How much does 1K cost?
 

Just was wondering. On average, how many dollar$ in tickets does it usually run to make 1K on UA? This might be an MR question but it is specific to UA. Inquiring minds want to know.

The rule of thumb I usually use is that it's roughly twice what it takes to make 1P. :p :)

Some have done it for as little as $1,000-$2,000 -- but that requires some serious effort and mileage running (think Baht run). On the "realistic" low-end, I would imagine that 1K can be had for $3,000-$4,000 all the way up to over $40,000 depending on what kind of tickets you buy!

Here are some earlier threads on the topic from the beginning of the year:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111260
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111892

I imagine it can be done for under $5000 if you live on the East Coast.

IAD-SFO-NRT-SIN is 21,728 miles round-trip, so five of those would bring you to 108,640.

The cheapest fare (V) is $858, so that would be $4,290.

How much does 1K cost?
 

Your sanity.

Perfect response!

While the "Baht Run" is a thing of the past, I can say that I did two (2) segments, BKK-KKC-BKK on TG, for 2,400 THB ( ~ 60 USD).

So with enough time one could rack up 100 segments (1K) for what, 3,000 USD?

4,500 USD seems to be a more reasonable 'low-point', with five trips from the East coast to SIN or BKK?

That seems about right. I got to 60K miles on $2,800 in airfare from Denver earlier this year. However, that included the 15,000 EQM bonus offer. If I hadn't scored a contract with an employer who will pay for the rest of my 2004 1k qualification, I would have spent another $2300 on a few additional trips (SIN, CDG, two personal trips with extra legs), for a total of $5,100.

Don't $100 round-trips still exist? (UX?)

50 round trips and you're a true 1K.

50 x $100 = $5000

Seems easy.

Randomman

:D :D :D ^

How right you are PremEx. I am slightly insane. ;)

In addition to the dollar cost, there is the time cost. If the flying I normally do for work takes me to 50k+ miles (BIS), and I plan to do a few big international trips the following year, it might be completely worth it financially to expend another $2-3k in trans-pacific mileage runs to reach 1K. However, the time factor needs to be considered, whether that is time away from family, opportunity costs for other earnings, or simply how you value your time. Yes, I could get a lot of work reading and other things done on a plane (without pager, cell phone, etc.), especially in C, but my four year old would be much less understanding about that.

The problem is that once you get into this game, it's very easy to want more! Just a year ago I was thrilled to get 2P, love the 1P benefits this year, and (very surprisingly to me) I catch myself thinking, "Hmmm. How can I convince my wife that doing a MR makes sense to make 1K?" :)

Any status junkies ever asked UA if they could just tear up the tickets for the miles, giving UA the seat back? Wonder if the question got bumped far enuf up the chain, what someone of authority from UA would say. If they said "yes" would you ask for a few cans of soda (or 1/2 cans if on Ted) and some snack mix? This question isnt to achieve status from the start, but just to bridge that last MR of the year that you don't have time to take.

I generally spend around $35K annually. Last year was lowest in several years at $26K+. I have gone over $40K+ several years and over $53K in 2001. I should be around $35K this year.

Most of my trips are HNL to the East Coast so it doesn't take much, roughly ten trips, to make 1K. If the tkts avg around $750, that would be $7500 for 1K.

I gotta believe that at some point, UA will base status on $ plus miles. After all, to give me 1K status the same as someone who spent four or five times that amount doesn't make sense. I'm not complaining, mind you, but from a business sense, it is a bit strange.