Earning UA status flying 4 business class RTs with TAP - J fare (TAP's mistake fare)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 196
Earning UA status flying 4 business class RTs with TAP - J fare (TAP's mistake fare)
I am one of the lucky winners of the $250 Business Class RT TAP fare. I purchased 4 of them and now I am wondering on what miles program I should credit these on.
As per United, these will earn 125% if credited to mileageplus (is this on the actual flight distance?). Would these equal to 16 PQF? (4 segments on each reservation). Would these alone give me premier gold on United? How much PQP would each earn?
Now on TAP's side I would earn 13.476 miles (roughly for each reservation) and I need 60K/year to qualify for gold status with the airline (if you don't have their ripoff subscription miles program). Still, TAP is difficult to deal with and their miles are worth nothing.
Is United the way to go? I am new to airline statuses, so please be patient with me
As per United, these will earn 125% if credited to mileageplus (is this on the actual flight distance?). Would these equal to 16 PQF? (4 segments on each reservation). Would these alone give me premier gold on United? How much PQP would each earn?
Now on TAP's side I would earn 13.476 miles (roughly for each reservation) and I need 60K/year to qualify for gold status with the airline (if you don't have their ripoff subscription miles program). Still, TAP is difficult to deal with and their miles are worth nothing.
Is United the way to go? I am new to airline statuses, so please be patient with me
Last edited by FlyingFreeYupie; Mar 4, 2021 at 8:11 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
Need more details on your routings regarding whether you would qualify Gold.
Also be aware of TAP and entry requirements.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,402
I am one of the lucky winners of the $250 Business Class RT TAP fare. I purchased 4 of them and now I am wondering on what miles program I should credit these on.
As per United, these will earn 125% if credited to mileageplus (is this on the actual flight distance?). Would these equal to 16 PQF? (4 segments on each reservation). Would these alone give me premier gold on United? How much PQP would each earn?
As per United, these will earn 125% if credited to mileageplus (is this on the actual flight distance?). Would these equal to 16 PQF? (4 segments on each reservation). Would these alone give me premier gold on United? How much PQP would each earn?
PQP is also based upon the flight distance. You can use the calculator here to compute it: https://pqp.economiles.com/
Since TAP isn't a preferred partner, you get one PQP for every 6 miles earned, or about 20.8% of the actual flying distance as PQP, capped at 1000 PQP per segment.
Good luck! I hope TAP honors the tickets.
Here's a pre-filled calculator with 15 of the 16 legs. I skipped the last AMS-LIS leg because I ran out of space: https://pqp.economiles.com/?q=IAD,LI...J|LIS,IAD,TP,J
Add that last leg in, and you're looking at 7,828 PQP total.
However, this is not enough, by itself, to earn any UA status: You also need 4 UA-operated flights. Once you add those four UA flights, you would have enough for Gold (16 PQF + 6,000 PQP) and would be close to Platinum (24 PQF + 9,000 PQP).
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 196
Yes, the 125% is actual flight distance. And, yes, you'd get 16 PQF.
PQP is also based upon the flight distance. You can use the calculator here to compute it: https://pqp.economiles.com/
Since TAP isn't a preferred partner, you get one PQP for every 6 miles earned, or about 20.8% of the actual flying distance as PQP, capped at 1000 PQP per segment.
Good luck! I hope TAP honors the tickets.
Here's a pre-filled calculator with 15 of the 16 legs. I skipped the last AMS-LIS leg because I ran out of space: https://pqp.economiles.com/?q=IAD,LI...J|LIS,IAD,TP,J
Add that last leg in, and you're looking at 7,828 PQP total.
However, this is not enough, by itself, to earn any UA status: You also need 4 UA-operated flights. Once you add those four UA flights, you would have enough for Gold (16 PQF + 6,000 PQP) and would be close to Platinum (24 PQF + 9,000 PQP).
PQP is also based upon the flight distance. You can use the calculator here to compute it: https://pqp.economiles.com/
Since TAP isn't a preferred partner, you get one PQP for every 6 miles earned, or about 20.8% of the actual flying distance as PQP, capped at 1000 PQP per segment.
Good luck! I hope TAP honors the tickets.
Here's a pre-filled calculator with 15 of the 16 legs. I skipped the last AMS-LIS leg because I ran out of space: https://pqp.economiles.com/?q=IAD,LI...J|LIS,IAD,TP,J
Add that last leg in, and you're looking at 7,828 PQP total.
However, this is not enough, by itself, to earn any UA status: You also need 4 UA-operated flights. Once you add those four UA flights, you would have enough for Gold (16 PQF + 6,000 PQP) and would be close to Platinum (24 PQF + 9,000 PQP).
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
With the Q1 PQP bonus (granted for UA flights), if you do get to fly the TP flights, you should be in touching distance of Platinum (24 PQF + 9k PQP).
edit: oops did not mean to quote jsloan too (except that of course everything he said is correct ).
Last edited by fumje; Mar 4, 2021 at 8:42 am Reason: remove quote
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
The critical points should be:
1) Will TAP honor these mistake fare tickets?
2) Depending on travel dates, are there any entry restriction?
UA will credit as long as TAP forwards underlying details.
1) Will TAP honor these mistake fare tickets?
2) Depending on travel dates, are there any entry restriction?
UA will credit as long as TAP forwards underlying details.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 196
Still, for me to accrue mileage benefits on United, does TAP actually pay them for these credits and can these fares, if honored, ultimately cost them money?
Not long ago, TAP sold $75 seats to North America for their 75th birthday. Perhaps TAP sees these low fares as a way of giving back for all the lack of customer service and refunds. If planes are flying empty, mind as well let some enjoy the perks
Last edited by FlyingFreeYupie; Mar 4, 2021 at 8:57 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
They certainly don't see it that way. They see it as a mistake fare and a decision point to honor them or not. They are likely crunching the numbers on the impact and any regulatory impact if they were to not honor the fares.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 196
They had most of their routes outside North America highly discounted as well. How much of an error fare could this really be to have affected their entire network of routes? RT Zurich to Rio de Janeiro for $79 stood out.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
When the price is very low, there is just no advantage to calling the airline's attention to it.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
Anyway, just level set your expectations.
This x1000. Also don't rush to make other reservations such as accommodations.