miles no good, and fares too high?
Apr 5, 2007, 5:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: North Carolina
Programs: DL UA
Posts: 537
miles no good, and fares too high?
I am trying to book award travel for 2 people from GSO to LAS, June 15 to 18. I am willing to look at +/- a day, or leaving from RDU or CLT . No seats at 25k.
Now, I used 50k each at New Years because, hey it was New Years eve, but some random weekend in June to a destination where most people don't take kids, and there are no " mileage saver" awards for a CP? It doesn't seem to me that there are any 25K awards ever. So, I went to Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. In each search, US was the most, or second most expensive carrier. I thought they were touting their new LCC status . It doesn't appear that way.
I would pay for the seats and hope for an upgrade is they weren't $300 more each than American.
I am so frustrated. To think you can travel EVERY week for a year and only end up with enough miles for one couple, for one trip to Las Vegas. Interestingly, the hotels there are willing to comp us show tickets and a room. I guess they value repeat business.
Anyone know if I will have better luck using my miles on UA?
Now, I used 50k each at New Years because, hey it was New Years eve, but some random weekend in June to a destination where most people don't take kids, and there are no " mileage saver" awards for a CP? It doesn't seem to me that there are any 25K awards ever. So, I went to Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity. In each search, US was the most, or second most expensive carrier. I thought they were touting their new LCC status . It doesn't appear that way.
I would pay for the seats and hope for an upgrade is they weren't $300 more each than American.
I am so frustrated. To think you can travel EVERY week for a year and only end up with enough miles for one couple, for one trip to Las Vegas. Interestingly, the hotels there are willing to comp us show tickets and a room. I guess they value repeat business.
Anyone know if I will have better luck using my miles on UA?
Last edited by njvj; Apr 5, 2007 at 5:37 pm Reason: spelling
Apr 5, 2007, 5:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
The great irony (okay one of the many) about the HP/US merger was that, even as they added LAS to the mini hub roster on the network, the award seats in to and out of that station seemed to vanish at once.
LAS had always been tight with award seats, but now, I'm told you can nearly forget it unless you're originating in the West.
For my part, it's usually so cheap to fly to LAS, even from PWM, that I have never used miles for a trip there. But, I am keenly aware that it's no easy task to do so now.
LAS had always been tight with award seats, but now, I'm told you can nearly forget it unless you're originating in the West.
For my part, it's usually so cheap to fly to LAS, even from PWM, that I have never used miles for a trip there. But, I am keenly aware that it's no easy task to do so now.
Apr 5, 2007, 5:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LYH
Programs: US-CP 11+yrs now just Silver as a Million Mile FlyerHH-Diamond, PC-Plat, Choice-Gold, Marriott- Plat
Posts: 95
You can look at UA as they occasionally offer their saver fares (25K miles) but all of their saver fares are not available to US FFers as they hold some seats back for UA FFers.
Other alternatives would be to fly out to PHX or LAX and then buy a cheap round trip ticket from Vegas to either (usually between $75-$100 a person)
Oddly enough I had four round trip 25k award tickets to Vegas for tonight and they substituted a smaller Dash 8 coming in to LYH from CLT so they were looking for 6 volunteers. We took the bump, walked away with another RTFC and are booked tomorrow morning in First Class. I love getting RTFC's on an award ticket
Other alternatives would be to fly out to PHX or LAX and then buy a cheap round trip ticket from Vegas to either (usually between $75-$100 a person)
Oddly enough I had four round trip 25k award tickets to Vegas for tonight and they substituted a smaller Dash 8 coming in to LYH from CLT so they were looking for 6 volunteers. We took the bump, walked away with another RTFC and are booked tomorrow morning in First Class. I love getting RTFC's on an award ticket
Last edited by VA Maddog; Apr 5, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Apr 5, 2007, 5:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
I looked on UA, and it showed (2) saver awards (25,000) available from RDU-LAS for June 15-19 but not available for the 18th. Whether it is available to US? Who knows.
Apr 5, 2007, 6:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Athens, WV, USA; a US cockroach long before it was in FFOCUS; now a lowly US5 for only the 2nd time in 20 years.
Programs: US5
Posts: 3,050
I'm doing the same as you, njvj, except I'm looking for the week before Memorial Day, going to LAS 5/21 or 22, returning the next day. (Going to a computer expo, NOT pleasure). I'm at least finding some options (granted, not optimal ones) from ROA, GSO and even CLT. Fares from those cities are as you've noted.
Here's a suggestion for you to ponder. Look for 25K's to PHX, LAX, ONT, SNA or SAN. You can then get a $78-98ish RT to LAS from those cities on just about anyone including SW. Farecompare is your friend.
Here's a suggestion for you to ponder. Look for 25K's to PHX, LAX, ONT, SNA or SAN. You can then get a $78-98ish RT to LAS from those cities on just about anyone including SW. Farecompare is your friend.
Apr 5, 2007, 6:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2004
Programs: US Silver
Posts: 631
Umm Kayak.com is throwing up usairways fares for those dates of $289 (via orbitz).
Apr 7, 2007, 10:34 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: North Carolina
Programs: DL UA
Posts: 537
thanks I will try kayak.com and farecompare!
Apr 7, 2007, 1:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA MARRIOTT Lifetime Plat Premier ; Marriott Vacation Club
Posts: 1,650
. . . but some random weekend in June to a destination where most people don't take kids . . .
