How many transpac trips before I can get domestic upgrades?
Apr 6, 2018, 7:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
How many transpac trips before I can get domestic upgrades?
Here’s my situation. I just started a new job that will have me doing monthly SFO-HKG trips in business and monthly sfo-bos trips in economy. I’d like to know from your experience how many Asia trips it will take before I can realistically get enough status to see the upgrade to business on the domestic legs.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Apr 6, 2018, 7:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
You will qualify for 1k and will 'earn' upgrade instruments that you will have to manually apply to each domestic leg. SFO-BOS is now a premium service and not eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Apr 6, 2018, 7:32 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,025
Here’s my situation. I just started a new job that will have me doing monthly SFO-HKG trips in business and monthly sfo-bos trips in economy. I’d like to know from your experience how many Asia trips it will take before I can realistically get enough status to see the upgrade to business on the domestic legs.
Thanks!
Thanks!
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/premier/default.aspx?int_source=loy&int_medium=uacom&int_c ampaign=mphome&partner_category=mphouse&partner_na me=premier_benefits&asset_type=mphome_link&launch_ date=2017-04-24
Qualifying for upgrades and getting them are completely different issues. Domestic flights w/ front cabins marketed as "Business" do not qualify for status-based complimentary upgrades.
In short, you'll need to get to at least Plat to get 2 upgrade certificates (one is required for each segment) to use on the SFO-BOS flights. At 1K, you'll get 8 more certificates (2 regional and 6 global). You really should read up on the program and the terms and conditions on your own to start with if UA is going to be an important airline frequent flyer program for you.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Apr 6, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Apr 6, 2018, 7:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
3 round trips you'll have platinum status, 4 round trips you'll have 1K status. Neither status will necessarily afford you guaranteed upgrade availability.
You can request to apply one of these RPUs to each of your domestic legs. You'll pick up 2 RPU's every time you do a round trip to HKG (27,656 PQM each, nonstop -- more if you fly in full-fare J).
" Premier members will earn two Regional Premier Upgrades upon meeting all qualification requirements of Premier Platinum status, plus two more upon meeting all qualification requirements of Premier 1K® status. An additional two Regional Premier Upgrades will be awarded for each 25,000 Premier qualifying miles "
Apr 6, 2018, 7:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
you’ll be at 1K by your 4th trip which will give you 6 GPU’s and 4 RPU’s to use. Since you’re already flying J to Asia you can use both your GPU’s and RPU’s for the domestic legs and can probably afford to apply them to every flight you’re taking, whereas most of us are typically a bit more strategic with how we use them. I don’t travel transcon a lot but I hear upgrades are hard to come by on those routes so don’t hold your breath.
still, you’re going to be racking up a ton of miles and flying a new Polaris route to Asia I think you’ll be fine.
still, you’re going to be racking up a ton of miles and flying a new Polaris route to Asia I think you’ll be fine.
Last edited by david_oz; Apr 6, 2018 at 9:56 pm Reason: my bad math
Apr 6, 2018, 8:27 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
you’ll be at 1K by your 8th trip which will give you 6 GPU’s and 4 RPU’s to use. Since you’re already flying J to Asia you can use both your GPU’s and RPU’s for the domestic legs and can probably afford to apply them to every flight you’re taking, whereas most of us are typically a bit more strategic with how we use them. I don’t travel transcon a lot but I hear upgrades are hard to come by on those routes so don’t hold your breath.
still, you’re going to be racking up a ton of miles and flying a new Polaris route to Asia I think you’ll be fine.
still, you’re going to be racking up a ton of miles and flying a new Polaris route to Asia I think you’ll be fine.
Apr 6, 2018, 9:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,160
4th trip, presuming UA metal (or probably the same with others).
SFO-HKG is 6,927 miles. Double that for return, and double for business class gives 27,708 PQM per return trip. 4 trips is 100K.
PQM would need to be $3k/trip - if you can find J to HKG for less than that then you're doing well...
SFO-HKG is 6,927 miles. Double that for return, and double for business class gives 27,708 PQM per return trip. 4 trips is 100K.
PQM would need to be $3k/trip - if you can find J to HKG for less than that then you're doing well...
Apr 6, 2018, 9:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
4th trip, presuming UA metal (or probably the same with others).
