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The consolidated “It is worth my $$$, Miles, Points, Hassle, Etc?” Thread

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The consolidated “It is worth my $$$, Miles, Points, Hassle, Etc?” Thread

 
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Old Jan 23, 2009, 10:56 am
  #16  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 530
LAX-CDG
What's the general consensus here:

Flights in mid March from LAX-CDG are approx $550 roundtrip. Flights that are eligible for an SWU are about $1050.

Is it worth the extra $500 to upgrade? I know it depends on the induvidial, but I'm trying to get some feedback here.

Thanks!
chrisinacton is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 12:26 pm
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Originally Posted by chrisinacton
What's the general consensus here:

Flights in mid March from LAX-CDG are approx $550 roundtrip. Flights that are eligible for an SWU are about $1050.

Is it worth the extra $500 to upgrade? I know it depends on the induvidial, but I'm trying to get some feedback here.

Thanks!
Wanted to do SFO-CDG myself around mid march... in the end I booked SFO-LHR nonstop in V or W for $712.11. The cost of an upgradable fare was a factor. SW cleared for both flights as soon as I applied them. Planning to overnight in London (have dinner etc...) and catching a train to Paris next day. Train tickets thru the chunnel are inexpensive if purchased in advance. Also look for specials.
lainys is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 12:50 pm
  #18  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver SPG Lifetime Gold
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That's a great idea! I much prefer LAX-LHR non-stop, having dinner there, then taking the train over.

Thanks!!
chrisinacton is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 1:04 pm
  #19  
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
Originally Posted by PTahCha
In my experience, JFK-SFO is harder to upgrade than JFK-LAX
I would expand that and say that XXX-SFO is harder to upgrade than XXX-LAX, where XXX could be anywhere.
mahasamatman is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 1:42 pm
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
I would expand that and say that XXX-SFO is harder to upgrade than XXX-LAX, where XXX could be anywhere.
This is my first flight to Europe in many yrs (Last time I used SWU any fare could be upgraded). Sounds like I got lucky to get a confirmed LHR-SFO?? Booked in early Jan for March 18-24 trip.

I figured with the fare difference being an extra $200 for the *possibility* to upgrade would be worth it. Was pleasantly surprised to have them confirm instantly. That just shows you that my threshold for expecting 1K benefits is set rather low My distant memories of being CX diamond had already faded.......
lainys is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 1:43 pm
  #21  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SFO, SJC
Programs: UA MM /Gold ; AS MVP Gold; SWA A LIst and CP; HH Gold; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Plat Elite
Posts: 588
Originally Posted by chrisinacton
That's a great idea! I much prefer LAX-LHR non-stop, having dinner there, then taking the train over.

Thanks!!
You're most welcome!
lainys is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 5:57 pm
  #22  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
Originally Posted by hobo13
I think the UA wiki is by far the best on FT, but it could always get better.
The wiki isn't on FT, it's on FlyerGuide... same owners, but different site entirely. As for the quality, IMHO the AA wiki is actually better than the UA one, at least in terms of content (though not organization)... and I say this having spent many hours trying to improve the UA wiki. It needs a lot more work... some articles are excellent, and some have not enough content to be useful.

That said, I would not recommend an "is this worth it" article or category on the wiki. IMHO the purpose of the wiki is for factual and objective information, not for opinions or other subjective conjecture.
cepheid is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 6:39 pm
  #23  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MKE
Posts: 614
Question
I made for Premier for the first time and was possibly looking to treat myself to some upgrades on the next two flights.

Since I have no e500's to burn to upgrade so I was thinking of buying 4 for $200.

I was thinking of using 2 on the ORD-IAD UA950 (777) this next month.

Since I will be flying to LHR in March I will pass 10,000 EQM then and get another 4 e500s then.

So what it comes down to, is it worth basically $100 to upgrade to Business on the 777 from ORD-IAD?
kannon99 is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 6:56 pm
  #24  
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lovely Tahoe City
Programs: UA 1mm Gold. Former 1K and GS.
Posts: 951
Originally Posted by kannon99
I made for Premier for the first time and was possibly looking to treat myself to some upgrades on the next two flights.

Since I have no e500's to burn to upgrade so I was thinking of buying 4 for $200.

I was thinking of using 2 on the ORD-IAD UA950 (777) this next month.

Since I will be flying to LHR in March I will pass 10,000 EQM then and get another 4 e500s then.

So what it comes down to, is it worth basically $100 to upgrade to Business on the 777 from ORD-IAD?

It's a bummer that this flight isn't 999 miles for your 2 upgrades. That said, YES, it's worth it if you haven't flown biz before. It's a nice little flight with likely delays possible on either end. Add to that that your upgrade will likely clear, and I'd would say yes again.

However, if you do longer legs on other flights, perhaps save them for future use (you will have opportunity to get a 3-class flight from ORD on other flights.)
climmy is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 7:52 pm
  #25  
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,069
Originally Posted by kannon99

Since I have no e500's to burn to upgrade so I was thinking of buying 4 for $200.

I was thinking of using 2 on the ORD-IAD UA950 (777) this next month.

Since I will be flying to LHR in March I will pass 10,000 EQM then and get another 4 e500s then.

So what it comes down to, is it worth basically $100 to upgrade to Business on the 777 from ORD-IAD?
I wouldn't pay $100 to upgrade such a short flight. But since this is your first time upfront, I'll make an exception.

FYI, you can't use your e-500's to upgrade on international flights.
================================================== ====

Here's what I don't like about so many topics being discussed:
Unless you're paying attention, and unless you use the 'quote' feature, we'll lose track of who is responding to what.
dhammer53 is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 8:01 pm
  #26  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Lovely Tahoe City
Programs: UA 1mm Gold. Former 1K and GS.
Posts: 951
Originally Posted by dhammer53
Here's what I don't like about so many topics being discussed:
Unless you're paying attention, and unless you use the 'quote' feature, we'll lose track of who is responding to what.
Agreed. Does anyone have any way to get around this? Perhaps quote the original poster?

I dunno. Just thought it might be a good idea to consolidate these things!
climmy is offline  
Old Jan 23, 2009, 9:24 pm
  #27  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: BWI / IAD
Programs: UA-1P, HHonors - Silver
Posts: 82
Originally Posted by kannon99
I made for Premier for the first time and was possibly looking to treat myself to some upgrades on the next two flights.

Since I have no e500's to burn to upgrade so I was thinking of buying 4 for $200.

I was thinking of using 2 on the ORD-IAD UA950 (777) this next month.

Since I will be flying to LHR in March I will pass 10,000 EQM then and get another 4 e500s then.

So what it comes down to, is it worth basically $100 to upgrade to Business on the 777 from ORD-IAD?
I can't tell you whether the $100 bucks is worth it, but I will say don't by the E-500's ahead of time. Go ahead and request the upgrade (even if you have none in your account). If the upgrade clears you can purchase the e-500's at that time. If you purchase them, the clock on their expiration starts ticking right away and if your upgrade doesn't clear you may kick yourself later...

-K
K_M_McMahon is offline  



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