I've never been to LAS as I'm not a casino-minded guy. We'll probably get there sometime just to look the place over. But Vegas has spent billions to transform itself into a family destination. We've got lots of friends at work who have done the family visit to Vegas ( nominally to "see the Hoover Dam" etc. etc.
).
But demand to LAS is strong. Perhaps some of the cheaper fares disappear earlier. What do the seat availibility maps show? Not so sure about an UG strategy to LAS since the cabin reconfigs.
It is frustrating when something you assume will be simple becomes a pain in the butt, especially when you're playing the airline pricing game.
Barry
I've never been to LAS as I'm not a casino-minded guy. We'll probably get there sometime just to look the place over. But Vegas has spent billions to transform itself into a family destination. We've got lots of friends at work who have done the family visit to Vegas ( nominally to "see the Hoover Dam" etc. etc.
).But demand to LAS is strong. Perhaps some of the cheaper fares disappear earlier. What do the seat availibility maps show? Not so sure about an UG strategy to LAS since the cabin reconfigs.
It is frustrating when something you assume will be simple becomes a pain in the butt, especially when you're playing the airline pricing game.
Barry
Apr 7, 2007, 2:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MHT, CHS
Programs: DL DM, Hilton Dia, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 1,248
IT must not be a "random" weekend. I was looking for about the same time frame (a little longer) over the same weekend. No tickets on the 3 airlines I have status with, at the lower level.
Apr 7, 2007, 2:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: UA 2P, AA LT Gold, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,159
Apr 7, 2007, 3:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Apr 7, 2007, 3:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Long Island
Programs: SkyMiles, Dividend Miles, True Blue, Membership Rewards
Posts: 126
Just a few thoughts:
1)The 17th is fathers day. So there are a few more people flying to do family stuff.
2)There are a few small conventions that I see around that time too. This should not matter.
3) It is for a lot of places the 1st weekend after school ends. (K to 12) Yep, welcome to school is out lets get to LV before it's hot enough to melt little Timmy's sneakers to the pavement.
Just my .02c
-Dave
1)The 17th is fathers day. So there are a few more people flying to do family stuff.
2)There are a few small conventions that I see around that time too. This should not matter.
3) It is for a lot of places the 1st weekend after school ends. (K to 12) Yep, welcome to school is out lets get to LV before it's hot enough to melt little Timmy's sneakers to the pavement.
Just my .02c
-Dave
Apr 7, 2007, 5:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: CLT
Programs: FT Member #8119 F & J Free Agent
Posts: 6,550
US only meets half the definition of low-cost carrier - They offer the no-frills but not the low ticket prices.
Code:
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline (also known as a no-frills or discount carrier / airline) is an airline that offers generally low fares in exchange for eliminating many traditional passenger services. The concept originated in the United States before spreading to Europe in the early 1990s and subsequently to much of the rest of the world. The term originated within the airline industry referring to airlines with a low - or lower - operating cost structure than their competitors. Through popular media the term has since come to define any carrier with low ticket prices and limited services regardless of their operating costs.
Apr 7, 2007, 6:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
The casino owners who claimed publicly to embrace the family concept are now revealing that they never internally supported it and that they fought it tooth and nail until the campaign was collapsed.
For my part, when I'm in Vegas I look around and can't imagine taking my kids there. For what?!?! I can think of perhaps 100 places far better suited for a family vacation. Can't you?
Apr 8, 2007, 11:22 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA MARRIOTT Lifetime Plat Premier ; Marriott Vacation Club
Posts: 1,650
. . . For my part, when I'm in Vegas I look around and can't imagine taking my kids there. For what?!?! I can think of perhaps 100 places far better suited for a family vacation. Can't you? . . .
ABSOLUTELY!
All of those $$ invested to sell Vegas as a fantasy theme park destination complete with the Eiffel Tower and rides do nothing to hide the fact that Vegas is about gambling plain and simple.
Still, I'm surprised at the numbers of folks here ( Philly metro area ) who do a Vegas trip with the kids in tow. Now they do indeed spend a day or so to trek out to the Grand Canyon etc., but thier trip is essentially casino-centric. It's all kinda like that big shopping mall in Minnesota that people from around the world flock to -- why? Other than the novelty of size, it remains a shopping mall with the same old stores found anywhere.
When/if we ever stop in Vegas, it will because we're driving from point A to point B and we're just passing through. It would indeed be interesting to see the casinos and the lights and so forth, but only in a passing sense of curiosity.
Barry
ABSOLUTELY!
All of those $$ invested to sell Vegas as a fantasy theme park destination complete with the Eiffel Tower and rides do nothing to hide the fact that Vegas is about gambling plain and simple.
Still, I'm surprised at the numbers of folks here ( Philly metro area ) who do a Vegas trip with the kids in tow. Now they do indeed spend a day or so to trek out to the Grand Canyon etc., but thier trip is essentially casino-centric. It's all kinda like that big shopping mall in Minnesota that people from around the world flock to -- why? Other than the novelty of size, it remains a shopping mall with the same old stores found anywhere.
When/if we ever stop in Vegas, it will because we're driving from point A to point B and we're just passing through. It would indeed be interesting to see the casinos and the lights and so forth, but only in a passing sense of curiosity.
Barry