Back with United - Is E+ worth $59 HNL-LAX?
Feb 21, 2011, 11:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Back with United - Is E+ worth $59 HNL-LAX?
Looking for a little help here. I am in the military and recently moved back to the states so I am starting back up with my United mileage. Is it worth purchasing economy plus on a HNL-LAX for 25% bonus on miles. for a cost of 59.00 Of course I would love to fly F but the cost is 17,500 plus 250.00 for just members. I lost my premier status while living overseas. Any help would be appreciated.
Feb 21, 2011, 11:49 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Central Virginia
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,231
Well worth the $59.
Feb 21, 2011, 11:52 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,720
On a flight that long, I'd buy up to E+ in a heartbeat. The bonus miles are just gravy.
Feb 21, 2011, 11:55 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,441
I'm not sure if your primary concern is regaining status or more comfortable flying. With respect to the latter, if you think you will be flying regularly in the next year, you may wish to consider the Economy Plus "Annual Option." For $425 a year, it entitles you (and a companion) to reserve any E+ seat that is available at the time of booking (or later). It's a fair chunk of cash to layout up front, but if you are planning numerous round trips (and/or plan to be travelling with another person) it can be very cost effective compared to one-way buyups. Look on the website under "Travel Options by United" for more info. Good luck!
Feb 21, 2011, 12:05 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Thanks I went ahead and booked premier travel for 74.00 which is the bonus, E+, and premier line, etc. I will look into the yearly option when I learn more about my new job and what airlines I will be traveling on using the gov't rate. hopefully its UA or DL.
Feb 21, 2011, 12:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,633
you may wish to consider the Economy Plus "Annual Option." For $425 a year, it entitles you (and a companion) to reserve any E+ seat that is available at the time of booking (or later). ......(and/or plan to be travelling with another person) it can be very cost effective compared to one-way buyups.
Feb 21, 2011, 1:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,441
That is indeed what the rules say; however, in practice, I was consistently able to use this benefit to move a colleague into E+ who was traveling on the same plane but a different PNR, by asking at the gate. Others I know have had the same experience, and I believe there have also been some reports on FT of even being able to do this by calling in advance. YMMV, of course . . .
Feb 21, 2011, 8:04 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: HNL, TYO, & Many Places in the Sky
Programs: Too Many
Posts: 397
I wouldn't want to fly HNL-LAX in E-.
Feb 21, 2011, 8:19 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: WAS
Posts: 3,014
It lists the GSA city pairs and what airlines serve each route. My mom is based out for HNL right now, and she's had pretty good luck in getting assigned to go places that DL and UA have the route for.
Happy travels!
Feb 21, 2011, 8:59 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The World.
Programs: UA MP/UC - "RIP Tulip Plat"
Posts: 1,225
Feb 22, 2011, 7:40 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, AirBerlin Gold, Starwood Gold, Avis Preferred, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 497
Thanks for the GSA city pairs!
Also, to the OP, welcome back and I'm sure you'll find the 59.00 USD money well spent. ^
Also, to the OP, welcome back and I'm sure you'll find the 59.00 USD money well spent. ^
Feb 22, 2011, 9:01 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Dog Woof Million Mile Member
Posts: 444
Good choice
It is not just the extra leg room. It is the fact that there are generally fewer people sitting in E+--unless the plane is packed.
Feb 22, 2011, 9:18 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,270
Where you can have packed E+ and empty E- sections. I learned that during a few E- downgrades ex. HKG grace to the pleasant employees who populate HKG airport.
I love E+ but for a short hop like LAX-HNL either is fine.
Feb 22, 2011, 10:43 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
Feb 22, 2011, 11:25 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ZRH / SEA, DL PM
Posts: 1,166
I could not get E+ yesterday on packed trascon IAD-SEA on 319 and it was real pain (was glad to have any seat after irrop/overnight in IAD). I wished I were on LH intra-europe economy leather seat, which felt much more comfortable a few days earlier.
The only good thing about United E- is mingling with unwashed masses and educating your seatmates about miles, upgrades, E+, etc. It's amazing how E+ / E- separates people into frequent and not-so-frequent flyers.
The only good thing about United E- is mingling with unwashed masses and educating your seatmates about miles, upgrades, E+, etc. It's amazing how E+ / E- separates people into frequent and not-so-frequent flyers.