United Airlines Award/Premier Accelerator Rates [2013]
Jan 6, 2013, 3:34 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,589
I am offered 2.9c per RDM and 8.5c per PQM for up to 12,000 miles as a 1K... Worth it?
My general member friend on the same itinerary is offered the same prices but for less miles (up to 6,500)...
My general member friend on the same itinerary is offered the same prices but for less miles (up to 6,500)...
Jan 6, 2013, 4:13 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
I suspect that longer and/or international itineraries are getting lower priced offers.
Jan 6, 2013, 6:42 pm
#78
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
My point was that even with F upgrades on UA, it's better to take the nonstops with no perks and have more time being where you wanna be. Plus, it's refreshing to experience the always-happy Southwest Airlines flight attendants, who seem to be chipper even though their planes are fuller and their passengers are, shall we say, rougher..
I'd probably slightly prefer to fly FX...
Jan 7, 2013, 9:00 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: IAD, Virginia
Programs: UA Premium 1K, AA EXP, Starwood G, Hyatt D
Posts: 31
I am a new bie. I would like to know why people want to buy RDM at $0.021 or higher.
I think if you use purchased RDM, say 25,000 points at cost $500+ for a saver award for domestic round trips, you can purchase most of them at around $500 or less in cash but you will get addition PQM/RDM for that cash travel. Economically, it looks not logical.
However, if you travel internationally, especially use saver award as 1K member to get Global F with 140,000 points/Business F 120,000 then it looks attractive. Am I correct or any other considerations? Thanks.
I think if you use purchased RDM, say 25,000 points at cost $500+ for a saver award for domestic round trips, you can purchase most of them at around $500 or less in cash but you will get addition PQM/RDM for that cash travel. Economically, it looks not logical.
However, if you travel internationally, especially use saver award as 1K member to get Global F with 140,000 points/Business F 120,000 then it looks attractive. Am I correct or any other considerations? Thanks.
Jan 7, 2013, 9:20 pm
#80
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,071
Jan 10, 2013, 12:24 am
#81
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K, NW forever
Posts: 1,390
Today I'm seeing 3.3 cpm for RDM and 8.5 cpm for PQM on my itineraries, domestic and international.
Jan 10, 2013, 3:41 am
#82
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 24
My paid domestic itinerary is coming up at 11.4 cpm (2.9 RDM + 8.5 PQM), and my substantially longer award international itinerary is 10.6 cpm (2.1 RDM + 8.5 PQM).
Jan 13, 2013, 11:44 pm
#83
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SFO, LAX
Programs: UA 1K, SPG G, #1 CG 5☆
Posts: 234
Indeed, 2.1cpm for int'l routes, and 75,000 RDM/PQM seems to be the max for a single iteniary, even if the iteniary for more than 25k BIS miles.
I am a new bie. I would like to know why people want to buy RDM at $0.021 or higher.
I think if you use purchased RDM, say 25,000 points at cost $500+ for a saver award for domestic round trips, you can purchase most of them at around $500 or less in cash but you will get addition PQM/RDM for that cash travel. Economically, it looks not logical.
However, if you travel internationally, especially use saver award as 1K member to get Global F with 140,000 points/Business F 120,000 then it looks attractive. Am I correct or any other considerations? Thanks.
I think if you use purchased RDM, say 25,000 points at cost $500+ for a saver award for domestic round trips, you can purchase most of them at around $500 or less in cash but you will get addition PQM/RDM for that cash travel. Economically, it looks not logical.
However, if you travel internationally, especially use saver award as 1K member to get Global F with 140,000 points/Business F 120,000 then it looks attractive. Am I correct or any other considerations? Thanks.
It's not neccessarily more economical, since flying 75k BIS/PQM miles may only cost you $3,150 and may yield more RDMs (150k RDM for a 1k). So it really depends on your situation, whether you are willing to suffer for 100 flight hours on a plane, potentially in steerage, or whether you'd rather buy your way out of the sheer joy of 9 mileage runs from SFO to BQN at $350 each, likely distributed over 9 weekends. Me, I have a housekeeper so my wife doesn't have to clean or do the laundry. But if I didn't and I left her alone for 9 weekends to do all the chores herself my cost would be steep indeed, and $7,950 wouldn't sound that bad.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jan 13, 2013 at 11:58 pm Reason: merge
