1K captivity
Aug 5, 2008 | 2:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
1K captivity
Sort of a 
. Also a 
but in a good way. My doctor client invited me out to Milwaukee for Labor Day weekend 105th Harley anniversary - he highlighted my favorite band playing. So I looked to price SFO-MKE. Not good, esp. for decent times, so I dithered and it got worse. Anyway, there were other airlines with better: routes, times, and fares, but I need to requal 1k and have a $200 off cert. So I'm stuck with UA. Did find a $365 fare for SJC-DEN-ORD-MKE-DEN (on an E145 )-SJC. Actual cost $165. Getting to Caltrain on time to schlepp down the peninsula, priceless.
Any other horror stories about sticking with UA over better options?
. Also a but in a good way. My doctor client invited me out to Milwaukee for Labor Day weekend 105th Harley anniversary - he highlighted my favorite band playing. So I looked to price SFO-MKE. Not good, esp. for decent times, so I dithered and it got worse. Anyway, there were other airlines with better: routes, times, and fares, but I need to requal 1k and have a $200 off cert. So I'm stuck with UA. Did find a $365 fare for SJC-DEN-ORD-MKE-DEN (on an E145 )-SJC. Actual cost $165. Getting to Caltrain on time to schlepp down the peninsula, priceless.Any other horror stories about sticking with UA over better options?
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD, BUF
Programs: UA 1K (woohoo), SPG Gold, HH Diamond, MR Silver, Avis Worst, National Exec Elite; Destinations Many
Posts: 332
I would just fly into ORD and then rent a car or take the train to Milwaukee
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: Mileage Plus, Rapid Rewards
Posts: 949
Sort of a . Also a but in a good way. My doctor client invited me out to Milwaukee for Labor Day weekend 105th Harley anniversary - he highlighted my favorite band playing. So I looked to price SFO-MKE. Not good, esp. for decent times, so I dithered and it got worse. Anyway, there were other airlines with better: routes, times, and fares, but I need to requal 1k and have a $200 off cert. So I'm stuck with UA. Did find a $365 fare for SJC-DEN-ORD-MKE-DEN (on an E145 )-SJC. Actual cost $165. Getting to Caltrain on time to schlepp down the peninsula, priceless.
Any other horror stories about sticking with UA over better options?
. Also a but in a good way. My doctor client invited me out to Milwaukee for Labor Day weekend 105th Harley anniversary - he highlighted my favorite band playing. So I looked to price SFO-MKE. Not good, esp. for decent times, so I dithered and it got worse. Anyway, there were other airlines with better: routes, times, and fares, but I need to requal 1k and have a $200 off cert. So I'm stuck with UA. Did find a $365 fare for SJC-DEN-ORD-MKE-DEN (on an E145 )-SJC. Actual cost $165. Getting to Caltrain on time to schlepp down the peninsula, priceless.Any other horror stories about sticking with UA over better options?
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:13 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,414
I recently went to SAT and schlepped 90 miles to a near-by airport so I could fly UA over F9. UA was $160 more expensive than F9 out of my home-town airport. The things we do for status...
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:30 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:35 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 旧金山/Old Gold Hill/SFO
Programs: UA 1P, Marriott Platium, SPG
Posts: 1,001
Aug 5, 2008 | 3:45 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-SLV, QF-GLD, DL-PM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,353
Let us know when your ORD-MKE get's cancelled. Seems pretty regular. It is definitely quicker to driver IME.
Aug 5, 2008 | 4:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,040
[QUOTE=CMHFlyerOH;10154759]I get that same "I don't know how to quit you" QUOTE]
Boy that is so so true. OP if this makes you feel any better...I live in Conta Costa County and will fly from SFO (just to fly UA) even when other carriers may have a better schedule and occisionaly cheaper fares then drive 20 miles less each way to fly from OAK. I have done only 3 of 79 segments to/from OAK this year. In the past I did fly from there more frequently something like 70-30 (OAK), but w/ such severe cutbacks by UA at OAK all I can do there is ticket e-certs, they are not competitive and the frequency to DEN is not good.
Boy that is so so true. OP if this makes you feel any better...I live in Conta Costa County and will fly from SFO (just to fly UA) even when other carriers may have a better schedule and occisionaly cheaper fares then drive 20 miles less each way to fly from OAK. I have done only 3 of 79 segments to/from OAK this year. In the past I did fly from there more frequently something like 70-30 (OAK), but w/ such severe cutbacks by UA at OAK all I can do there is ticket e-certs, they are not competitive and the frequency to DEN is not good.
Aug 5, 2008 | 5:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
...
Aug 5, 2008 | 5:39 pm
#10
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
Wow. OP sure has a lot of color in his posting....
I am still loyal enough to UA to achieve at least Premier Exec for 2009 but I am now seeing way too large of a gap between UA and other airlines on many routes. I have future itineraries on Delta and Southwest as well.
I am still loyal enough to UA to achieve at least Premier Exec for 2009 but I am now seeing way too large of a gap between UA and other airlines on many routes. I have future itineraries on Delta and Southwest as well.
Aug 5, 2008 | 5:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: IAD
Programs: Chase Million Miler, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,729
I used to work for UAX and NRSA'd ORD-MKE and vv. I had many problems with that flight. Even took the chartered mini-bus to ORD a few times.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 5, 2008 at 6:05 pm Reason: merge
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:18 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
Any 1K protection if it's canceled?
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:26 pm
#13
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
I've only flown ORD-MKE-ORD once (part of a longer itinerary of course) and must have pleased the travel Gods on the days I traveled. BOth flights were as punctual as a Swiss train. Go figure. ^
Aug 5, 2008 | 8:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Programs: UA Gold 1mm, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 662
OP, I share your pain! I drive either 90 mi. (BHM) or 150 mi. (ATL) to fly United. I pass up good fares to places I would like to go because it is not United. I go places I don't really want to go because I rack up the miles on United. When you're hooked, you're hooked!