Anyone here fly on their own dime
Dec 8, 2015, 6:10 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Seattle
Programs: United Gold, Delta Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 81
At my previous company, I traveled internationally for work. Was about 80/20 split for work/personal. However, I was required to buy coach so Flyertalk was useful for me to learn the in's and out's of getting upgrades, etc as a 1K. With my current job, I no longer travel for work. All travel (mostly international) is on my own dime. This year, that means I no longer qualify for 1K (will make gold) this year.
Dec 8, 2015, 6:10 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 553
The majority of my travel is personal, so work travel doesn't help me much for PQM/PQD. I'll only qualify for Silver on UA next year, though I was Gold this year.
On UA, the PQM bonus for flying first/business helps a lot if you can afford it. If you book far in advance, sometimes you can pay just $200-300 more for first for a transcon. Otherwise, fly to Europe and Asia, though cheap fares there won't help with PQD.
On UA, the PQM bonus for flying first/business helps a lot if you can afford it. If you book far in advance, sometimes you can pay just $200-300 more for first for a transcon. Otherwise, fly to Europe and Asia, though cheap fares there won't help with PQD.
Dec 8, 2015, 6:17 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,214
All personal now as I am self-employed, and will reach 1MM status in 2016. So always looking for the best deals but 1K in 2015 did not result in as many upgrades so curious to see what 2016 brings. In order to keep 1K status I will try and do a couple of premium flights to keep 1K, and then the rest are at the fares to use for the upgrades that mostly did not happen.
I mostly fly internationally, and when I fly domestically if I am in the front of the plane I will give up my seat to a uniformed military person - domestic first class is nice but a better treat for our military personnel.
I mostly fly internationally, and when I fly domestically if I am in the front of the plane I will give up my seat to a uniformed military person - domestic first class is nice but a better treat for our military personnel.
Dec 8, 2015, 6:17 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Cle
Posts: 573
2 MM
I joined Mileage plus the day it started in the early 1980's. Since then
have flown 1.93 Million miles on United. and have been 1K for over 12 years. I will hit 2 MM mid 2016. Every mile I have flown has been on my own dime.
(Never flew on Co till the merger only original UA)
Love to travel and United is my airline.
Cleveland is my home airport.
have flown 1.93 Million miles on United. and have been 1K for over 12 years. I will hit 2 MM mid 2016. Every mile I have flown has been on my own dime.
(Never flew on Co till the merger only original UA)
Love to travel and United is my airline.
Cleveland is my home airport.
Dec 8, 2015, 6:23 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
I am. Hope to use credit card waiver to qualify for gold again this year.
I did try OW/AA, qualified for Platinum - but my experience with AA was worse than UA (if you can believe it) and OW alliance network and prices are not very competitive. So, back to UA it is.
I did try OW/AA, qualified for Platinum - but my experience with AA was worse than UA (if you can believe it) and OW alliance network and prices are not very competitive. So, back to UA it is.
Dec 8, 2015, 6:28 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: central California
Posts: 143
Newbie here and first post. I recently became a UA Silver and trying to get to Gold by the end of the year.
Going through this forum has been a real eye opener, I had no idea folks followed this stuff so seriously. Looking at all the mileages and statuses on here leads me to believe that most folks fly for business. Me on the other hand have to fly on my own dime out of EWR to visit family out in PHX roughly doing it every 2 weeks.
Was just wondering if there are more people like me and if so, do you use any special strategies in mileage and status accumulation that might be different than the business road warrior?
Going through this forum has been a real eye opener, I had no idea folks followed this stuff so seriously. Looking at all the mileages and statuses on here leads me to believe that most folks fly for business. Me on the other hand have to fly on my own dime out of EWR to visit family out in PHX roughly doing it every 2 weeks.
Was just wondering if there are more people like me and if so, do you use any special strategies in mileage and status accumulation that might be different than the business road warrior?
Dec 8, 2015, 6:45 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,655
All own money since we own the company. About 25% of my biz travel has a pleasure component in it now though. My employees travel exactly as I do...same policies. If I won't do it, I won't ask them to do it.
Dec 8, 2015, 7:36 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: UA 1K 3MM , Marriott Amb, Hyatt D, HH D, Hertz PC
Posts: 851
100% on my own dime. Two years away from Lifetime 1K (well for now anyway) and barely making the $12,000 PQD this year (by $33). I pray that there will be no change to that number for next year.
Dec 8, 2015, 8:00 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,751
100k+ this year, but no 1K because of spend. everything paid by me.
i want to be a free agent in 2016 and check out other airlines, but all those award miles are so much more valuable when you can change/redeposit at will as a plat.
i want to be a free agent in 2016 and check out other airlines, but all those award miles are so much more valuable when you can change/redeposit at will as a plat.
Dec 8, 2015, 9:26 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: UA MM *Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,852
Have been 1K for 12 years and have 1.5 million miles to use, will reach MM status on my next flight at Christmas and every cent has been paid for by me as a leisure traveler. Have already booked 2 of my flights for next year using my 2016 GPU's and one more to go. Starting in 2017, no more spend of any kind, all miles, and hopefully on some great International carriers, I doubt I will fly UA anymore.
