Where would you go this weekend?
Apr 16, 2019, 7:21 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 300
I just did Brazil last weekend for 4 days, 3 nights; 1k upgrading with GPU's. Little/no jet lag if you can sleep on the plane since you head largely south. Do you have a Brazilian visa? (your post doesn't mention your nationality). They do e-visas for Australians, US Citizens, etc these days but it may be too short notice...
Just checked April 17-21, there's PZ availability EWR-GRU ~$1600rtn for W fare which is on the high side but it's last minute. Săo Paulo is a vibrant mega-city with a solid bar/nightlife scene, great food, and I even had great weather this past weekend (sunny and 82F; spent several hours in the hotel pool). Fast becoming my favorite over Rio these days...you may need to factor in Easter as some things are likely closed (but I'm no expert here). This trip would net you nearly 10,000 PQM too, if that's a factor for re-qual.
PM for more tips if you decide to go.
Just checked April 17-21, there's PZ availability EWR-GRU ~$1600rtn for W fare which is on the high side but it's last minute. Săo Paulo is a vibrant mega-city with a solid bar/nightlife scene, great food, and I even had great weather this past weekend (sunny and 82F; spent several hours in the hotel pool). Fast becoming my favorite over Rio these days...you may need to factor in Easter as some things are likely closed (but I'm no expert here). This trip would net you nearly 10,000 PQM too, if that's a factor for re-qual.
PM for more tips if you decide to go.
I'm seeing I space on EWR-MAN and EWR-GVA on 4/19, as well as on LH EWR/JFK-FRA, and intriguingly enough on the LO JFK-BUD flight, which is probably the most interesting of the lot.
Also if you don't mind positioning to ORD or BOS there's O space on both LH ORD-FRA flights, ORD-MUC, as well as BOS-FRA and -MUC (both of which have empty F cabins now) — and you could add on an intra-Europe leg to get the FCT in FRA / FCL in MUC and to where you actually want to go.
Also if you don't mind positioning to ORD or BOS there's O space on both LH ORD-FRA flights, ORD-MUC, as well as BOS-FRA and -MUC (both of which have empty F cabins now) — and you could add on an intra-Europe leg to get the FCT in FRA / FCL in MUC and to where you actually want to go.
If the upgrade clears, EWR-HKG. Depart 3pm Friday and arrive 7pm Saturday. If you're in J and can sleep on planes, this is a very efficient use of your day.
You get one full day in the city (all of Sunday) plus whatever time you can scavenge on Saturday night or Sunday night.
Depart 10am Monday, landing 2pm Monday, spend Monday evening recuperating.
W outbound/R return is $1384; R is 1.5x PQM and better GPU priority.
I love trips of any length to HKG and would be thrilled with this kind of opportunity; YMMV of course!
You get one full day in the city (all of Sunday) plus whatever time you can scavenge on Saturday night or Sunday night.
Depart 10am Monday, landing 2pm Monday, spend Monday evening recuperating.
W outbound/R return is $1384; R is 1.5x PQM and better GPU priority.
I love trips of any length to HKG and would be thrilled with this kind of opportunity; YMMV of course!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 16, 2019 at 1:14 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Apr 16, 2019, 10:06 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SAN
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, HH-Gold, MR - Gold, HY-Explorist
Posts: 222
How about something like EWR-LIM?
I'm seeing a
Fri 4/19 EWR-LIM UA 886 1435-2135. Which has no upgradable space but show J4C4D4Z4P4
returning either on
Mon 4/22 LIM-IAH-EWR 0035-1447 which has J3C3D3Z3P3 but no PZ space. (1421 roundtrip)
or
Mon 4/22 LIM-BOG-EWR 0135-1535 which is not upgradeable from LIM-BOG because it is an Avianca flight, but has PZ space for BOG-EWR, but it is a 737-700 so standard Domestic First seats. (1653 roundtrip)
That would get you all day Sat and all day Sunday in Lima and get you back by mid afternoon on Monday so you can recuperate.
I'm seeing a
Fri 4/19 EWR-LIM UA 886 1435-2135. Which has no upgradable space but show J4C4D4Z4P4
returning either on
Mon 4/22 LIM-IAH-EWR 0035-1447 which has J3C3D3Z3P3 but no PZ space. (1421 roundtrip)
or
Mon 4/22 LIM-BOG-EWR 0135-1535 which is not upgradeable from LIM-BOG because it is an Avianca flight, but has PZ space for BOG-EWR, but it is a 737-700 so standard Domestic First seats. (1653 roundtrip)
That would get you all day Sat and all day Sunday in Lima and get you back by mid afternoon on Monday so you can recuperate.
