first ever mileage run - comments?
 

Hi,

I'm planning for my first mileage run to get 1P this year (have been 2P for a couple of years). Here's the itinerary.

PIT-PHL-SAN-LAX-LAS: leaving Sat 7:30am, arriving Sat 7:46pm
LAS-LAX-JFK/LGA-BOS-PIT: leaving Sat 9:00pm, arriving SUN 2:59pm
the fare is 92.09 + 92.09 + tax = 248.60 (according to itasoftware)

Here are some questions, and hopefully you experts can offer some comments.

1) Can I use the $25 cert from MP visa? That cert requires minimum airfare of $200.
2) Am I right that I have to call United to ticket this one, since there are 8 segments?
3) I'm planning this trip for Sept. Do you think I should ticket now or wait?
4) There are 2hr 26mins for the connection in JFK/LGA, do you think I have enough time to take a bus from JFK to LGA? (Since it's a mileage run obviously I don't have any check bags.) I do this intentionally to try out the PS flight.
5) I'll appreciate if you have any ideas to modify the itinerary to get me more miles.

Thanks.

You can use the $25 certificate so you'll definitely need to call for that (so it ends up as $20 after the extra booking fee.

Can't help on whether it's a good mileage run. You may want to post it in that forum so you can get the most expert advice. (It sounds like a really good fare to me as you're getting PS one way). I do think you should book it right away. You never know when one of those segments might run out of one of the fare buckets you're pricing at.

That's 6369 miles for $248.60, or 3.9 cents/mile. Most mileage runners shoot for 2 cents/mile.

I think this is pretty good. The MR people will say they want 2 cents/mile. You should ask them how often they find such opportunities (answer: rarely). All things considered, I think this is pretty decent.

I've never done something like this, but one thing strikes me. A lot of segments with only about 1 hour before your return begins. If any of those other flights are late causing missed connections, or if you miss the first leg of your return flight out of LAS, UA may put you on a direct flight LAS-ORD and to your final destination, missing all the segments..

Thanks
 

Thanks for all your comments. I'll post it on mileage run forum for more comments.

I check United.com multi-city and it seems that it can only handle max 7 segments. Am I missing something? Thanks.

Looks like a fabulous run!

I think if you are misconnceted, you can write to MP and have them credit you the miles of your original itinery.

I've done it
 

I've tried this and was successful when US rerouted me to IND-DCA instead of IND-PHL-IAD. Called MP and with original BP #'s got the extra segments and miles.