Willing to throw Money at 1K status. Best business Class "bargains?"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SEA and TUS
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UAL 1K 2MM, AA Million Mile Gold
Posts: 187
Willing to throw Money at 1K status. Best business Class "bargains?"
I've been 1K for a very long time and I don't want to lose it next year but I just haven't traveled that much, so I'm probably going to end up about 40,000 PQM short. PQD shouldn't be as much of an issue. So I'm looking around for a really long flight in business-class that would help get me there but something in the $6000 price range, that would help me hit that goal. So I saw UA was starting up svc to CPT so I thought that might be a good way to get a lot of miles. I'm in Tucson these days so if I went TUS-IAH-EWR-CPT and back that would help. But service doesn't start until Dec 15th and the business class fares are around $10,000.
Any other suggestion of routes on UA metal (I assume I need UA metal for the PQM and PQD) where I might get business class fares for $6k or less? Or a good search tool to use to accomplish this? Thanks, Jim
PS I seem to remember hearing of some sort of service that would help put together mileage runs or find good business-class fares...
Any other suggestion of routes on UA metal (I assume I need UA metal for the PQM and PQD) where I might get business class fares for $6k or less? Or a good search tool to use to accomplish this? Thanks, Jim
PS I seem to remember hearing of some sort of service that would help put together mileage runs or find good business-class fares...
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
I've been 1K for a very long time and I don't want to lose it next year but I just haven't traveled that much, so I'm probably going to end up about 40,000 PQM short. PQD shouldn't be as much of an issue. So I'm looking around for a really long flight in business-class that would help get me there but something in the $6000 price range, that would help me hit that goal. So I saw UA was starting up svc to CPT so I thought that might be a good way to get a lot of miles. I'm in Tucson these days so if I went TUS-IAH-EWR-CPT and back that would help. But service doesn't start until Dec 15th and the business class fares are around $10,000.
Any other suggestion of routes on UA metal (I assume I need UA metal for the PQM and PQD) where I might get business class fares for $6k or less? Or a good search tool to use to accomplish this? Thanks, Jim
PS I seem to remember hearing of some sort of service that would help put together mileage runs or find good business-class fares...
Any other suggestion of routes on UA metal (I assume I need UA metal for the PQM and PQD) where I might get business class fares for $6k or less? Or a good search tool to use to accomplish this? Thanks, Jim
PS I seem to remember hearing of some sort of service that would help put together mileage runs or find good business-class fares...
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SEA and TUS
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UAL 1K 2MM, AA Million Mile Gold
Posts: 187
Actually -- you know what.... maybe that's the most important point.... I've been conditioned to getting the 6 GPU's for so long and now, they're pretty worthless (fairly worthless?) I still have all of mine left. so maybe I'm better off just putting this money into next years travel. I just crossed 2 MM so I'll have platinum guaranteed.... something to think about. thanks. Jim
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,392
No idle challenges...
TUS-DEN-SFO-HKG-GUM and v/v is 42,600 PQM for under $4,100 if you find two-cabin metal on TUS-DEN (deduct 319 if you are stuck on the Chariot) and catch HKG-GUM before it is discontinued. Or TUS-DEN-LAX-HNL-[full Hopper as separate segments]-GUM and v/v 35,880 PQM plus the error for whichever Hopper segment is wrong. Unlimited stopovers to visit as many or as few places as you like
Oddly enough, I could do better on the fare iff there were a direct TUS-PIT, but I don't think one exists.
TUS-DEN-SFO-HKG-GUM and v/v is 42,600 PQM for under $4,100 if you find two-cabin metal on TUS-DEN (deduct 319 if you are stuck on the Chariot) and catch HKG-GUM before it is discontinued. Or TUS-DEN-LAX-HNL-[full Hopper as separate segments]-GUM and v/v 35,880 PQM plus the error for whichever Hopper segment is wrong. Unlimited stopovers to visit as many or as few places as you like
Oddly enough, I could do better on the fare iff there were a direct TUS-PIT, but I don't think one exists.
