PassPlus Secure Program
May 2, 2011 | 9:02 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA 2MM, AS Gold, EK Gold, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,167
Maybe it depends on your routing, but the two routes I fly a lot ORD-NRT and NRT-BKK are $9,000 and $4800 for PassPlus Secure. Same price as D (7 day advance purchase) and double the price of a Z, and only a 20% discount from full C. If there were some real discounts, it would be worth doing, but to pay the same price or higher and not have access to upgrades makes no sense. Does it work better for other routes?
If you're looking for particular routes that are a good deal, those obviously depend on your location and flying patterns-- I love SFO-ASE last minute for $558 AI/RT when the snow is good, and 3 of 4 (soon to be 5) Hawaiian UA destinations price at $668 AI/RT. As a 1K on a Y-fare, it's nearly impossible to miss an upgrade on those (SFO-HNL/KOA/OGG) routes. Also use PPS for SFO-PHL/JFK a fair amount, though it's not a screaming deal ($881 for a Y-fare)... mostly paying for flexibility and ease of upgrade on the transcons.
If flying internationally, you can still book and upgrade any normal fare class you want on UA or LH (and earn the pass plus mileage bonus) with your pass plus secure funds... you just can't take advantage of their fixed fares and upgrade your flights.
Also, can we get Perks Plus talk out of this thread?... that's an unrelated animal.
Last edited by ps9a; May 2, 2011 at 9:16 am
May 3, 2011 | 10:01 pm
#62
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, AirBerlin Gold, Starwood Gold, Avis Preferred, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 496
If I can still book international travel in any other fare class (W, etc) and use an upgrade instrument, as well as using Pass Plus to book domestically, that kind of flexibility is exactly what I'm looking for.
May 4, 2011 | 9:06 am
#63
Join Date: May 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K/1.5MM, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz PC, National Emerald Executive
Posts: 426
If flying internationally, you can still book and upgrade any normal fare class you want on UA or LH (and earn the pass plus mileage bonus) with your pass plus secure funds... you just can't take advantage of their fixed fares and upgrade your flights.
May 4, 2011 | 11:49 am
#64
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SEA, WAS, PEK
Programs: UA 3K UGS 3MM
Posts: 2,176
May 4, 2011 | 5:33 pm
#65
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA 2MM, AS Gold, EK Gold, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,167
May 16, 2011 | 7:26 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,120
With PassPlus Secure, would DFW-DEN-SFO be the same as DFW-SFO?
May 16, 2011 | 7:43 pm
#67
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA 2MM, AS Gold, EK Gold, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,167
May 17, 2011 | 8:33 am
#68
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,120
If you're looking for particular routes that are a good deal, those obviously depend on your location and flying patterns-- I love SFO-ASE last minute for $558 AI/RT when the snow is good, and 3 of 4 (soon to be 5) Hawaiian UA destinations price at $668 AI/RT. As a 1K on a Y-fare, it's nearly impossible to miss an upgrade on those (SFO-HNL/KOA/OGG) routes. Also use PPS for SFO-PHL/JFK a fair amount, though it's not a screaming deal ($881 for a Y-fare)... mostly paying for flexibility and ease of upgrade on the transcons.
May 17, 2011 | 9:43 am
#69
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA 2MM, AS Gold, EK Gold, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,167
SFO-PHL/JFK are greater than 2400 miles each way. Hence, the price is $400 each way + taxes.
May 17, 2011 | 11:18 am
#70
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,120
Jun 1, 2011 | 3:37 pm
#71
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, Iowa USA
Posts: 56
Is there a comparable program on another airline?
I've been PassPlus for at least 10 years and they've gradually ratcheted down the benefits. You used to get a great deal on short haul flights. For the price of a walk-up economy ticket, I could fly first class and stay at the Ritz Carlton, charging the client just the $800 fare. You used to be able to bring a business colleague on the same itinerary. You used to get Premier Exec automatically. <sigh> So, I'm looking at other airlines that serve DSM, notably Delta, which has a non-stop to DCA. That might be the only real option. Anybody know about other programs?
Jun 1, 2011 | 4:34 pm
#72
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,568
I've been PassPlus for at least 10 years and they've gradually ratcheted down the benefits. You used to get a great deal on short haul flights. For the price of a walk-up economy ticket, I could fly first class and stay at the Ritz Carlton, charging the client just the $800 fare. You used to be able to bring a business colleague on the same itinerary. You used to get Premier Exec automatically. <sigh> So, I'm looking at other airlines that serve DSM, notably Delta, which has a non-stop to DCA. That might be the only real option. Anybody know about other programs?