Alternatives to Mileage Runs in New Era?
Nov 21, 2022, 5:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA 1K, SA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, IHG Plat, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 523
Alternatives to Mileage Runs in New Era?
With the MR effectively dead since it's all about spend now, is there an easy way to search for flights with big PQPs without just guessing a city and entering it in and searching every time? What are the best strategies people employ to make status again in this new era?
Nov 21, 2022, 6:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,773
With the MR effectively dead since it's all about spend now, is there an easy way to search for flights with big PQPs without just guessing a city and entering it in and searching every time? What are the best strategies people employ to make status again in this new era?
Nov 21, 2022, 7:27 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,511
If your primary objective is to achieve some kind of UA status, then maybe MRs shouldn't be the focus.
That said, there are still mileage runs. I ran up the BIS in a stretch this year where I was getting <5cpm domestic flights via UA. I wasn't focused on the spend but rather the best CPM play.
If you are willing to get off the spend rat race, you can try AS, which is still distance based.
I have had some spectacular MRs this year (2-3cpm) outside of UA and *A.
That said, there are still mileage runs. I ran up the BIS in a stretch this year where I was getting <5cpm domestic flights via UA. I wasn't focused on the spend but rather the best CPM play.
If you are willing to get off the spend rat race, you can try AS, which is still distance based.
I have had some spectacular MRs this year (2-3cpm) outside of UA and *A.
Nov 21, 2022, 7:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
4 Trips in J
You can meet your segment requirement, and the spend, by buying 4 X $6K P or Z fare international rts in biz to achieve 1K easily.
Nov 21, 2022, 8:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: HPN, LAX, HNL, or somewhere in between
Programs: UA 1K, JetBlue Mosaic
Posts: 436
With the increase in PQP requirements we're already starting to see the rise of PQF "segment runs" in the mileage run threads. I wouldn't be too surprised if we were seeing users talk about their SFO-LAX-LAS and LGA-IAD-ROC runs by this time next year.
Nov 22, 2022, 3:33 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
I made 1K this year by buying just three int'l roundtrips in biz, one of them on AC. I had expected to move up from lifetime Gold to Plat, but 1K was a surprise. Next year with higher requirements, it will doubtless require the four roundtrips that zombietooth suggests.
Nov 22, 2022, 7:06 am
#9
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
With the MR effectively dead since it's all about spend now, is there an easy way to search for flights with big PQPs without just guessing a city and entering it in and searching every time? What are the best strategies people employ to make status again in this new era?
Nov 22, 2022, 7:26 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,417
I'm not quite sure why it is published, but the fare J (not to be confused with JUA) is $3,672 one-way for SFO-LAX which probably comes close to taking the cake. But if you're spending that much I would recommend actually going somewhere 
Nov 22, 2022, 7:27 am
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Nov 22, 2022, 8:14 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: UA 1K, SA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, IHG Plat, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 523
My base is YVR and I would rather do very short hops even for the $$.
Is there a way to buy a more expensive fare than what shows in J on the Website?
Nov 22, 2022, 8:54 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,511
As long as you take 4 UA operated flights (segments), you can get to 1K if you can find $6K on average per flight/segment.
If you fly the min. # of flights and achieve 1K, then what? How do you plan to use the benefits, especially if you are already buying seats up front?
Moving from one lifetime tier to another cannot be accomplished with two trips (minus AC), regardless of the spend. Do you mean your status for 2023?
Nov 22, 2022, 8:57 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,417
Nov 22, 2022, 10:55 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 700
Look for international one-ways in J, maybe not short hops unless you fly YVR-LAX/SFO. You'd be shocked when you see those prices...SFO-LHR about 9-10k for random day in mid December.