Creative routing NYC to SFO to add PQM?
Oct 2, 2012, 9:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG gold lifer
Posts: 54
Creative routing NYC to SFO to add PQM?
Hi all,
I've got a trip coming up to SFO from NYC, and am exactly 8160 PQM away from Premier Platinum, which I really want to hit on this trip as it will make a big difference to be able to book more than 2 E+ seats on a future trip.
I can fly business, so I need to actually do 5440 miles flown on the trip to get the PQM that I need. Any good ideas for routing to hit that? Normal NYC to SFO legs end up about 500 flown miles short. I do not want to do anything crazy, and cannot do anything that will increase the cost, but I'm thinking there should be a good way to do this.
For reference - flight out is Oct 14, flight home on the 16th.
Thanks!
I've got a trip coming up to SFO from NYC, and am exactly 8160 PQM away from Premier Platinum, which I really want to hit on this trip as it will make a big difference to be able to book more than 2 E+ seats on a future trip.
I can fly business, so I need to actually do 5440 miles flown on the trip to get the PQM that I need. Any good ideas for routing to hit that? Normal NYC to SFO legs end up about 500 flown miles short. I do not want to do anything crazy, and cannot do anything that will increase the cost, but I'm thinking there should be a good way to do this.
For reference - flight out is Oct 14, flight home on the 16th.
Thanks!
Oct 2, 2012, 9:14 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,069
Creative routing NYC to SFO to add PQM?
My suggestion is to take the direct and do a mileage run in Y another time. You'll be trading a PS business class flight for standard domestic F, which as you know is not very good.
Oct 2, 2012, 9:17 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
Bingo. In addition, a quick search on ITA leads me to believe that many routings through Houston will actually reduce the cost (unless you booked your ticket before today at a cheaper fare class). I think you only need to route through Houston on one of the segments in order to hit Platinum, assuming you do in fact book in business.
Oct 2, 2012, 9:25 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MCO, DCA, IAD
Programs: UA GS 1MM, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,134
EWR-IAH has a flight on the 767-300ER with intl configuration and lie flat in C
IAH-SFO has a flight on the 787 (depending on travel date) also with intl configuration and lie flat in C
I would say both of these are superior to the PS business class product.
EDIT: on Oct 14/16 no 787 but a 767 intl config on the IAH-SFO route
Oct 2, 2012, 9:52 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between SFO & SJC
Programs: UA 1MM (and no longer flying much)
Posts: 777
Route thru LAX, one direction only.
I'd do JFK-LAX-SFO-JFK or JFK-SFO-LAX-JFK, depending on whether you're more flexible outbound or returning.
JFK-LAX-SFO gives you 2975 PQM (the 500 miles/segment minimum applies on the LAX-SFO leg).
SFO-JFK gives you 2586 PQM
With the 50% bonus you'd be at 8341 PQM.
You'd be in p.s. C both ways (and no need to play the lottery for whether you actually get a 3-cabin plane through IAH)
You add only one extra segment, so less risk of misconnects, less time sitting in airports, etc.
You could also consider something like LGA-IAD-SFO-JFK, but that puts you in domestic F for the IAD-SFO leg, which is a big step down from p.s. C.
JFK-LAX-SFO gives you 2975 PQM (the 500 miles/segment minimum applies on the LAX-SFO leg).
SFO-JFK gives you 2586 PQM
With the 50% bonus you'd be at 8341 PQM.
You'd be in p.s. C both ways (and no need to play the lottery for whether you actually get a 3-cabin plane through IAH)
You add only one extra segment, so less risk of misconnects, less time sitting in airports, etc.
You could also consider something like LGA-IAD-SFO-JFK, but that puts you in domestic F for the IAD-SFO leg, which is a big step down from p.s. C.
Oct 2, 2012, 10:35 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Oct 2, 2012, 12:48 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: SPG gold lifer
Posts: 54
Perfect, thanks for the help. Decided to connect through LAX on the way over - same fare and an extra 750 PQM for biz class on that extra segment at the minimum 500 miles per segment. Will put me just over the line and it adds only an hour and a half to my trip over.