Award travel with no status
Apr 24, 2018, 8:47 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Presumably you received a boatload of miles from the bug bounty program, why not look for saver awards for first or business class? You'll get Premier Access, group 1 lane, 2 checked bags for free with priority tag, United Club access if traveling internationally, and guaranteed seating in first/business class without dealing with the upgrade lottery.
Apr 24, 2018, 9:02 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,304
You realize that you dont actually have to fly United, right?
If heading overseas, you can fly AC or LH out of DTW.
If you fly AC to YYZ, you will then have a choice of some of the world's best airlines for your longhauls like EVA, but also Austrian, LOT, Turkish, with much better product than United or Air Canada. Ethiopian, Brussels, Lufthansa, Copa, Avianca, EgyptAir, as well as UA partner AerLingus all fly out of YYZ.
So a short hop on AC, and the world is wide open. Availability is much better out of YYZ than EWR/ORD for international flights because of the amount of foreign carriers.
If you are redeeming your miles for domestic travels, yes, you will need to pay for bags, E+, etc
If heading overseas, you can fly AC or LH out of DTW.
If you fly AC to YYZ, you will then have a choice of some of the world's best airlines for your longhauls like EVA, but also Austrian, LOT, Turkish, with much better product than United or Air Canada. Ethiopian, Brussels, Lufthansa, Copa, Avianca, EgyptAir, as well as UA partner AerLingus all fly out of YYZ.
So a short hop on AC, and the world is wide open. Availability is much better out of YYZ than EWR/ORD for international flights because of the amount of foreign carriers.
If you are redeeming your miles for domestic travels, yes, you will need to pay for bags, E+, etc
Apr 24, 2018, 10:00 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
That's all well and good but not really answering my question. The hints the OP gave indicate that it could be several medium security bugs or loads of low security bugs. So, to rephrase it. I was interested to know if the OP had found any that gives the 1,000,000 award miles for one event.
Apr 24, 2018, 10:23 am
#19
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: 66,850
No
Apr 24, 2018, 10:34 am
#20
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: 66,850
That's all well and good but not really answering my question. The hints the OP gave indicate that it could be several medium security bugs or loads of low security bugs. So, to rephrase it. I was interested to know if the OP had found any that gives the 1,000,000 award miles for one event.
Second, discussion of the Bug Bounty programs is covered in another thread , United Airlines Bug Bounty Program - Up to 1,000,000 points
To get the miles, participants sign NDA, The programT&Cs stats
Bugs or potential Bugs you discover may not at any time be disclosed publicly or to a third-party. Doing so will disqualify you from receiving award miles.
Apr 24, 2018, 10:49 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
First, let's kept this thread focused on the OP's query.
Second, discussion of the Bug Bounty programs is covered in another thread , United Airlines Bug Bounty Program - Up to 1,000,000 points
To get the miles, participants sign NDA, The programT&Cs stats
Second, discussion of the Bug Bounty programs is covered in another thread , United Airlines Bug Bounty Program - Up to 1,000,000 points
To get the miles, participants sign NDA, The programT&Cs stats
Apr 24, 2018, 4:20 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 246
Can't you pay for UA tickets purchased on a UA Explorer card with UA Miles? It's 1 CPM, so a pretty bad redemption rate, but, on the other hand, if OP is earning > 1MM miles, he/she could nearly get to 1K that way.
Apr 24, 2018, 7:48 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
I’m surprised no one else has suggested this, but what you need to do is book a couple of award tickets on some busy routes and volunteer to get bumped as many times as possible (don’t worry, they’ll put you up in a hotel and feed you as well if you get stuck somewhere). You can then use those e-certificates to book travel on any UA operated flight (can’t do codeshares) and earn all the PQD/PQS/PQDs required to earn status as well as lifetime miles.
There are a couple of threads on this board regarding voluntary bumps. There was recently a thread about UA offering $7,000 to get bumped from a flight: UA 665 over sold by 50. IAH - EWR
Apr 24, 2018, 8:41 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
A passenger with last-seat everyday award availability (i.e., an eligible United credit card or elite status) might be able to target flights that are showing F0 Y1, but risks being out 32,500 miles each way if the gambit fails. And if UA catches on, they may decide this is abuse and close your account, forfeiting the miles in the process.
Apr 24, 2018, 8:52 pm
#26
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: 66,850
...
I’m surprised no one else has suggested this, but what you need to do is book a couple of award tickets on some busy routes and volunteer to get bumped as many times as possible (don’t worry, they’ll put you up in a hotel and feed you as well if you get stuck somewhere). You can then use those e-certificates to book travel on any UA operated flight (can’t do codeshares) and earn all the PQD/PQS/PQDs required to earn status as well as lifetime miles.
There are a couple of threads on this board regarding voluntary bumps. There was recently a thread about UA offering $7,000 to get bumped from a flight: UA 665 over sold by 50. IAH - EWR
There are a couple of threads on this board regarding voluntary bumps. There was recently a thread about UA offering $7,000 to get bumped from a flight: UA 665 over sold by 50. IAH - EWR
And as mentioned successful scheduling for a planned VDB is a risky strategy at best and given the award ticket cancellation fees (for a non-elite) more likely a money loser.