Apr 16, 2019, 11:23 am
#34
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If you can still get space, do one of the paid brewery tours: https://www.budweisertours.com/locat...tractions.html
Apr 16, 2019, 11:41 am
#35
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,544
Any food suggestions, this is what I had planned:
Day 1: Dredd Scott Courthouse, Cathedral Basilica, Gateway Arch, Eads Bridge. EAT: BBQ Pork Steaks STL Style
Day 2: City Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, Union Station, Missouri History Museum, LUNCH TBD, Anheuser-Busch Tour (9-5). EAT: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at some point
Day 3: Gateway Arch (again), Cardinals Game EAT: STL Style Pizza @ Imos
Day 1: Dredd Scott Courthouse, Cathedral Basilica, Gateway Arch, Eads Bridge. EAT: BBQ Pork Steaks STL Style
Day 2: City Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, Union Station, Missouri History Museum, LUNCH TBD, Anheuser-Busch Tour (9-5). EAT: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at some point
Day 3: Gateway Arch (again), Cardinals Game EAT: STL Style Pizza @ Imos
I don't think Union Station is anything special, but I haven't been there in 20 years. The St. Louis Anheuser-Busch tour is the gold standard of brewery tours. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous.
I think St. Louis-style pizza is disgusting--only because of the provel cheese. I do like the crispy crust. Don't forget toasted raviolis. I had Pappy's Smokehouse last weekend. The ribs are out of this world.
Apr 16, 2019, 12:06 pm
#36
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Believe it or not, there is a Ted Drewe's vending machine at the airport where UA has their flights. I almost took a picture of it. One small container is $6.
I don't think Union Station is anything special, but I haven't been there in 20 years. The St. Louis Anheuser-Busch tour is the gold standard of brewery tours. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous.
I think St. Louis-style pizza is disgusting--only because of the provel cheese. I do like the crispy crust. Don't forget toasted raviolis. I had Pappy's Smokehouse last weekend. The ribs are out of this world.
I don't think Union Station is anything special, but I haven't been there in 20 years. The St. Louis Anheuser-Busch tour is the gold standard of brewery tours. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous.
I think St. Louis-style pizza is disgusting--only because of the provel cheese. I do like the crispy crust. Don't forget toasted raviolis. I had Pappy's Smokehouse last weekend. The ribs are out of this world.
. I heard the architecture was nice re. Union Station, it's near my hotel, will just give it a quick pass on the way between museums. I have no idea how the provel tastes, but I have to at least give it a try. Pappy's? I'll research. Thanks!
Apr 16, 2019, 12:24 pm
#37
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Location: Pasadena, California
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I took a look at GVA, but to my untrained eye it looks like a boring destination. Hope I didn't offend anyone. MAN sounds interesting however. FRA is currently my second choice after LHR. Didn't know about Lufthansa out of JFK. Loving the business saver award availability on there, great find! How easy is it to use GPU's on that LH fare?
I did the reverse of the JFK-FRA route last month. I misconnected and LH rerouted me to JFK in PE (I continued on the next day). It was my first LH long haul and more pleasant than I would have thought. ^
Apr 16, 2019, 2:00 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pacific
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I get your hesitation about GVA, but I certainly wouldn't rank FRA over GVA (likewise, no offense intended to anyone). And keep in mind that you don't have to stay in the city in which you land; there are awesome small towns not far from GVA. I particularly like Lausanne, Switzerland.
I did the reverse of the JFK-FRA route last month. I misconnected and LH rerouted me to JFK in PE (I continued on the next day). It was my first LH long haul and more pleasant than I would have thought. ^
I did the reverse of the JFK-FRA route last month. I misconnected and LH rerouted me to JFK in PE (I continued on the next day). It was my first LH long haul and more pleasant than I would have thought. ^
Walk over from the Swiss side of the Geneva airport to the French side, and you've covered two countries...
Apr 25, 2019, 7:59 pm
#41
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FWIW, I went IAD-SFO-TPE and back for the weekend. Left Thursday and came back Monday, so one day more than you were looking to do, but it was a great time. 2 full days on the ground, plus an evening / night depending on how late of a night owl you are.
Apr 26, 2019, 5:36 am
#42
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That's my standard schedule when traveling, leaving Thursday and returning Monday. I find it to be a perfect amount of time.
Apr 26, 2019, 6:34 am
#43
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Join Date: Dec 2015
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Posts: 300
Ended up going to PHX. After all my grandiose plans of going to Europe and Asia, found last minute saver awards to PHX, and had some buddies in Scottsdale that I could hang out with for the weekend. Atleast I got R/T tickets for 25000 and got upgraded on the EWR - PHX segment to boot!
May 6, 2019, 1:48 pm
#44
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May 15, 2019, 5:10 am
#45
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@GetSetJetSet - how was your weekend in the STL?