SFO-HKG is 6,927 miles. Double that for return, and double for business class gives 27,708 PQM per return trip. 4 trips is 100K.
PQM would need to be $3k/trip - if you can find J to HKG for less than that then you're doing well...
SFO-HKG is 6,927 miles. Double that for return, and double for business class gives 27,708 PQM per return trip. 4 trips is 100K.
PQM would need to be $3k/trip - if you can find J to HKG for less than that then you're doing well...
Apr 6, 2018, 10:02 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
This, I think, is the key. Upgrades ex-SFO are difficult to get. Even if OP were to eschew the nonstop (and the lie flat seats) and fly SFO-IAD-BOS or SFO-ORD-BOS or something, there's a good chance none of the legs would clear regularly until reaching GS.
Even as GS, it can be tough to clear instruments ex-SFO, but at least it's possible. OP: what days of the week will you be flying? You're going to have a much better chance at success on off-peak days.
I don't know the spend requirement for GS in SFO, but it's tough to imagine that 12x SFO-HKG in J would fall terribly short of it.
Even as GS, it can be tough to clear instruments ex-SFO, but at least it's possible. OP: what days of the week will you be flying? You're going to have a much better chance at success on off-peak days.
I don't know the spend requirement for GS in SFO, but it's tough to imagine that 12x SFO-HKG in J would fall terribly short of it.
Apr 6, 2018, 10:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
Have you thought about flying SQ between SFO and HKG and crediting to KrisFlyer? Assuming the flight timing works on SQ1/2, you get better service on the longhaul, and you can also credit JetBlue flights to KrisFlyer for your SFO-BOS runs. If you stick with UA domestically, you can get United Club access as a non-UA *G (but you’ll lose out on free E+).
Here’s my situation. I just started a new job that will have me doing monthly SFO-HKG trips in business and monthly sfo-bos trips in economy. I’d like to know from your experience how many Asia trips it will take before I can realistically get enough status to see the upgrade to business on the domestic legs.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Apr 6, 2018, 10:54 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 1,329
Have you thought about flying SQ between SFO and HKG and crediting to KrisFlyer? Assuming the flight timing works on SQ1/2, you get better service on the longhaul, and you can also credit JetBlue flights to KrisFlyer for your SFO-BOS runs. If you stick with UA domestically, you can get United Club access as a non-UA *G (but you’ll lose out on free E+).
Apr 6, 2018, 11:04 pm
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,467
Apr 7, 2018, 6:51 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: LT Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hertz Prez Circle, United Platinum
Posts: 767
You should really become familiar with this. Look at satus level qualifications, benefits, etc. Then look at the "upgrades" page. Knowledge is power:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ate=2017-04-24
Qualifying for upgrades and getting them are completely different issues. Domestic flights w/ front cabins marketed as "Business" do not qualify for status-based complimentary upgrades.
In short, you'll need to get to at least Plat to get 2 upgrade certificates (one is required for each segment) to use on the SFO-BOS flights. At 1K, you'll get 8 more certificates (2 regional and 6 global). You really should read up on the program and the terms and conditions on your own to start with if UA is going to be an important airline frequent flyer program for you.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ate=2017-04-24
Qualifying for upgrades and getting them are completely different issues. Domestic flights w/ front cabins marketed as "Business" do not qualify for status-based complimentary upgrades.
In short, you'll need to get to at least Plat to get 2 upgrade certificates (one is required for each segment) to use on the SFO-BOS flights. At 1K, you'll get 8 more certificates (2 regional and 6 global). You really should read up on the program and the terms and conditions on your own to start with if UA is going to be an important airline frequent flyer program for you.
Apr 7, 2018, 11:28 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: United GS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 102
Here’s my situation. I just started a new job that will have me doing monthly SFO-HKG trips in business and monthly sfo-bos trips in economy. I’d like to know from your experience how many Asia trips it will take before I can realistically get enough status to see the upgrade to business on the domestic legs.
Thanks!
Thanks!
which means at 3 round trip you would have enough PQM to hit 1K, but not enough PQD.
12x SFO-HKG round trip should be enough for GS. I think that company has its own GS quota list which makes you qualify for GS easier in SFO.