e500's Worth it?
 

I'm going to be about 1500 miles short of my first 10K miles after reaching Premier if I stop flying for 2008 (and the e500 deposit that comes with that milestone). I have an opportunity to go to SFO to visit some family for the holidays for about $280, is it worth it to make the run? A pack costs $200 anyway. How often can I use these? My primary routes are ORD-MSY and IAH.

TIA

The ORD-MSY route probably still uses TED 1-class planes on most of the daily flights - so e500s aren't able to be used.

ORD-IAH might be hard for a premier to upgrade using e500s - but having e500s in your account is never a bad thing.

Anytime I can find a flight to SFO for under $300 I take them, so I'd head out there.

You're right, it uses the Ted planes for one of the flights per day...the other two are the Embraers so I guess I'd be able to upgrade on those. My guess is that I'll get about 5000 miles out of the trip and 4 e500's along with some home cooked meals so it's not a bad haul for $280.

Today, but e500s are good for a year and TED planes will be reconfigured sometime in early 2009, so there is potential for a normal A320 on that route. Plus, given the fact that route is currently a heavy TED route, it's probably not as elite-heavy as others. (Or so I'm hoping with my regular LAS-IAD flights, currently on Ted.)

Do I understand you are right around 33,500 EQM (1500 short of the next e-500 pack)?

If so don't you also get a elitechoice at 35k? Maybe figure that into the equation too?

Don't forget the 10K counter starts at the mileage hit when qualifying elite, so if, for example, his qualifying trip put him at 26000, then he'd need to reach 36000 for the pack.

Sounds like a 5000 mile trip will give him plenty of gravy, though. In addition to the gravy on his mashed potatoes.

Given the "$200 value" of the e500's, I'd call it an $80 fare and think it was a great deal for a holiday visit!

I had the Elite Choice at 30K. I'll be at 34.5K without this run and my 2P status started at 26K miles give or take a few.

AFAIK if you weren't elite as of March 1, 2008 you don't get the elite choice when you hit 35k (http://www.united.com/page/article/0...2Fmppd38detail) The OP noted that he just hit elite otherwise he would have already had some e-500s for his 33k miles....

-K

How did you get the elite choice? per the link in my previous post, no elite-choice unless you were elite in March... Did you hit elite in March and then travel very until this month?


I ask because I hit 2p in September and will hit 1p by the end of december (currently at 33k EQM) but I didn't get an elite choice :(

I passed 30K in early September. Got the e-mail a week or so later and made my choice (carryover of EQMs).

Is this the "Elite Choice" program or something with the MP Visa "Choices" program? I think we're getting confused.

I just made 2P last month and had given up hope of getting any "choices" or anything, but you seem to imply differently...

I'm talking about Elite Choice. Not MP Visa related.

Did you sign up in March? (Prior year elite, perhaps?)

Did you sign up before Sept. 7 (another date on the terms and conditions that conflicts with the March date on the cited webpage)?

Signed up in April or May. This is the first time I've been 2P or better on UA.

ah. That explains it. I didn't find out about elite choices until it was too late. Bleh!