horse glasses

They are not RT. I am returning from an extended stay in Europe in Nov, will be in the BOS area for about a week and then need to return home to LAS. A few weeks later, I will need to travel to RIC and then onto PIT, where I'll be staying for the remainder of 2016 for the holidays. It's really only 2 long-ish flights. P fares would take care of it, but I'm also trying to do this as cheaply as possible since PQD aren't an issue.

fumje

That sounds like a challenge. How short on PQM will you be? I think your best bet is using the 500mi.-min. for segments. You may want to try multi-city tickets to include, e.g., BOS-EWR, LAS-SFO, IAD-RIC.

Upfaring to P is perhaps the better option, though.

laurenanne

Hi,
I am a Star Alliance Gold member based in NYC using EWR as my United hub.

Through the rest of the year, I've got three more flights coming up, totaling 19,000 miles. I am at 52,888 so I'll basically be shy of hitting Platinum by 3112 miles.

Scheduled Flights:
1. EWR-MXP round-trip, coach.
2. EWR-MXP-TPA coach
3. TPA-EWR biz

Buying up to biz on the MXP euro legs is almost 1500 dollars, pretty out of reach for me.

I am already flying once in October, 3 x in November (once on AA), and leaving December 15 for Christmas using miles on Air India, so I am running out of time for travel.

Any ideas how to nab the last 3112 miles? Maybe a weekend hop to California? Should I consider award accelerators as a last resort? They are generally bad deals but at least don't require additional travel. Any great mileage legs with decent prices out there?

I don't post very often, mostly read, so advance apologies if I am missing any info or used the wrong lingo.

Thanks!
Lauren

cfischer

try SDC with connections. e.g. MXP-TPA you should be able to get e.g. MXP-EWR-IAH-TPA. TATL fares generally allow the extra connection and allow IAH as a route (check routing rules though). Else a $200 r/t to MSY via IAH might do.

Phorever

Can you fly United instead of AA for that one trip?

laurenanne

Thanks @cfischer! I just saw the consolidated thread for United mileage run requests, so will remove this post and leave my message up on that thread instead.

simmang

First thing that came to mind for me was a round trip to LAX. You'd get closer to 5k miles for that and I think you could find decent deals on that route (~$300).

laurenanne

@Phorever: I tried to but I am going to Nevis through St. Kitts and couldn't make the United flight line-up with the AA flight I need to take to get there. United's flight was far more expensive and as a travel writer, the Nevis tourism board is paying the airfare so I can't push them to buy that ticket. Dates are November 2-6 if you've got ideas though. Or want to come!

@Simmang: I was thinking LAX, too. Will look into. Thanks!

aacharya

Tons of PHL-West Coast flights at $200ish. Even EWR-SFO is $296 right now.

dancingal

This thread has been incredibly helpful in the past, thank you all.

I have a different scenario - I will have logged enough PQMs and PQDs to qualify for elite status, but I only have 3 UA-operated segments this year (I'm lucky enough to have my corporate TA frequently issue *A flights on UA stock), rather than the 4 required for qualification.

Does the buy-Premier Accelerator-then-cancel-ticket work for getting the final UA segment or do I have to actually fly it?

findark

You have to fly it. Also note it's four segments, not 4 PQS (in case you had two premium segments instead of 3 BIS).

dancingal

Ugh. Wishing I had planned for this earlier in the year. Thank you for the quick reply.

WineCountryUA

An option for those that can, is getting a Chase MP Club credit card (sometimes available for no first year fee) -- it has a waiver to the 4 UA segment requirement. Plus it has a few useful benefits.

gt6707a

Given status match challenge and need 12k miles to qualify. Any suggestions on shortest routes that would earn me just that many miles over a weekend?
I am based out of SFO. 90 days to complete the challenge. Premium is not necessary but would be nice if it's a long flight and gets me the PQM I need.

I also purchased a non-refundable flight with Delta to London prior to knowing this. Anyway I can get it refunded fully instead of credit for later?

I think I posted to mileage run originally but was moved to here..

WineCountryUA

From where?
How many time left on the challegne?
Is the use of premium cabin bonus, an option?

The Mileage Run forum generally has the best info on low costs options.

30 days out SFO-EWR PS flights in P fare (lie-flat seats) is 10,260 miles @ $1,300. Route as SFO-LAX-EWR RT and you are at 11,900 miles. Find the lie flat flight SFO-BOS and your get 10,800 PQMs with a P fare. Routing via LAX and you be over 12K. None of these are the cheapest but you get a bunch of PQMs for least time in the air and a comfortable seat. If you are going for cheapest, in economy, you are looking at TPAC (NRT is not quite enough) or TALT (FRA is not quite far enough). SFO-HKG??


That's a DL forum question but generally short of a significant schedule change or weather waiver, non-refundable is non-refundable.