year, status benefits can be bought with certain fares.
Lax-syd-SFO-lax. Friday through Sunday. Eight hour layover at kingsford smith.
Any suggestions for the layover, or should I go onto MEL?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 11, 2011 at 11:50 am
Mar 11, 2011, 11:46 am
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,675
Service in Y is subpar.. Food is not the best, so I'd bring something aboard to supplement the "meal" that UA gives out. It's worth it, if you want to get 1K. I did that in May, and loved my eight hours in Sydney. I even met one of the UA moderators for breakfast ^
Mar 11, 2011, 11:47 am
#63
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,669
Now if this were me, I'd want to spend time visiting Sydney. I did one mileage run and it was a turn around and I wish I had stayed a couple of days (MEM-SFO). I suppose you can try it and see if you like it. I think long hours in Y are horrible. (Business is different) OTOH, I'm old so if you're young it may be different.
Mar 11, 2011, 12:35 pm
#64
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
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Posts: 13,811
Frankly, I don't care...my suggestion is OP aims for 1P to get *G first and 1K next year (So OP can use the lounge for international MR at least)...
From GM to 1K is difficult, especially when you don't have free "500 Miles Minimum" to make up some.
As soon as he is not reducing my chance for UDUs, I am fine...
From GM to 1K is difficult, especially when you don't have free "500 Miles Minimum" to make up some.
As soon as he is not reducing my chance for UDUs, I am fine...
Mar 11, 2011, 12:48 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 257
My suggestion is...if $ is not an object...buy me a ticket and take me with you, and I'll take care of our upgrades to Business Class (and at least get you into E+ if the upgrades don't clear)
Mar 11, 2011, 1:06 pm
#66
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SNA
Programs: UA Million Mile Nobody, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 25,228
Same day.
Is it ridiculous to fly down to SYD, wait 8 hrs, and fly SYD-SFO-LAX?
Are the 15,000 EQMs worth it?
What's service like in Y?
I have a weekend route in the works.
Lax-syd-SFO-lax. Friday through Sunday. Eight hour layover at kingsford smith.
Any suggestions for the layover, or should I go onto MEL?
Is it ridiculous to fly down to SYD, wait 8 hrs, and fly SYD-SFO-LAX?
Are the 15,000 EQMs worth it?
What's service like in Y?
I have a weekend route in the works.
Lax-syd-SFO-lax. Friday through Sunday. Eight hour layover at kingsford smith.
Any suggestions for the layover, or should I go onto MEL?
Mar 11, 2011, 1:53 pm
#67
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tel Aviv
Programs: United Premier, Air France Silver, AAdvantage, Matmid Gold
Posts: 469
Sydney works better due to timing.it's cheaper to go to syd than sin.
Is 8 hours enough of a layover to go into sydney?
Mar 11, 2011, 1:54 pm
#68
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Mar 11, 2011, 2:03 pm
#69
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tel Aviv
Programs: United Premier, Air France Silver, AAdvantage, Matmid Gold
Posts: 469
Mar 11, 2011, 2:08 pm
#70
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Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
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Mar 11, 2011, 2:10 pm
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tel Aviv
Programs: United Premier, Air France Silver, AAdvantage, Matmid Gold
Posts: 469
Does the train go to the terminal?
I am much appreciative. My mother might think I am crazy, but I am getting excited for this mr.
Mar 11, 2011, 2:13 pm
#72
In Memorium
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K-3.5MM; AA Exec. Plat.; Hyatt Diamond; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 356
yes, you should be able to get into SYD and see the sites listed.
Also, for MRs that have the 6 say stay minimum--like LAX-PVG--I have gottne around that by purchasing a RT tix, for example: LAX-PVG and then a RT tix PVG-LAX. A couple of yesrs ago I did that to PVG from Chicago and only had to complete both round trips in a single month--the fare bucket was a 6 day min. stay, 30-day max. Play around with some routes and you can wokr it that way--although sometimes the fare originiating in a foreing city si different form the special you get originiating in the US--could be same, more, or less $$.
On these MR's, I did the trip and two weeks later did it again, and stayed a couple of days each time. But technically you could do it with less time on the ground.
Also, for MRs that have the 6 say stay minimum--like LAX-PVG--I have gottne around that by purchasing a RT tix, for example: LAX-PVG and then a RT tix PVG-LAX. A couple of yesrs ago I did that to PVG from Chicago and only had to complete both round trips in a single month--the fare bucket was a 6 day min. stay, 30-day max. Play around with some routes and you can wokr it that way--although sometimes the fare originiating in a foreing city si different form the special you get originiating in the US--could be same, more, or less $$.
On these MR's, I did the trip and two weeks later did it again, and stayed a couple of days each time. But technically you could do it with less time on the ground.
Mar 11, 2011, 2:14 pm
#73
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The train goes directly to the international terminal. It's just up an escalator to find the UA check-in desk. I'd get back about three hours prior to departure. As you are without status, lines for Check in can be long.
Mar 11, 2011, 2:27 pm
#74
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to OP: I know some here will consider it heresy but I strongly believe that the right thing to do is to do the flying you'd do naturally, and IF you find that you'll fall a bit short of a major hurdle then do a bit extra to get over the hump.
Put differently, there are countless good reasons to fly:
-seeing different countries
-visiting relatives
-different cities
-maintaining a long distance relationship
-meeting clients, work colleagues, etc.
-job interviews
-volunteer work
-100 more items...
Way at the bottom of the list is
-having status on an airline.
This truly is only a means to an end, not a goal in and of itself.
Put differently, there are countless good reasons to fly:
-seeing different countries
-visiting relatives
-different cities
-maintaining a long distance relationship
-meeting clients, work colleagues, etc.
-job interviews
-volunteer work
-100 more items...
Way at the bottom of the list is
-having status on an airline.
This truly is only a means to an end, not a goal in and of itself.
Mar 11, 2011, 2:31 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,306
Being young, customs will search you.. Happened to me, as I was only staying for eight hours. If you want to go into town, you can take the Airport Link train to Circular Quay and visit the Opera House.
Service in Y is subpar.. Food is not the best, so I'd bring something aboard to supplement the "meal" that UA gives out. It's worth it, if you want to get 1K. I did that in May, and loved my eight hours in Sydney. I even met one of the UA moderators for breakfast ^
Service in Y is subpar.. Food is not the best, so I'd bring something aboard to supplement the "meal" that UA gives out. It's worth it, if you want to get 1K. I did that in May, and loved my eight hours in Sydney. I even met one of the UA moderators for breakfast ^
The Airport Link train is great! It's quick, and drops you right at the ferries. If you want to pick up something to augment your meal on the return flight, there are nice cafes and coffeeshops at The Rocks where you can get something to go. The Rocks is also close to the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, so you can stretch your legs before getting back on the plane.
Although it might be tempting to do an 8-hour turn, the flights to & from Sydney are pretty grueling. You should consider spending the night if your schedule allows it. The Russell House Hotel is fairly inexpensive, and it's in a great location at The Rocks. It has a lot of character and a very nice staff. The rate comes with a substantial Aussie breakfast.
Sigh...Now I want to go too!