Where would you go this weekend?
Apr 15, 2019, 1:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 300
Where would you go this weekend?
I have a free weekend coming up, starting on April 19 to April 21 (maybe even April 22). I don't have any tickets right now but am looking to get away somewhere interesting on a saver award, be it economy or Polaris. I fly out of EWR, am 1K and trying to decide where I can go somewhere fun and interesting in the United network, maximizing my free weekend time. Lastly I have 2 GPU's expiring at the end of April (extended from last year) which i would love to use, if at all possible. Don't want to spend more than $2000 on economy tickets to upgrade. It will be only me travelling.
Right now the only thing I can come up with is EWR - LHR, leaving at 6PM on April 19 and coming back on the 7:55AM from LHR on Monday. Seems to have plenty of saver awards in economy and Polaris is looking quite empty. Keeping my fingers crossed that Polaris award space opens up closer to booking.
Anyone have any better ideas for me?
Right now the only thing I can come up with is EWR - LHR, leaving at 6PM on April 19 and coming back on the 7:55AM from LHR on Monday. Seems to have plenty of saver awards in economy and Polaris is looking quite empty. Keeping my fingers crossed that Polaris award space opens up closer to booking.
Anyone have any better ideas for me?
Apr 15, 2019, 1:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
I have a free weekend coming up, starting on April 19 to April 21 (maybe even April 22). I don't have any tickets right now but am looking to get away somewhere interesting on a saver award, be it economy or Polaris. I fly out of EWR, am 1K and trying to decide where I can go somewhere fun and interesting in the United network, maximizing my free weekend time. Lastly I have 2 GPU's expiring at the end of April (extended from last year) which i would love to use, if at all possible. Don't want to spend more than $2000 on economy tickets to upgrade. It will be only me travelling.
Right now the only thing I can come up with is EWR - LHR, leaving at 6PM on April 19 and coming back on the 7:55AM from LHR on Monday. Seems to have plenty of saver awards in economy and Polaris is looking quite empty. Keeping my fingers crossed that Polaris award space opens up closer to booking.
Anyone have any better ideas for me?
Right now the only thing I can come up with is EWR - LHR, leaving at 6PM on April 19 and coming back on the 7:55AM from LHR on Monday. Seems to have plenty of saver awards in economy and Polaris is looking quite empty. Keeping my fingers crossed that Polaris award space opens up closer to booking.
Anyone have any better ideas for me?
If you can travel Friday-Monday and are okay with economy there's a saver award EWR-TPE for 70,000 miles r/t in Y. Add an additional 45,000 miles if you have to come back Sunday.
Apr 15, 2019, 1:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier
Posts: 781
16 hours of flying for a long weekend? That is too much time in the air for me. For selfish reasons I would be headed to LAS to see a show, see some of the desert beauty, play some golf without a jacket and see my grandchildren.
Apr 15, 2019, 1:32 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Thoughts:
1. You need to decide quickly if you want to go for a W fare to upgrade to PP or Polaris, or go for award tickets.
2. If W fare, starting looking up EU or South American flights and look up both current Polaris space and maybe, just maybe some open upgrade space.
(eliminating Asia solely due to your time constraints).
3. If award miles, I'd say usually this close, you might get lucky, especially on a partner, with saver business.
1. You need to decide quickly if you want to go for a W fare to upgrade to PP or Polaris, or go for award tickets.
2. If W fare, starting looking up EU or South American flights and look up both current Polaris space and maybe, just maybe some open upgrade space.
(eliminating Asia solely due to your time constraints).
3. If award miles, I'd say usually this close, you might get lucky, especially on a partner, with saver business.
Apr 15, 2019, 1:33 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,453
If you want to spend time on the ground, Europe seems like the furthest you would want to go.
I find several Canadian cities are nice for short trips, but a lot of this really depends upon what you like to do I would think.
I find several Canadian cities are nice for short trips, but a lot of this really depends upon what you like to do I would think.
Apr 15, 2019, 1:35 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
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Wasn't there a fun thread a few years back on helping a FT member select a novel trip and all of the forum pitching in with ideas?
David
David
Apr 15, 2019, 2:10 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
I'm pretty partial to FCO. 
There is saver economy available on the nonstop EWR-FCO, but you'd have to take a stop to get back at the saver economy redemption level.
There is saver economy available on the nonstop EWR-FCO, but you'd have to take a stop to get back at the saver economy redemption level.
Apr 15, 2019, 2:24 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 300
Thoughts:
1. You need to decide quickly if you want to go for a W fare to upgrade to PP or Polaris, or go for award tickets.
2. If W fare, starting looking up EU or South American flights and look up both current Polaris space and maybe, just maybe some open upgrade space.
(eliminating Asia solely due to your time constraints).
3. If award miles, I'd say usually this close, you might get lucky, especially on a partner, with saver business.
1. You need to decide quickly if you want to go for a W fare to upgrade to PP or Polaris, or go for award tickets.
2. If W fare, starting looking up EU or South American flights and look up both current Polaris space and maybe, just maybe some open upgrade space.
(eliminating Asia solely due to your time constraints).
3. If award miles, I'd say usually this close, you might get lucky, especially on a partner, with saver business.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 15, 2019 at 3:26 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Apr 15, 2019, 2:33 pm
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
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Posts: 10,157
Yes Europe and South America is where I am looking at right now. GVA and LHR is the only place I am seeing saver availability but no reasonable W fares anywhere, which I guess is no real surprise, given how close it is to booking. Probably just end up doing a staycation in NYC
Though be certain to check hotel prices. London hotels can be pricey.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 15, 2019 at 3:27 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Apr 15, 2019, 2:45 pm
#10
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Maybe this one? Where will a deck of United cards take me?
Can't exactly remember the key word(s) to search on....
David
Apr 15, 2019, 3:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,444
As it's Easter weekend, and consequently one of the busiest Spring Break periods, you'll probably find better availability in more business-oriented markets.
Apr 15, 2019, 4:04 pm
#14
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Apr 15, 2019, 4:50 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2013
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