If UA awarded you free Y travel for a year - non mileage earning, would you take it?
Dec 15, 2017, 8:56 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
I'd pay for whatever trips I needed to upgrade. I wouldn't make 1K, but I'd save enough money to be able to purchase P fares the following year instead of needing R space. (Also, I hit 1MM earlier this year, so I'd only fall back down to Gold, which is a bonus). JetBlue is less compelling for me due to their more limited networkAre you listening UA?
Dec 25, 2017, 12:17 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Well it really is dependent on the individual and the circumstance. If you don't have the ability to travel often (family restrictions, work, etc.), would it be a good value after taxes are factored in? Not familiar with tax implications here but presumably this gets reported and is taxable.
Dec 25, 2017, 12:53 pm
#34
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,853
Gets reported as taxable income (so for many this could mean taxes of 25, 28, 33, 35, 39.5% plus 0-10% state taxes). While UA might report the max value, with a little effort you can use a number more reflective of your actual use -- just log the cheapest economy ticket time of booking)
Jan 29, 2018, 5:15 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
I’d most likely pass.
majority of my travel is paid by work in international paid J.
use miles from paid J for free J travel with my wife all over the world.
id still need to work and traveling in E vs traveling in J on miles earned by work I’d pick the free J. Couldn’t travel any more personally than I do now due to needing to show up to work to pay for all the things I like that are non travel related (my house).
majority of my travel is paid by work in international paid J.
use miles from paid J for free J travel with my wife all over the world.
id still need to work and traveling in E vs traveling in J on miles earned by work I’d pick the free J. Couldn’t travel any more personally than I do now due to needing to show up to work to pay for all the things I like that are non travel related (my house).
Jan 29, 2018, 10:27 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Yes, though it would hurt losing 1K next year. I could give myself a soft landing buying PQM up to Plat. I wonder how much that would cost relative to paying for my flights.
Jan 29, 2018, 11:16 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
No mileage earning, but would they count towards Million Miler status?
Even if they didn't, I would probably take it. I would have to run through the math with the taxes first to be sure, and I'm not going to put that much effort into a hypothetical
Even if they didn't, I would probably take it. I would have to run through the math with the taxes first to be sure, and I'm not going to put that much effort into a hypothetical
Jan 29, 2018, 12:08 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
If they still had the lifetime passes (Free F travel anywhere unlimited for life + companion), I wonder how much they would cost today.
Jan 29, 2018, 12:28 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
I’m looking at the JetBlue sweepstakes, offering a prize of free travel for you and a companion for a year of economy travel. The rules specify:
No Mint
No miles.
If UA offered the same, would you want it? Or is earning miles/ maintaining status more important?
What if it were free C travel? Would that change things?
No Mint
No miles.
If UA offered the same, would you want it? Or is earning miles/ maintaining status more important?
What if it were free C travel? Would that change things?