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Cool Cities to Optimize New Close-in Award Ticketing?

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Cool Cities to Optimize New Close-in Award Ticketing?

 
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 7:00 am
  #1  
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UAL 1P, SPG Platinum
Posts: 157
Cool Cities to Optimize New Close-in Award Ticketing?
Aplogies if this post is a little vague, but given the elimination of close-in award ticketing fees, the wife and I are considering a quick weekend trip (leaving friday afternoon the 14th, returning any time Sunday the 16th) from ORD to pretty much anywhere within NA or even perhaps Western Europe. Gotta burn some of those Elite Choice Competition miles!

My first thought was Montreal or Quebec but availability for saver economy is zilch. Before I run about 100 fruitless searches or spend 2 hours talking to the 1P line, does anyone have any suggesitons of cool places to visit that may have availability 6 days out for 2 people?
Mods, please move this thread if it's in the wrong forum.

Thanks y'all!
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 7:51 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: TPE/KHH/LAX
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Plenty of availability (XY) for:

Ottawa, Canada
Toronto, Canada
Edmonton, Canada

Rapid City, SD (Mount Rushmore)
Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Denver, CO
Newark, NJ
Orlando, FL
New Orleans, LA
Houston, TX
Philadelphia, PA
Atlanta, GA

etc.........
Last edited by gijoe24jp; Aug 8, 2009 at 8:58 am
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 8:49 am
  #3  
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Remember for Canada you can use AC as well.

As for ideas for the best bang for the buck:

Halifax, NS (YHZ)
Vancouver (YVR)
Victoria (YYJ)

Jackson Hole, WY (JAC) for Yellowstone
Kalispell, MT (FCA) for Glacier NP
Last edited by channa; Aug 8, 2009 at 3:43 pm
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 8:57 am
  #4  
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It is hardly worth it to use miles on domestic destinations, consider the low price of the ticket especially right now. Why not save it and spend it on overseas trips in F and C class ?
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 9:15 am
  #5  
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Originally Posted by ORDnHKG
It is hardly worth it to use miles on domestic destinations, consider the low price of the ticket especially right now. Why not save it and spend it on overseas trips in F and C class ?

I hear you but flights this close in are pretty $$ (e.g there is tons of award availability for Charleston SC but flights are $645, which makes miles a good value). If I was proactive and booked weeks ago, I'd be paying cash...
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 9:28 am
  #6  
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Originally Posted by steve53178
I hear you but flights this close in are pretty $$ (e.g there is tons of award availability for Charleston SC but flights are $645, which makes miles a good value). If I was proactive and booked weeks ago, I'd be paying cash...
I saw $397 on US.
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 9:37 am
  #7  
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Originally Posted by ORDnHKG
I saw $397 on US.
Still worth it for me to use 50k (~10%) of my miles than to pay $794 for 800 miles plus the 100% RDM bonus. But, to each his own
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 11:37 am
  #8  
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Originally Posted by steve53178
I hear you but flights this close in are pretty $$ (e.g there is tons of award availability for Charleston SC but flights are $645, which makes miles a good value). If I was proactive and booked weeks ago, I'd be paying cash...
Ended up booking me and the Mrs in a saver coach to Charleston - departing ORD friday night at 7:14 and leaving SC on Sunday at 5 pm. Canada will be calling another weekend.

For those who are interested, there is still some space out of ORD to Charleston, Edmonton and Rapid City for the 14th-16th....
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 12:06 pm
  #9  
 
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I second the RAP recommendation. My family lives out there and you'd be visiting during a nice time of year. The Sturgis Rally will be over, and the crowds will have moderated. Lots of great outdoors stuff to do there too; Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Jewel Cave, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Deadwood, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands....
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 1:28 pm
  #10  
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Originally Posted by ORDnHKG
It is hardly worth it to use miles on domestic destinations, consider the low price of the ticket especially right now. Why not save it and spend it on overseas trips in F and C class ?
Depends. In addition to expensive destinations, remember that mileage tickets offer free changes/flexibility for 1K members (and free same-route changes for general members). There's some value to that if plans aren't firm.
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 2:56 pm
  #11  
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YYT is a great value for your miles. YHZ too.

Nice last-minute weekend trips.
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 3:13 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Originally Posted by channa
Remember for Canada you can use AC as well.

As for ideas for the best bang for the buck:

...

Jackson Hole, WY (JAC) for Yosemite
I recommend Yellowstone (and the Tetons) from JAC, and not Yosemite (which is a bit farther afield )
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 3:44 pm
  #13  
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Originally Posted by crammer
I recommend Yellowstone (and the Tetons) from JAC, and not Yosemite (which is a bit farther afield )

corrected. Yellowstone, obviously, is what I meant.

Yosemite would probably be FAT or MOD.
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 5:12 pm
  #14  
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Originally Posted by channa
corrected. Yellowstone, obviously, is what I meant.

Yosemite would probably be FAT or MOD.
All good ideas, probably for another weekend in the not too distant future. Anyone else booking more random, last minute trips because of the removal of the fees?
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Old Aug 8, 2009, 8:24 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Is there anyway to book AC using UA miles without $25 agent service fee?
Originally Posted by channa
Remember for Canada you can use AC as well.

As for ideas for the best bang for the buck:

Halifax, NS (YHZ)
Vancouver (YVR)
Victoria (YYJ)
AC Lounges in AC's hubs beat RCCs in North America.
How could we book an AC award without the $25 agent service fee?
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