Do these prices make sense? trip to PTY, SJO - cash vs miles (high fees?)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 24
Do these prices make sense? trip to PTY, SJO - cash vs miles (high fees?)
Hi everyone. I'm looking to go to PTY and SJO in the winter with my family (2 adults, 2 kids) and ideally want to do it on points. I started pricing things out now so I can get a head start on applying for credit cards and having the points post to my account in time. After checking paid/award tickets (only checked for one adult and just multiplied that rate by 4), I don't know how much sense it makes. Here's what I put together. Dates will change somewhat based on my kid's vacation schedule which I don't have yet.
If I would fly United economy using the Excursionist perk, I get the following
1/17 EWR - PTY: 9.5k miles + $6.85 taxes
1/22 PTY - SJO: 0 + $70.11
1/24 SJO - EWR: 17.5k + $61.29
Total for 4 people (assuming the miles are worth 1 cent) = $1,663
When I tried just switching to searching a paid ticket, United said it can't find it so I just looked on Kayak for one way tickets and found the following:
1/17 EWR - PTY $168 basic economy on United (or $101 American with a short layover in MIA)
1/22 PTY - SJO $341 on Copa
1/25 SJO - EWR $248 basic economy on United (or 182 on American with a short layover in CLT)
Total for 4 people (assuming I do nonstop) = $3,028
The last thought I had was to do the Copa Stopover Program which would require me to go to JFK - annoying but not the end of the world. With those dates I get $1,603 total but basic fare
Using the Excursionist perk is slightly more expensive than flying with Copa but at least luggage should be included as it's a regular economy fare. $553 in taxes just seems like a lot to me but that could just be because I'm relatively new to this game
Do you think it makes sense to sign up for a United credit card? I currently have some Chase points and would consider applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred so I can redeem at 1.25.
As an aside, I would also want to stay at a Marriott in PTY (didn't look into SJO yet). This doesn't apply to the United thread but something to consider if I should be signing up for a United card or stick to Chase so I can transfer/book the hotel too.
Thank you!
If I would fly United economy using the Excursionist perk, I get the following
1/17 EWR - PTY: 9.5k miles + $6.85 taxes
1/22 PTY - SJO: 0 + $70.11
1/24 SJO - EWR: 17.5k + $61.29
Total for 4 people (assuming the miles are worth 1 cent) = $1,663
When I tried just switching to searching a paid ticket, United said it can't find it so I just looked on Kayak for one way tickets and found the following:
1/17 EWR - PTY $168 basic economy on United (or $101 American with a short layover in MIA)
1/22 PTY - SJO $341 on Copa
1/25 SJO - EWR $248 basic economy on United (or 182 on American with a short layover in CLT)
Total for 4 people (assuming I do nonstop) = $3,028
The last thought I had was to do the Copa Stopover Program which would require me to go to JFK - annoying but not the end of the world. With those dates I get $1,603 total but basic fare
Using the Excursionist perk is slightly more expensive than flying with Copa but at least luggage should be included as it's a regular economy fare. $553 in taxes just seems like a lot to me but that could just be because I'm relatively new to this game
Do you think it makes sense to sign up for a United credit card? I currently have some Chase points and would consider applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred so I can redeem at 1.25.
As an aside, I would also want to stay at a Marriott in PTY (didn't look into SJO yet). This doesn't apply to the United thread but something to consider if I should be signing up for a United card or stick to Chase so I can transfer/book the hotel too.
Thank you!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,993
Just a word of warning - if you try pricing with 4 passengers, you might get significantly different (i.e. higher) costs (mileage and cash) than you do when pricing for one passenger. There might be fewer seats available at the mileage or $ levels you see than you need. Pricing for one and multiplying by four often results in disappointment/surprise, especially if one is scrambling to accrue miles towards a goal that might be far short.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Apr 24, 2022 at 2:05 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 24
Just a word of warning - if you try pricing with 4 passengers, you might get significantly different (i.e. higher) costs (mileage and cash) than you do when pricing for one passenger. There might be fewer seats available at the mileage or $ levels you see than you need. Pricing for one and multiplying by four often results in disappointment/surprise, especially if one is scrambling to accrue miles towards a goal that might be far short.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 24
Does this seem to make sense though? A trip like this should cost this amount in taxes and fees?
Should I consider signing up for a United card or would something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred make more sense?
#5
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,529
What does the rest of your travel look like? CSP/CSR are generally useful at a wider variety of places, but if you primarily fly UA, then a United card can work.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,993
Ok, so I tried with 4. All flights the same aside from the last one which doesn't have any good options. Came out to 103,600 miles plus $548 in taxes.
Does this seem to make sense though? A trip like this should cost this amount in taxes and fees?
Should I consider signing up for a United card or would something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred make more sense?
Does this seem to make sense though? A trip like this should cost this amount in taxes and fees?
Should I consider signing up for a United card or would something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred make more sense?
The Sapphire card makes sense if one travels a lot.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 24
Seems reasonable, but prices aren't static. Tomorrow might have different prices. And next week. It's hard to say to go for something when the real target isn't known until you actually have enough miles in your account. Example - say you do what you need to do to get 103k miles, and when you finally do, the tickets you want are 130k.
The Sapphire card makes sense if one travels a lot.
The Sapphire card makes sense if one travels a lot.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,529
I don't travel much at all. 1-3 trips a year. Mostly within the US or close by. EWR is my closest airport which is a hub for United so maybe I should just go with that card
True. But I figured with planning now I can get a rough estimate of what I need. To be on the safe side I should probably aim to accumulate at least 150k. I see the United Explorer card offers 60k SUB with the $95 annual fee waived the first year so I can open one and my husband can open another. Then we can transfer remaining points from Chase (albeit not at a good rate since we only have Freedom Unlimited now)
True. But I figured with planning now I can get a rough estimate of what I need. To be on the safe side I should probably aim to accumulate at least 150k. I see the United Explorer card offers 60k SUB with the $95 annual fee waived the first year so I can open one and my husband can open another. Then we can transfer remaining points from Chase (albeit not at a good rate since we only have Freedom Unlimited now)
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 24
It seems to me like the best thing for you to do is to be a free agent, given that you won't be traveling enough to earn any noteworthy status. In this respect, the CSP is probably a better choice because the annual fee is relatively low, you get good earnings on a wide variety of things, and you get a lot of different travel partners. The CSP also has pretty good SUBs.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LAX
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,529
Sure, a year of the United Explorer Card won't hurt you, but the CSP is going to get more points than the United Explorer Card on everything excluding United purchases, so the Explorer card is not going to get you that many points.
#11
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: 66,760
#13
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,012
Wondering how much the taxes are on a purchased ticket? $125 ish per ticket seems high but compare that with flying coach to london and it’s a bargain. As for what card to get I don’t know. I have a CSR, Amex plat and AA and love them all. Amex transfers to UA too so there’s lots of options.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,075
Just a word of warning - if you try pricing with 4 passengers, you might get significantly different (i.e. higher) costs (mileage and cash) than you do when pricing for one passenger. There might be fewer seats available at the mileage or $ levels you see than you need. Pricing for one and multiplying by four often results in disappointment/surprise, especially if one is scrambling to accrue miles towards a goal that might be far short.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.
Ancillary to that, it can be cheaper to break the reservation to match the number of seats available in the lowest mileage or fare bucket. If you ask for 4, UA will automatically search upwards in cost for the first mileage level or fare bucket that can accommodate 4 passengers.