Lx/lh/*a: Sfo-mad/bcn $1655
#16
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL plat
Posts: 316
Using *A as shorthand for the UA/LH group TATL JV is fine. Usually aggressively priced J fares are first filled from -competitor's- hubs. In this case, places like DFW or MSP, you'd expect to see these level fares for the *A TATL JV. I agree it's unusual for *A JV to lead with these type of fares out of solely UA hubs. .
Last edited by Pat89339; Jul 1, 2021 at 9:57 am Reason: TOS 12
#17
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,123
There are a few other *A airlines (TP/SK/LO) who routinely price below the three cartels and are not part of the UA/AC/LH cartel. United files all US eastbound fares for the cartel, AC all ex US and LH all ex EU westboundfares. Filing offers to fill planes is not unusual these days...
#18
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL plat
Posts: 316
There are a few other *A airlines (TP/SK/LO) who routinely price below the three cartels and are not part of the UA/AC/LH cartel. United files all US eastbound fares for the cartel, AC all ex US and LH all ex EU westboundfares. Filing offers to fill planes is not unusual these days...
They are adding capacity and must not see the volume they were expecting yet. It's one thing to say US tourists are allowed in Europe, but the constant backtracking and risk of summer vacation plans being ruined at a moment's notice by an EU or US politician is discouraging many Americans from committing. People would love to travel to Europe, but aren't ready to commit a pile of money for something that has a decent chance of turning into a mess in an instant.
This is something I'd personally be all over in past years as the typical annual sale price for a patient buyer, but this summer is so uncertain that I'm not comfortable committing $8k to get the family over in the J seats. Even if the flight operates, what good is a vacation to a potentially locked down spot when I can go to Florida or the Caribbean for half that price and be much more confident I'll be able to actually enjoy the trip?
#19
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, IHG Spire, Marriot Gold
Posts: 119
United caps PQP per segment at 1500 for their preferred partners (LX/LH/AC/BR/CA/NH). For non-preferred partners, they cap the segment earnings at 1000.
Now on earning PQP - this is basically air miles x the rate that the booking class would earn to MileagePlus, then divided by 5 for preferred partners or divided by 6 for standard partners.
Here's an example:
AC flight from SFO to YUL to BRU to MAD. 3 segments there. Google air miles from SFO to YUL = 2539 miles. Multiply by 200% for the booking class multiplier, then divide by 5. This segment is worth approximately ~1015 PQP. Do the same for all the segments. I computed a similar RT except it hit YVR on the return and the total is around 4900 PQP.
Hope that helps
Now on earning PQP - this is basically air miles x the rate that the booking class would earn to MileagePlus, then divided by 5 for preferred partners or divided by 6 for standard partners.
Here's an example:
AC flight from SFO to YUL to BRU to MAD. 3 segments there. Google air miles from SFO to YUL = 2539 miles. Multiply by 200% for the booking class multiplier, then divide by 5. This segment is worth approximately ~1015 PQP. Do the same for all the segments. I computed a similar RT except it hit YVR on the return and the total is around 4900 PQP.
Hope that helps
#20
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, IHG Spire, Marriot Gold
Posts: 119
Forgot to add the key in maximizing PQP is to break up the legs. Don't fly direct from SFO to FRA then MAD. This produces 2279 miles for the first leg, of which you can only get 1500 per United's cap.
Hence it's better to fly transcon from SFO to YUL/YYZ/EWR/JFK then hop on over to Europe.
Hence it's better to fly transcon from SFO to YUL/YYZ/EWR/JFK then hop on over to Europe.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
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Thanks turbox3! Great explanation and I totally understand now. Some airlines don’t give the 200% bonus I guess so when I calculated LX or LH I didn’t get the bonus. But maybe because I didn’t break up the legs as well I’ll have to look further. Anyway, I have the tools now. How long do you think that’s fare will last for? I need a day to figure things out…
#22
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, IHG Spire, Marriot Gold
Posts: 119
Thanks turbox3! Great explanation and I totally understand now. Some airlines don’t give the 200% bonus I guess so when I calculated LX or LH I didn’t get the bonus. But maybe because I didn’t break up the legs as well I’ll have to look further. Anyway, I have the tools now. How long do you think that’s fare will last for? I need a day to figure things out…
AC seems the obvious choice for me right now on earning PQP when coming out from SFO/LAX/SEA. If coming out of SEA, make sure you don't connect at YVR as that's a total waste of a leg for PQP.
Good luck!
#23
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 424
I got one of these.
It seems max stay is 90 days.
and in the summer months, these optimal routings are not available, not sure why I couldn't book in the optimal PQP way, I could later in the year but not up until August.
Debating if I should book another to maintain status...
It seems max stay is 90 days.
and in the summer months, these optimal routings are not available, not sure why I couldn't book in the optimal PQP way, I could later in the year but not up until August.
Debating if I should book another to maintain status...
#24
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,845
Thanks everyone for your help, I think I have it all squared away now $1685 Late September departure for two weeks
Last edited by Flying Machine; May 10, 2021 at 9:39 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
#26
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA Mileage Plus Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 424
I got a nice routing - and only doing the one stop on the back for 4994 PQP.... I couldn't resist a quick transit - it AC all the way.
I hope that 200% calculation is right - the fare is only OK, but the AC routings make it interesting to requalify.
only 3,000 PQP to plan to hit my 1K again...
I hope that 200% calculation is right - the fare is only OK, but the AC routings make it interesting to requalify.
only 3,000 PQP to plan to hit my 1K again...
#27
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, IHG Spire, Marriot Gold
Posts: 119
I got a nice routing - and only doing the one stop on the back for 4994 PQP.... I couldn't resist a quick transit - it AC all the way.
I hope that 200% calculation is right - the fare is only OK, but the AC routings make it interesting to requalify.
only 3,000 PQP to plan to hit my 1K again...
I hope that 200% calculation is right - the fare is only OK, but the AC routings make it interesting to requalify.
only 3,000 PQP to plan to hit my 1K again...
#28
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,845
I couldn’t find the complete fare rules as one would on expert flyer. Prior to and after origination what are the change rules if you wanted to reroute? Are they free? Thanks
#29
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, ex-AA EXP, ex-UA 1K
Posts: 707
Well, this is extremely irritating: ALL of the discounted OW fares that were online a mere 60 minutes ago have vanished. SFO-MAD is now showing as $7,800! (Also tried ex-ORD & ex-MIA – same story.)
Looks like *A is still up for the moment, however.
Looks like *A is still up for the moment, however.
#30
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,845
I’m still seeing the fare available round-trip