Consolidated "Flight to New Zealand Using UA Miles?" Thread [Merged]
Apr 18, 2007, 3:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: sfo
Programs: United GS, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 594
Newbie Post
i am United GS, have several hundred thousand miles to burn and am looking for a trip to Australia/New Zealand with wife and 3 children in Feb 08, any thoughts on how i should proceed, not sure if this will be in economy or use some of my SWU
thanks
thanks
Apr 18, 2007, 4:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.3MM, Hyatt Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 371
It depends how you want to pay for your trip based upon your upgrading tools.
Apr 18, 2007, 4:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: DL PM,UA MP(former 1K), Hertz 5*G, National Emerald Club, SPG, Marriott Silver
Posts: 443
Your home airport would help,although there appear to be few if any F or C saver awards, plenty of Y awards available if you book soon. If willing to kill a lot of miles, there are plenty of standard award routings available. Or you could try OZ.
Apr 18, 2007, 4:07 pm
#4
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Apr 18, 2007, 4:07 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: sfo
Programs: United GS, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 594
thanks, is OZ preferable if i decide to use mileage in coach or pay for coach and try to use SWU?
Apr 18, 2007, 4:09 pm
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
OZ is typically Australia or Asiana, but I am not sure what that posted is referring to. SWU's can only be used on UA and on a standby basis on LH, so I am not sure what that would mean.
Apr 18, 2007, 4:10 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: sfo
Programs: United GS, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 594
my bad thanks for the advice, again i am a newbie, and any information is helpful
Apr 18, 2007, 4:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.3MM, Hyatt Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
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Apr 18, 2007, 5:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.3MM, Hyatt Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 371
Your right it was 90K each, burned 110K on something else in the last couple of months but I have so much travel can't figure out which one it was and whether I cancelled it
Nov 25, 2007, 4:04 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 51
Award seat to New Zealand?
Hi,
I'm trying to book 4 C class tickets to New Zealand from SAN using my miles. I will be flexible with my dates (anywhere from Dec 2008 to Mar 2009) and plan to call UA 330 days prior to departure. I've tried this last year with no luck.
Any tips, advise, dates/months where I can get 4 award seats in C class?
Many thanks!
Fitgal
I'm trying to book 4 C class tickets to New Zealand from SAN using my miles. I will be flexible with my dates (anywhere from Dec 2008 to Mar 2009) and plan to call UA 330 days prior to departure. I've tried this last year with no luck.
Any tips, advise, dates/months where I can get 4 award seats in C class?
Many thanks!
Fitgal
Nov 25, 2007, 4:44 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Hate to say it but I think it is very unlikely you would find 4 together at one time. You might find 2 at 330 and 2 close in, but that's a big risk.
Is it an option to purchase any of the tickets (maybe Y class and upgrade)? Or fly different flights (maybe some NZ and some UA through SYD)?
Is it an option to purchase any of the tickets (maybe Y class and upgrade)? Or fly different flights (maybe some NZ and some UA through SYD)?
Nov 25, 2007, 4:52 pm
#13
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
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Posts: 71,422
4 business award seats on the same flight - zero chance. NZ sells a lot of business class between USA and NZ, so not a lot available for awards.
Try breaking up into different flights - routing and/or dates. Remember to check both LAX-AKL and SFO-AKL. Also try the island hopper flights or via HNL (but these have 767 = old business class not the business premier suites). Consider going via Australia. SYD or MEL to NZ is a fairly short flight.
Try breaking up into different flights - routing and/or dates. Remember to check both LAX-AKL and SFO-AKL. Also try the island hopper flights or via HNL (but these have 767 = old business class not the business premier suites). Consider going via Australia. SYD or MEL to NZ is a fairly short flight.
Nov 25, 2007, 4:59 pm
#14
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Good luck.
Looking 8 months out, I was able to score one seat LAX-AKL in NZ 777 C and a return via the South Pacific in NZ 763 C.
I have alot of flexibility and have been scanning Apr-May with the ANA tool trying to shift by a day or two and I've only seen 1 other seat come and go (quick) that didn't work out.
Looking 8 months out, I was able to score one seat LAX-AKL in NZ 777 C and a return via the South Pacific in NZ 763 C.
I have alot of flexibility and have been scanning Apr-May with the ANA tool trying to shift by a day or two and I've only seen 1 other seat come and go (quick) that didn't work out.
Last edited by im-headed-west; Nov 25, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Nov 25, 2007, 5:53 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Gold, EVA Diamond
Posts: 1,072
So if you are looking for 2 C seats, would the expectation be to confirm 1 C and 1 Y seat and then hope for another C seat to open up? (Assuming there isn't 2 C seats open)