Award Travel to Guam
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
New to the forum!!
Trying to book travel PHL to Guam for the holidays (Dec 23/24 - Jan 4/5). Ticket prices are extremely $$$, so I'm investigating using miles. Dates are flexible, but I would like to arrive before Christmans and leave after New Year's. Problem is there is doesn't seem to be much Economy Saver availability. I have 200K UA miles banked up, but would really love to only use 65k, which is the bare minimum to get to Guam.
Anybody have any clever ideas for booking? I've been looking for stopover routes via NRT, HKG, as well but the award mileage isn't based on final destination (Guam). It was adding each leg, ie. PHL-HKG = 32500, and then HKG-GUM 15000.
Thanks for any ideas!
I may have found a possible booking, but the United booking tool keeps failing on me. Is this because I'm invalidating a booking rule?
12/18 - PHL->BKK Economy Saver Available (BKK is my stopover)
12/24 - BKK->GUM Economy Saver Available
1/10 - GUM->PHL Economy Saver Available
Does this sound like a valid booking route? Should I call United and try to book?
Trying to book travel PHL to Guam for the holidays (Dec 23/24 - Jan 4/5). Ticket prices are extremely $$$, so I'm investigating using miles. Dates are flexible, but I would like to arrive before Christmans and leave after New Year's. Problem is there is doesn't seem to be much Economy Saver availability. I have 200K UA miles banked up, but would really love to only use 65k, which is the bare minimum to get to Guam.
Anybody have any clever ideas for booking? I've been looking for stopover routes via NRT, HKG, as well but the award mileage isn't based on final destination (Guam). It was adding each leg, ie. PHL-HKG = 32500, and then HKG-GUM 15000.
Thanks for any ideas!
I may have found a possible booking, but the United booking tool keeps failing on me. Is this because I'm invalidating a booking rule?
12/18 - PHL->BKK Economy Saver Available (BKK is my stopover)
12/24 - BKK->GUM Economy Saver Available
1/10 - GUM->PHL Economy Saver Available
Does this sound like a valid booking route? Should I call United and try to book?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Aug 11, 2012 at 4:51 am Reason: merge
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
I may have found a possible booking, but the United booking tool keeps failing on me. Is this because I'm invalidating a booking rule?
12/18 - PHL->BKK Economy Saver Available (BKK is my stopover)
12/24 - BKK->GUM Economy Saver Available
1/10 - GUM->PHL Economy Saver Available
Does this sound like a valid booking route? Should I call United and try to book?
12/18 - PHL->BKK Economy Saver Available (BKK is my stopover)
12/24 - BKK->GUM Economy Saver Available
1/10 - GUM->PHL Economy Saver Available
Does this sound like a valid booking route? Should I call United and try to book?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
I think the problem you're having is that you're trying to go backwards. Dosen't a stop over have to be on the way to the destination? I think you could do a stopover in HNL but not any of the Asian cities.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
For PHL-HKG, you definitely need to use miles at that time.
But for HKG-GUM, have you thought about United Vacation HK:
http://www.ua-vacations.com/package/...guam-main.html
BTW - Welcome to FT.
But for HKG-GUM, have you thought about United Vacation HK:
http://www.ua-vacations.com/package/...guam-main.html
BTW - Welcome to FT.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
Thanks for the tip on HK vacations, but I won't need lodging in Guam and will be staying longer than 5 days.
Is it possible to go PHL->somwhere in Europe->BKK->Guam? How restrictive is United on routing? I'm assuming I would have to get back via the Atlantic to avoid RTW ticketing?
The more and more I think about and search for availability, I'm thinking about booking an epic vacation (including 23 hour layovers for fun) and flying in business class throughout.
I also have a few more work PHL-SYD trips planned for this year, so I'll probably hit 1K before going to Guam if that makes a difference in booking.
Is it possible to go PHL->somwhere in Europe->BKK->Guam? How restrictive is United on routing? I'm assuming I would have to get back via the Atlantic to avoid RTW ticketing?
The more and more I think about and search for availability, I'm thinking about booking an epic vacation (including 23 hour layovers for fun) and flying in business class throughout.
I also have a few more work PHL-SYD trips planned for this year, so I'll probably hit 1K before going to Guam if that makes a difference in booking.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Mainland to Guam should price at 70k in coach; US-BKK should price at 65k from what I'm seeing on the charts. It is entirely possible that the system will only charge you 65k even with the stopover in GUM as it will see BKK as the destination.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 519
If you have not tried, try the ANA award booking engine and search for all flight options. I see plenty of JFK - NRT - ICN - GUM. Coming back GUM - HNL - NY area (less availability).
It should be 65K in economy. Call UA to book as the ANA flight (JFK - NRT) does not show up on UA engine so you will pay no fee.
It should be 65K in economy. Call UA to book as the ANA flight (JFK - NRT) does not show up on UA engine so you will pay no fee.