Using fare rules to maximize number of miles
Aug 15, 2013 | 9:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Using fare rules to maximize number of miles
I will have upcoming roudtrip SIN-SFO-SIN trip in September/October. I must fly economy according to company's travel policy and can book any fare class in economy except Y and B.
Question: which fare class would be preferable to maximize number of miles thru the number of connections without significantly affecting price of the ticket? Secondly, what connection airports would be preferable in this case?
Thank you.
Question: which fare class would be preferable to maximize number of miles thru the number of connections without significantly affecting price of the ticket? Secondly, what connection airports would be preferable in this case?
Thank you.
Aug 15, 2013 | 10:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
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UA has consistent routing rules across all of its fare classes, so buying an expensive M fare isn't any advantage to you in terms of earning miles.
If time is not an issue, consider SFO-LAX-HNL-NRT/GUM-HKG-SIN?
If time is not an issue, consider SFO-LAX-HNL-NRT/GUM-HKG-SIN?
Aug 15, 2013 | 10:23 pm
#3
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Use hipmunk with the ITA advanced routing language to see how you can maximize connections/miles. For the origin enter "SIN :: ua ua ua ua+" to see flights with a minimum of 3 connections.
Ideally route something like SIN-NRT-GUM-HNL-LAX-SFO for miles.
Ideally route something like SIN-NRT-GUM-HNL-LAX-SFO for miles.
Aug 15, 2013 | 10:47 pm
#4
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Aug 15, 2013 | 10:58 pm
#5
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Aug 16, 2013 | 8:38 am
#6
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Aug 16, 2013 | 8:47 am
#7
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He did try to max out your miles. So, max miles without raising eyebrows.
Aug 16, 2013 | 9:02 am
#8
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Aug 16, 2013 | 9:37 am
#9
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Well, that's a bit silly, but those are major hubs. Connecting in Honolulu and Guam, and Hong Kong on the way to Singapore, just sounds a lot stranger to me. Then again, it doesn't sound all that strange after reading this board.
Aug 16, 2013 | 10:02 am
#10
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Does corporate travel even look at full itineraries? If the price is cheaper, and you're not wasting company time, why is the routing a concern?
Aug 16, 2013 | 10:17 am
#11
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Sometimes I buy the M fare and then upgrade(change the ticket) to a B fare in the 24 hour window so that there is no change fee...IF the B fare is not too expensive...probably outrageous TPAC. Many times, it's cheaper to just buy the miles via Maximizer
Aug 16, 2013 | 7:50 pm
#12
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You would purchase as high as M fare and then worry about the costs of connections?? The fare class is a greater driver of costs then connections.
Aug 17, 2013 | 5:36 am
#13
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We have offices in San Francisco and NY. Going to either of those is quite logical. Going to Guam will definitely raise red flag.
Corporate travel policies defy human logic. I once found a routing from SIN to FRA which was twice cheaper comparing to non-stop flight but was told that it was not allowed according to corporate travel policy.
So SIN-SFO with four connections in between on K would be cheaper than SIN-NRT-SFO on W?
Regarding the routing rules - are they individual with every fare?
So SIN-SFO with four connections in between on K would be cheaper than SIN-NRT-SFO on W?
Regarding the routing rules - are they individual with every fare?
Last edited by invisible; Aug 17, 2013 at 5:44 am
Aug 17, 2013 | 7:36 am
#14
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The difference between the M fare and the P (discounted first class fare) is always low. For example, on a RT from IAH to EWR, the M fare could be $1400 and the discounted P fare was $1500. For $100 you get to sit in FC *and* you get 50% miles and PQM bonus. Hard to beat.
When you buy the M fare, wait till the ticket is actually issued in M class. Then you can either upgrade online to P or you can call United. If you change within 24 hours, there will be no fees other than the fare difference.
OK, just ignore my answer. Did not read question carefully and did not realize this was an int'l flight. This strategy works for domestic flights where differences in M and P fares are small. I will leave this to others who have more experience with int'l market.
When you buy the M fare, wait till the ticket is actually issued in M class. Then you can either upgrade online to P or you can call United. If you change within 24 hours, there will be no fees other than the fare difference.
The difference between the M fare and the P (discounted first class fare) is always low. For example, on a RT from IAH to EWR, the M fare could be $1400 and the discounted P fare was $1500. For $100 you get to sit in FC *and* you get 50% miles and PQM bonus. Hard to beat.
When you buy the M fare, wait till the ticket is actually issued in M class. Then you can either upgrade online to P or you can call United. If you change within 24 hours, there will be no fees other than the fare difference.
When you buy the M fare, wait till the ticket is actually issued in M class. Then you can either upgrade online to P or you can call United. If you change within 24 hours, there will be no fees other than the fare difference.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 17, 2013 at 12:15 pm Reason: merge
Aug 17, 2013 | 8:04 am
#15
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Can anyone explain this?
Code:
Transfer restrictions
1 TRANSFER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION FREE
1 FREE IN JAPAN/HONG KONG SAR IN EACH DIRECTION.
AND - 1 TRANSFER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION FREE
FREE IN CONTIGUOUS U.S.A. IN EACH DIRECTION
FARE BREAK SURFACE SECTORS NOT PERMITTED AND
EMBEDDED SURFACE SECTORS PERMITTED ON THE FARE
COMPONENT.
Combinability
DOUBLE OPEN JAWS NOT PERMITTED.
END-ON-END NOT PERMITTED. SIDE TRIPS PERMITTED.
APPLICABLE ADD-ON CONSTRUCTION IS ADDRESSED IN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS - CATEGORY 23.
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM SINGLE OPEN JAWS
-TO FORM ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER NH/UA IN
RULE JS31 IN TARIFF
IPRP - BETWEEN THE USA/CANADA-AREA 2/3 VIA PACIFIC
IPRPC - BETWEEN AREA 1-AREA 2/3 VIA PACIFIC.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 17, 2013 at 12:17 pm Reason: merge