Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Consolidated Award / Premier Accelerator questions
UA/Star Alliance: 2023 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat/Gold)? [2023 Consolidated]
Resource threads
Mileage Run Discussion
Mileage Run Deals
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's PQP/PQF run planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similar functionality
And now UA's Explore destinations
Related
Will UA Grant 2024 Elite Status if I am XXX PQP/PQFs Short of Qualifying in 2023?
Will UA Grant 2023 Elite Status if I am XXX PQP/PQFs Short of Qualifying in 2022?
Previous years' thread -
"I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2021 for Elite Status in 2022"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2020 for Elite Status in 2021"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQDs/PQMs/PQSs in 2019 for Elite Status in 2020"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2018 for Elite Status in 2019"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2017 for Elite Status in 2018
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2015 for Elite Status in 2016
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
UA/Star Alliance: 2023 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat/Gold)? [2023 Consolidated]
Resource threads
Mileage Run Discussion
Mileage Run Deals
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's PQP/PQF run planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similar functionality
And now UA's Explore destinations
Related
Will UA Grant 2024 Elite Status if I am XXX PQP/PQFs Short of Qualifying in 2023?
Will UA Grant 2023 Elite Status if I am XXX PQP/PQFs Short of Qualifying in 2022?
Previous years' thread -
"I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2021 for Elite Status in 2022"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2020 for Elite Status in 2021"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQDs/PQMs/PQSs in 2019 for Elite Status in 2020"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2018 for Elite Status in 2019"
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2017 for Elite Status in 2018
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2015 for Elite Status in 2016
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2023 for Elite Status in 2024"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 59
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQPs/PQFs in 2023 for Elite Status in 2024"
I definitely won't make 1K again for 2024 without a PQF (clearly the negative to a hub city). Is there any program to figure out a low cost round trip in one day with lots of stops

#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ORD / PHX
Programs: UA LT 1K 3MM (former 12 yr GS), Bonvoy Amb/LT Plat
Posts: 1,279
mke-ord-ind
dsm-ord-mke
dtw-ord-mke
If youre in the Midwest - plenty of other combos/triplets/multis circling thru ORD.
dsm-ord-mke
dtw-ord-mke
If youre in the Midwest - plenty of other combos/triplets/multis circling thru ORD.
Last edited by tcdtcd; May 19, 23 at 7:48 pm
#4
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,715
And remember that award flights on UA metal count for segments too (and you get PQDs at a penny a mile as well).
#5
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,095
Generally outstations fly only to hubs, so you need to use a hub as a focal point and then fly a series of RT spokes. Best to do on one ticket in case irroprs, especially it is most efficient to fly minimum connection times. You probably can do 8 or so segments in a day. Cheaper will probably mean booking a couple months in advance , These short segments are not cheap on a cpm basis.
You can fly thur an outstation to do hub-xxx-hub to add a little variety.
Time efficient and cost efficient may not come at the same time.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold
Posts: 423
Has anyone tried doing this with SDCs? My understanding is that you can technically buy a single leg and make it into unlimited segments if you have the patience and want the adventure. Could be kind of fun to try in a not too busy travel period (say midweek late fall)
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 720
I booked a PQF run, SFO-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-SFO, but the accruals tab gives the message, “this itinerary includes one or more flights that are ineligible to earn mileage or Premier qualifying credit.” Not sure what the hangup could be but I don’t want to take the flights if they won’t qualify. The 1K line said it might be a glitch in the system but I’m not sure they would know.
#8
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.96MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 65,095
I booked a PQF run, SFO-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-SFO, but the accruals tab gives the message, this itinerary includes one or more flights that are ineligible to earn mileage or Premier qualifying credit. Not sure what the hangup could be but I dont want to take the flights if they wont qualify. The 1K line said it might be a glitch in the system but Im not sure they would know.
Incorrect / Ineligible projected earning information showing on my itinerary
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,060
I booked a PQF run, SFO-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-SFO, but the accruals tab gives the message, this itinerary includes one or more flights that are ineligible to earn mileage or Premier qualifying credit. Not sure what the hangup could be but I dont want to take the flights if they wont qualify. The 1K line said it might be a glitch in the system but Im not sure they would know.
David
#11
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 634
IAH-VCT, random date in June 5k miles or $106 non BE, same day turnaround. Yeah it's on the dreaded devils chariot, but short flight. Did 2 of those flights to get my Gold PQPs for 2022.
IAH-DFW, and IAH-AUS/SAT are all very expensive when compared, unless you also need PQPs.
IAH-DFW, and IAH-AUS/SAT are all very expensive when compared, unless you also need PQPs.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 49
Has anyone tried doing this with SDCs? My understanding is that you can technically buy a single leg and make it into unlimited segments if you have the patience and want the adventure. Could be kind of fun to try in a not too busy travel period (say midweek late fall)
#15
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold
Posts: 423
Book SFO-LAS. Within 24 hrs SDC to SFO-LAX-LAS. Fly to LAX. Once at LAX, SDC to LAX-DEN-LAS. Rinse and repeat as long as you can find availability. Not sure if you can include the same airport twice, but even without that, you have a lot of options.