Less than 1/2 cent per mile? Please explain...are there other benefits/miles you didn't mention?

122K for $1080 is about .88 cents per mile. Still, a good deal...

I've never done a "pure" mileage run by the strictest definition, but I've used cheap airfares to Europe in early December to bump up status a couple of times in the past five years. Chicago-London on United in early December usually runs about $400 RT if you plan it right, and makes for an enjoyable long weekend. You could conceivably use this as a pure mileage run if you wanted to, but why not stay a day or two?

I've yet to do a mileage run just to get the miles, though I do try and stay with one airline/partner to maximize my miles. Even if it means not flying direct.

I personally would never fly just for the miles but would do it to get to the next membership level. If you fly enough and are close to a top tier level, it makes a world of difference in benefits for the following year.

All you UA folks in PremEx must really be racking up the miles these days http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Law Lord,

I think you've both over and undercounted. The Summer from H miles would only apply to flights from May on, so that unless the activity in your hypothetical was all in that timeframe (which I suppose it could be b/c you can make a hypothetical whatever you want--as an economist, I can certainly appreciate that). But leaving aside these quibbles, I think you've highlighted the strategy United is pursuing. The SFH bonus creates this significant incentive for people to make 1P rather than 2P. And they only get that extra 75% if they get all the way to 1P--so perhaps more effective for United than the simple bonus miles per flight strategy which of course they're also pursuing at the moment.

The undercount is b/c getting to 1P would get you the additional 75% bonus for the next year.

Magmile, I think you're right. Also just after I posted, Mrs. Law Lord told me she wants to go to Rarotonga (13,000 miles round trip). I will have 25,000 UA miles anyway, so RAR makes 38K, and then one $600 ticket to Europe will bring me to 50,000 miles. As it happens I did very little UA travel before May, so now I'm looking at a pile of miles (including next year's 100% bonus, you're right, I forgot about that)if I take the one extra flight to get to 50K for 2000.

I won't http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif about being Premier for 2001. I'll certainly http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif if I'm PremEx.

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"If you want to win the game, write the rules."

PremEx2000's mileage runs to Singapore take the cake for low cost/mile, but I'm off to Raleigh NC next weekend for under 1¢/mile, which is incredible for a domestic trip (no jet lag!). Nearly 3,000 miles each way (connecting at IAD, upgraded cross-country), times quadruple UA miles, plus web bonus - over 24,000 miles total, almost "buy one, get one free."

Plus I get to visit a friend I haven't seen in 6½ years, AND I'll be in time for the North Carolina State Fair. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Then again, United just came out with an e-fare, SFO-SIN for $575. That's just over 1¢/mile for Premier Exec or higher - not bad if you have the time.

JohnA, I noted the SFO to SIN e-fare but could not get it booked. Maybe tomorrow??? The website made me crazy just like it did a few weeks ago when I tried to get the cheapie fares before the deadline.