UA Points programs
Jun 13, 2022 | 2:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF
Programs: United-GOLD, AA
Posts: 174
UA Points programs
Hi All
Now that UA points are impossible to use for upgrades (upgrades are $ based is my read)-what programs are best for using points (besides magazines, eating or retail)-I am thinking the “Points Guy” but appreciate more experienced advice.
Thank you.
Now that UA points are impossible to use for upgrades (upgrades are $ based is my read)-what programs are best for using points (besides magazines, eating or retail)-I am thinking the “Points Guy” but appreciate more experienced advice.
Thank you.
Jun 13, 2022 | 1:06 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 177
Have no idea what a "Points Guy" program is
guessing some blog membership - but if that has more value to you than possible upgrades on *A flights or wifi passes/UC club membership, then go for that
Jun 13, 2022 | 2:03 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,343
If the points you're referring to are UA Mileage Plus award miles, they're far from useless. Why not book flights with them? If the points you're referring to are Plus Points awarded to those with Platinum status or above, then they are only good for upgrades. They are not a currency and have no value to exchange for "magazines, eating, or retail" or anything similar.
Jun 13, 2022 | 3:42 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 552
If nothing else you can choose the option at checkout to pay with money + miles and get a minimum value of 1 cent per mile. Not the best bang for your miles but certainly better (in my view) than magazines or using them for snacks on a flight.
Jun 13, 2022 | 11:05 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,898
Well I will indeed search for that deal but that has to be as rare as hen's teeth! I am looking at 100K miles on a SFO-CLE business class, and that "business class" is really not saying much on that route. Seriously, I am looking at SFO-BOS stopping over and doing some business and visit friends and would then love to burn some miles with that kind of deal for a run to LHR. I will indeed check it out thanks.
Jun 14, 2022 | 12:41 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,686
The reason is simple: they're better able to sell the domestic F, because it's not as expensive. So while you would think that they'd be more inclined to give away their cheaper product (SFO-CLE), the actual fact of the matter is that they'd rather give away the more expensive product (BOS-LHR) because it's less likely to be sold.
Jun 14, 2022 | 9:54 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,898
The reason is simple: they're better able to sell the domestic F, because it's not as expensive. So while you would think that they'd be more inclined to give away their cheaper product (SFO-CLE), the actual fact of the matter is that they'd rather give away the more expensive product (BOS-LHR) because it's less likely to be sold.
Jun 14, 2022 | 9:57 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,686
They're still able to sell domestic F more easily than they are international J, because both the price differential and cabins are smaller.
Jun 14, 2022 | 11:07 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,184
Jun 14, 2022 | 4:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,898
My point was that domestic pricing is getting pretty crazy, I think you would have to be living in a cave note to see this. The price differential between Domestic F and International J ON SOME ROUTES may not be as great as in previous years. I didn't even look at what F was on that ticket given the $1300 coach fare, I can't / won't buy it. However, as jsloan stated, the cabin size is generally much smaller hence less potential supply of domestic F seats (again on some routes).
Jun 15, 2022 | 8:54 am
#14
Flyertalk Evangelist, Moderator: United Airlines MileagePlus
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, UA Nostalgist, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 16,125
If nothing else, full-fare First on a domestic sector is usually substantially less than a D fare on any Polaris-marketed route, so it is fairly trivially cheaper from a RASM perspective.