Jan 14, 2013, 12:23 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 755
10.90 Cents PQM for me...
Jan 14, 2013, 10:34 am
#85
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis Pres
Posts: 99
You say you'll need 20-30,000 PQMs
If you have time, consider a trip to Cape Town. I'm going in March, and getting lots of bonus PQMs for taking a 4 segs on SAA. I just checked, and United.com offering same thing this fall, e.g., 10/10-10/15 ORD-LHR-JHB-CPT (LHR-JHB-CPT and the return are the SAA segs). 150% PQMs for the SAA segments. 100% on United from ORD-LHR and return. Total PQM 27,132 for $1660. About .06/mile. And a beautiful place to visit, to boot.
Jan 16, 2013, 5:18 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
Paid 10.6cents yesterday. I bought 60,000 miles.
60,000 Mileage Plus Miles @ 2.1cents per mile
60,000 Premier Miles @ 8.5cents per mile
Total 10.6cents per PQM
60,000 Mileage Plus Miles @ 2.1cents per mile
60,000 Premier Miles @ 8.5cents per mile
Total 10.6cents per PQM
Jan 16, 2013, 5:26 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Jan 16, 2013, 5:32 pm
#88
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
Indeed, 2.1cpm for int'l routes, and 75,000 RDM/PQM seems to be the max for a single iteniary, even if the iteniary for more than 25k BIS miles.
As some people on this thread have pointed out, it's easier than to put yourself on a number of mileage runs. Work schedules, time away from family, hotel/food/rental cars/transportation to and from airport can mean added expense and nagging at home for them, so it's worth the cost to them.
It's not neccessarily more economical, since flying 75k BIS/PQM miles may only cost you $3,150 and may yield more RDMs (150k RDM for a 1k). So it really depends on your situation, whether you are willing to suffer for 100 flight hours on a plane, potentially in steerage, or whether you'd rather buy your way out of the sheer joy of 9 mileage runs from SFO to BQN at $350 each, likely distributed over 9 weekends. Me, I have a housekeeper so my wife doesn't have to clean or do the laundry. But if I didn't and I left her alone for 9 weekends to do all the chores herself my cost would be steep indeed, and $7,950 wouldn't sound that bad.
As some people on this thread have pointed out, it's easier than to put yourself on a number of mileage runs. Work schedules, time away from family, hotel/food/rental cars/transportation to and from airport can mean added expense and nagging at home for them, so it's worth the cost to them.
It's not neccessarily more economical, since flying 75k BIS/PQM miles may only cost you $3,150 and may yield more RDMs (150k RDM for a 1k). So it really depends on your situation, whether you are willing to suffer for 100 flight hours on a plane, potentially in steerage, or whether you'd rather buy your way out of the sheer joy of 9 mileage runs from SFO to BQN at $350 each, likely distributed over 9 weekends. Me, I have a housekeeper so my wife doesn't have to clean or do the laundry. But if I didn't and I left her alone for 9 weekends to do all the chores herself my cost would be steep indeed, and $7,950 wouldn't sound that bad.
I live alone with my dog and cat. The expense to pay for a pet sitter, parking, hotels, food and gas to/from the airport all figure in. I'm sure I am getting more PQM per $$ buying accelerator miles. If a good rate is 6cents per mile on a MR than for an extra 4cents per mile I get to relax on my weekends and enjoy babysitting my four year old grandson.
Jan 16, 2013, 6:28 pm
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Jan 17, 2013, 9:08 am
#90
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
I have to agree:
I live alone with my dog and cat. The expense to pay for a pet sitter, parking, hotels, food and gas to/from the airport all figure in. I'm sure I am getting more PQM per $$ buying accelerator miles. If a good rate is 6cents per mile on a MR than for an extra 4cents per mile I get to relax on my weekends and enjoy babysitting my four year old grandson.
I live alone with my dog and cat. The expense to pay for a pet sitter, parking, hotels, food and gas to/from the airport all figure in. I'm sure I am getting more PQM per $$ buying accelerator miles. If a good rate is 6cents per mile on a MR than for an extra 4cents per mile I get to relax on my weekends and enjoy babysitting my four year old grandson.
My only question would be: If you need to buy 60,000 PQM's to achieve or maintain status, are you really flying enough each year to make elite status worth it?