United Airlines Award/Premier Accelerator Rates [2013]
Jan 3, 2013, 9:47 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
But he's recommending that I sell them to make up a large part of the cost of this plan. I guess he's assuming that I would be traveling on C/F awards alone, but if that is the case, there is almost no benefit to being 1K:
I'm getting C/F anyway.
I'm not earning any bonus miles.
I get lounge access anyway.
I get priority checkin and seating anyway.
I'm getting C/F anyway.
I'm not earning any bonus miles.
I get lounge access anyway.
I get priority checkin and seating anyway.
I was not factoring that (selling the GPU's) in to my calculations.
I am just looking at it as 2 years of 1K for about $10K... I would value the GPU's and RPU's highly enough that I would keep them myself.
Jan 3, 2013, 10:49 pm
#47
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
How do you get 2 years of status with 100k PQMs?
Jan 3, 2013, 11:06 pm
#49
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Jan 3, 2013, 11:52 pm
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Ok but if you fly this year, you'd earn status for 2014.
So to get the 2 years of status, no point in flying this year?
Also how do you get offered 100k miles? Only seeing 30 or 60k for a TATL itin
So to get the 2 years of status, no point in flying this year?
Also how do you get offered 100k miles? Only seeing 30 or 60k for a TATL itin
Jan 4, 2013, 12:04 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
The 2012 Elite Maximizer thread discussed, at length, how to acquire maximizer PQM's without actually ending up with a ticket.
Jan 4, 2013, 12:31 am
#52
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
We are, of course, assuming that the price for the first 30,000 PQM and the last 30,000 PQM will be the same. Are we sure the price won't be higher once you approach 100k?
Jan 4, 2013, 5:02 am
#53
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA Plat 1MM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold/SVN 3 Star Elite, ICG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 242
My concern exactly...which is why I jumped on 45,000 for 10.6c all in. I too saw 8.6 and 9.4 last year for a few weeks around May/June, but as soon as I crossed over 50K PQMs and 75K PQMs, the price jumped.
Jan 4, 2013, 10:07 am
#54
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
Domestic and international data points
DCA-LAS, next week:
10,000 RDM for $290 = $.029 CPM
10,000 PQM for $850 = .085 CPM
Total of $1,140 = $.114 CPM
IAD-BCN, late February:
20,000 RDM for $420 = $.021 CPM
20,000 PQM for $1,700 = $.085 CPM
Total of $2,120 = $.106 CPM
10,000 RDM for $290 = $.029 CPM
10,000 PQM for $850 = .085 CPM
Total of $1,140 = $.114 CPM
IAD-BCN, late February:
20,000 RDM for $420 = $.021 CPM
20,000 PQM for $1,700 = $.085 CPM
Total of $2,120 = $.106 CPM
Last edited by DCA writer; Jan 5, 2013 at 9:55 pm Reason: Decimal point got away from me
Jan 4, 2013, 10:17 am
#55
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Austin, TX and Aspen, CO
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 225
I've got 60,000 EQM mile-trips purchased and planned so far in 2013 - mostly international (instant-GPU-upgraded) trips. I could have bought more miles, but I figure smaller domestic trips will round out the final 16k of miles needed prior to the end of the year. It's a crappy feeling to get to the end of the year and realize you bought more PQMs than you needed when you could have had them for "free".
Also, I've come to the conclusion - once and for all - that I'd rather travel to a destination nonstop even if it's on the worst airline, rather than fly on upgraded First Class tickets on UA that have to connect in Houston - this is the "rub" if you live in Austin. That extra 2-3 hours travel time is just enough to pretty much put a dent in my trip both ways. With Accelerator, I am paying for the luxury of still being able to buy tickets on Southwest or Delta if they are the only airlines operating the Austin nonstop I want - without having to lose 1K status for not flying enough on my preferred airline, UA.
Jan 4, 2013, 10:40 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
I went ahead and just took this offer as well: 24,000 RDM and PQM miles for ~ $2500 (~ $.10.6c all in).
I've got 60,000 EQM mile-trips purchased and planned so far in 2013 - mostly international (instant-GPU-upgraded) trips. I could have bought more miles, but I figure smaller domestic trips will round out the final 16k of miles needed prior to the end of the year. It's a crappy feeling to get to the end of the year and realize you bought more PQMs than you needed when you could have had them for "free".
Also, I've come to the conclusion - once and for all - that I'd rather travel to a destination nonstop even if it's on the worst airline, rather than fly on upgraded First Class tickets on UA that have to connect in Houston - this is the "rub" if you live in Austin. That extra 2-3 hours travel time is just enough to pretty much put a dent in my trip both ways. With Accelerator, I am paying for the luxury of still being able to buy tickets on Southwest or Delta if they are the only airlines operating the Austin nonstop I want - without having to lose 1K status for not flying enough on my preferred airline, UA.
I've got 60,000 EQM mile-trips purchased and planned so far in 2013 - mostly international (instant-GPU-upgraded) trips. I could have bought more miles, but I figure smaller domestic trips will round out the final 16k of miles needed prior to the end of the year. It's a crappy feeling to get to the end of the year and realize you bought more PQMs than you needed when you could have had them for "free".
Also, I've come to the conclusion - once and for all - that I'd rather travel to a destination nonstop even if it's on the worst airline, rather than fly on upgraded First Class tickets on UA that have to connect in Houston - this is the "rub" if you live in Austin. That extra 2-3 hours travel time is just enough to pretty much put a dent in my trip both ways. With Accelerator, I am paying for the luxury of still being able to buy tickets on Southwest or Delta if they are the only airlines operating the Austin nonstop I want - without having to lose 1K status for not flying enough on my preferred airline, UA.
Jan 4, 2013, 11:08 am
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Austin, TX and Aspen, CO
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 225
Jan 4, 2013, 11:31 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD-LAS
Programs: UA MM 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 4,419
Jan 4, 2013, 11:37 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Austin, TX and Aspen, CO
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 225
Search AUS-EZE from 9/1 - 9/30. V fare is $2 *cheaper* than the cheapest fare. V is upgradeable.
Search AUS-SYD from 4/23 - 5/12. W Fare is $130 more expensive than the cheapest fare.
AUS-PVG 6/30 -7/10. W Fare is $240 more expensive than the cheapest fare.
These dates were not selected because of narrow gaps in W vs. normal fares; these were my first choices for these trips.
I think all of the hemming and hawing is silly - the difference in W and V fares from normal discount fares that I see are miniscule or non-existent. I recognize this is likely due to other factors, including the heavy advance window I use when booking (facilitating greater R* award availability), as well as travelling to destinations in their off-peak seasons. For people who need to buy on shorter notice, during peak season in that destination, etc, 1K may not be as worth it as much to you. For my lifestyle and situation, it's a dream come true.
Search AUS-SYD from 4/23 - 5/12. W Fare is $130 more expensive than the cheapest fare.
AUS-PVG 6/30 -7/10. W Fare is $240 more expensive than the cheapest fare.
These dates were not selected because of narrow gaps in W vs. normal fares; these were my first choices for these trips.
I think all of the hemming and hawing is silly - the difference in W and V fares from normal discount fares that I see are miniscule or non-existent. I recognize this is likely due to other factors, including the heavy advance window I use when booking (facilitating greater R* award availability), as well as travelling to destinations in their off-peak seasons. For people who need to buy on shorter notice, during peak season in that destination, etc, 1K may not be as worth it as much to you. For my lifestyle and situation, it's a dream come true.