Value of 1K when GPUs don't clear despite 20+ open seats?
Mar 4, 2019, 2:09 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,132
This is a simplistic view of B2B agreements. For decades, I traveled to sites in which businesses agreed to a flat travel reimbursement. They could care less what I actually paid or whether miles were used. Nothing dishonest about it.
Mar 5, 2019, 1:19 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
Or are you only considering if you were to buy expressly for purchasing a ticket?
This doesn't really have personal relevance to me, just curious.
Mar 6, 2019, 8:25 am
#78
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,083
That is not really a reimbursement. Many a contract has a flat fee in it, including for travel, and even specify the number of trips covered. How you get there is on you. But if it simply says they will reimburse out of pocket travel costs, using your own miles is not a travel cost. Now, if you purchased a bunch of miles for cash at 3.5 cents per mile to permit you to save thousands on the price of a ticket, you might be able to charge the cost of those miles, but even then, I'd want to be able to show that and confirm it is permitted under the contract and okay with the client. I'd never try to charge a client for some "deemed" value of using my personal miles.
Mar 6, 2019, 1:35 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
I'm seeing lots of availability on HA for around $3700 RT. Yes, you have to do a 2.5 hr connection in HNL, but in the original poster's scenario you were already taking many inconvenient routings on other flights just to get a GPU to use on this nonstop flight. Thus the net convenience of not chasing status in this case would still be higher. But as always, YMMV.
Mar 6, 2019, 1:42 pm
#80
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is the key. No matter what the situation, being transparent with the client is a key to a continuing relationship.
Where all of this becomes much more difficult is if the miles were earned through travel paid for by third parties, e.g., former employer or other clients, but not reported as income at the time, it becomes quite difficult to deal with the miles' tax treatment for both you and for the client.
Where all of this becomes much more difficult is if the miles were earned through travel paid for by third parties, e.g., former employer or other clients, but not reported as income at the time, it becomes quite difficult to deal with the miles' tax treatment for both you and for the client.
Mar 6, 2019, 1:56 pm
#81
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,614
This is the key. No matter what the situation, being transparent with the client is a key to a continuing relationship.
Where all of this becomes much more difficult is if the miles were earned through travel paid for by third parties, e.g., former employer or other clients, but not reported as income at the time, it becomes quite difficult to deal with the miles' tax treatment for both you and for the client.
Where all of this becomes much more difficult is if the miles were earned through travel paid for by third parties, e.g., former employer or other clients, but not reported as income at the time, it becomes quite difficult to deal with the miles' tax treatment for both you and for the client.
Last edited by nomad420; Mar 6, 2019 at 1:57 pm Reason: removed duplicated wording
Mar 6, 2019, 2:31 pm
#82
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: 1K
Posts: 121
And here I am hoping / waiting to get upgraded on the flight to AKL with 25+ open seats about 15 days out. PN has been > 0 for a few weeks, anywhere from PN1 to currently PN7, but PZ has always stayed 0.
Mar 6, 2019, 4:29 pm
#83
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
Mar 6, 2019, 4:59 pm
#84
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,859
I'm seeing lots of availability on HA for around $3700 RT. Yes, you have to do a 2.5 hr connection in HNL, but in the original poster's scenario you were already taking many inconvenient routings on other flights just to get a GPU to use on this nonstop flight. Thus the net convenience of not chasing status in this case would still be higher. But as always, YMMV.
Mar 6, 2019, 7:42 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,395
I'm seeing lots of availability on HA for around $3700 RT. Yes, you have to do a 2.5 hr connection in HNL, but in the original poster's scenario you were already taking many inconvenient routings on other flights just to get a GPU to use on this nonstop flight. Thus the net convenience of not chasing status in this case would still be higher. But as always, YMMV.
Mar 6, 2019, 9:27 pm
#86
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
The broader point is that J fares on many international routes have fallen significantly in the last few years. That makes upgrade instruments and premium cabin awards considerably less valuable, both because there’s less chance to actually cash them in and because the alternative cost of buying a J class ticket is now lower.
Mar 8, 2019, 10:18 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Anytime when 20 seats in business class open about 30 min to departure, but UA refuses to release saver J award, you have to be suspicious.
Especially if the only people on upgrade standby list are UA employees. Like in a recent thread about SFO-AKL.
These people have friends in Inventory Management intentionally blocking I/IN so the employees can enjoy free ride in business class while UA leaves miles (liability) on the table.
Or sell the passes for money.
Especially if the only people on upgrade standby list are UA employees. Like in a recent thread about SFO-AKL.
These people have friends in Inventory Management intentionally blocking I/IN so the employees can enjoy free ride in business class while UA leaves miles (liability) on the table.
Or sell the passes for money.
Mar 8, 2019, 11:23 am
#88
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Bounding Around The Good 'Ole USA In My Chevrolet
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 381
Do you have any proof? It seems like you are making wild accusations. United is a private company that can do what ever it so pleases with their seats.
Mar 8, 2019, 11:28 am
#89
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
That would lead to termination for both the passriders and employees manipulating the inventory just as the employees from the original post were fired. Not to mention the gate agents, who'd also have to be in on the deal, who didn't run the upgrades when the seats opened up.
Mar 8, 2019, 11:34 am
#90
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I mean, how do you explain 16 J seats are open when the flight is about to close the door but there is no saver award?
Meanwhile, 16 UA employees are on standby, nobody else is even on upgrade list. Yet PN=PZ=IN=I=0.
The only way to ensure these UA employees to ride in business class for free, is to block these spaces by IM.
Nobody can redeem miles for the saver award, and nobody buying tickets 24 hours before departure can upgrade because you can't even request waitlisted if PZ=0.
Yes United is a private company, but this kind of behavior (if true) hurts the bottom line of United.