#7
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
UA/Star Alliance: 2019 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Mileage Run Discussion
Mileage Run Deals
Premium Fare Deals
#8
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA Gold, SPG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 991
Book a Premium Economy flight. Domestic PE legs book into B and international PE legs into R. Both B and R earn you 150% PQM which is the same as discount business P fares but for less $$. ICN and BRU both have PE.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,080
Could be hard to do. I am essentially in the same situation, though I travel because I have to for work, not for leisure, so dates and destinations are pretty much fixed. I can move things around a day or got to nearby airports, make connections and so on. But even so, for the travel I need, I have found only one reasonable TATL business class or PZ availability on UA for my travel for the rest of the year. The other two trips I need to do, UA has been $5.8K at the lowest when BA is $2.8K, and UA was at $4.7K (this is to go to CPT, as it happens) when BA was $3.8K (and on a 747 and an A380). No PZ available on UA either time, regardless of connections or dates at booking, and I will not waitlist. Similar thing once earlier this year ($2.8K TATL on BA and $9K on UA). I realize that corporate customers pay less than list price, but that is what I would pay. If UA was competitive in price, or I could use more of my GPUs to make it so, I probably would have flown them to keep 1K, but I just don't currently see that it is worth it. If you fly F or J you pretty much get treated the same whether you are 1K or not. I can live with boarding with Group 1. Besides, the DO & Co. food (and the food on pretty much every other non-US airline) is much better.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,767
#11
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: seat 9A
Programs: UA 1K, Flying Blue Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriot Plat (TWA / NWA - million miler)
Posts: 54
I would go to Singapore, my flights from houston typically net 40K PQM for a return in Z. If you look at the ANA flights, you can get some good deals that earn full United PQD and PQM.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,648
Not to convince the OP not to do this, but I was 1K for many years, and thought my life was going to end if I didn't make it again. Second year as a lowly Gold and I'm just as happy. I had a good run as a 1K, but things have changed IMO. Good chance I'll make 1K next year whether I like it or not, or I stick with Gold and split my travel with Delta.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 692
From EWR the Micronesia tour in Business has some reasonable fares and is something I intend to do someday anyway. Might be worth checking aspirational trips from your home airport.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern California
Programs: UA-Plat, UA-MM, Hertz PC, HH, APEC ABTC
Posts: 235
Not to convince the OP not to do this, but I was 1K for many years, and thought my life was going to end if I didn't make it again. Second year as a lowly Gold and I'm just as happy. I had a good run as a 1K, but things have changed IMO. Good chance I'll make 1K next year whether I like it or not, or I stick with Gold and split my travel with Delta.
Psychological bonus: No anxiety in the boarding area, wondering if I'll get that cherished, but elusive, last minute upgrade.
#15
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
No idle challenges...
TUS-DEN-SFO-HKG-GUM and v/v is 42,600 PQM for under $4,100 if you find two-cabin metal on TUS-DEN (deduct 319 if you are stuck on the Chariot) and catch HKG-GUM before it is discontinued. Or TUS-DEN-LAX-HNL-[full Hopper as separate segments]-GUM and v/v 35,880 PQM plus the error for whichever Hopper segment is wrong. Unlimited stopovers to visit as many or as few places as you like
Oddly enough, I could do better on the fare iff there were a direct TUS-PIT, but I don't think one exists.
TUS-DEN-SFO-HKG-GUM and v/v is 42,600 PQM for under $4,100 if you find two-cabin metal on TUS-DEN (deduct 319 if you are stuck on the Chariot) and catch HKG-GUM before it is discontinued. Or TUS-DEN-LAX-HNL-[full Hopper as separate segments]-GUM and v/v 35,880 PQM plus the error for whichever Hopper segment is wrong. Unlimited stopovers to visit as many or as few places as you like
Oddly enough, I could do better on the fare iff there were a direct TUS-PIT, but I don't think one exists.