Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Discontinued Programs/Partners > United Mileage Plus (Pre-Merger)
Reload this Page >

Am i crazy??? Contemplating 5 weekend trips to Europe to make 1K

Am i crazy??? Contemplating 5 weekend trips to Europe to make 1K

 
Old Oct 17, 2006, 12:54 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Prem Ex, Centurion
Posts: 119
Am i crazy??? Contemplating 5 weekend trips to Europe to make 1K

I have been reading this forum alot lately and want to propose a question for comment.

I am a premier on UA....and want 1K. Not really sure why but feeling crazy.
So was going to try and make 5 trips to Europe from Denver on 5 seperate weekends with my wife to see friends and see soccer games. If I pay the $495 for each of us to double Eqm's then we would both get to 1K.
Assuming 10,000 miles roundtrip and then double that through the promotion...at roughly $600 a ticket. Thats $1200x5= $6000. Plus the roughly $1000 for program. Total about $7000.
We would each get 6 swu for next year which would be 3 upgraded rountrips. Big savings.


Comments please....want to know if I'm crazy or just manic today...

HR
hrada2020 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:08 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,398
Welcome to flyertalk ^
I don't know if you are crazy or not, but what are your flying plans for next year. Do you plan to fly enough to make spending all that money for 1k worth it? Of course if you have the money to burn, then for it!
rittenhousesq is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:12 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
Originally Posted by hrada2020
I have been reading this forum alot lately and want to propose a question for comment.

Assuming 10,000 miles roundtrip and then double that through the promotion...at roughly $600 a ticket.
---------------
Should be able to get less than $600/ticket. SFO-FRA Sat-Sun turnaround is $480. Sounds like you're in DEN, maybe take advantage of the DEN promo too? With 5 RTs, you're on your way.
Javan69 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:28 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,303
Welcome to FlyerTalk!

This plan is only slightly crazy. I did the same thing in February 2003 when they extended the elite qualification period. I flew to Europe every weekend for four weekends in a row. Two of the four roundtrips were upgraded with SWUs, but even with that, I was a tired puppy by the end of the third week.

It can be done, but you should expect to be really cranky by the end of your odyssey. It helps if you can spend at least a day at your destination(s) to recover and see the sights. Two or more days are better.
Lori_Q is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:28 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,620
Originally Posted by hrada2020
Total about $7000.
We would each get 6 swu for next year which would be 3 upgraded rountrips. Big savings.
comments please....want to know if I'm crazy or just manic today...
Well do the math... care compare has DEN-most european destinations in C for 2600-3800 for one r/t ticket. Assuming you want 6 of those that on the top end would be 22,800.00.

Now your plan is spend 7000.00 now and buy upgradeable tickets next year (even at 1000.00 per ticket X 6 r/t's is 6000.00) 13000.00 total... right?

Looks like a 9800.00 savings... roughly.
jhayes_1780 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:33 pm
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,488
If you have to ask, you already know the answer.
Jaimito Cartero is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:37 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 4,039
Welcome to FT!^

Don't worry, you'll fit right in.
rar indeed is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:40 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,030
Originally Posted by jhayes_1780
Well do the math... care compare has DEN-most european destinations in C for 2600-3800 for one r/t ticket. Assuming you want 6 of those that on the top end would be 22,800.00.

Now your plan is spend 7000.00 now and buy upgradeable tickets next year (even at 1000.00 per ticket X 6 r/t's is 6000.00) 13000.00 total... right?

Looks like a 9800.00 savings... roughly.
Don't forget that the 5 R/Ts will earn both him and his spouse about 77500 RDMs each (roughly 3 R/Ts as a 2P at 12500 RDMs each plus 2 R/Ts as a 1P at 20000 RDMs each). That's almost a saver C seat to Europe for the two of them which at 2600-3800 USD each almost pays for the MRs and promo.
PHLGovFlyer is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:44 pm
  #9  
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,689
Oh and dont forget the CR1s they will get for the 4Q and all those e500s

Welcome!
jason8612 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:55 pm
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Prem Ex, Centurion
Posts: 119
Here's a challange.....
Can you anyone come up with a better way to get to 1K from Denver during the double eqm promotion?
This could be some fun answers.
HR
hrada2020 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 1:58 pm
  #11  
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,689
You could fly many times for the Denver you mean the world to us promo and combine it with the DEQM
jason8612 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 2:09 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Originally Posted by jhayes_1780
Well do the math... care compare has DEN-most european destinations in C for 2600-3800 for one r/t ticket. Assuming you want 6 of those that on the top end would be 22,800.00.

Now your plan is spend 7000.00 now and buy upgradeable tickets next year (even at 1000.00 per ticket X 6 r/t's is 6000.00) 13000.00 total... right?

Looks like a 9800.00 savings... roughly.

Ummm...really? care to share those? DEN-??? is 2600-3800 r/t? perhaps o/w 2600-3800 but not r/t.

doing some searches the cheapest i found for next jun was DEN-LHR for 5471 Z fare.
ryan182 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 2:10 pm
  #13  
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,689
Lets say you need 50,000 miles...

DEN-MCO (Orlando)

3092miles RT

about $200 for a L fare

You would need 16 round trips for around 49,472miles
out of it, you would qualify for 64 points for the Denver promo, meaning you could add to that either 180,000RDM miles or 2 C class tickets anywhere UA flyes (or mix-and-match)

All has to be done by the 15th of Nov though.

And, if you need that DEQM, add the cost ($500) to 16RTx$200 = $3700PP, but with that, you would get your 1K, your SWUs, CR1s, etc of all the 1K perks, and also your choice of 90,000miles x 2 or C ticket where UA flys x2

and with the 49,472x2 = 98944total EQM. Youll need about 1,056 more EQMs. to make 100,000 from 0. You could open a Chase Plat card, and as a 1K you would get the fee waived and get 5,000 EQM, bringing you over the top.

But 16 RT by Nov 15th...

Heres how you could do it.
DEN 08:11 AM MCO 01:32 PM
MCO 03:05 PM DEN 05:05 PM
DEN 07:00 PM MCO 12:21 AM
Sleep for a short time in Orlando..
MCO 06:05 AM DEN 08:05 AM
DEN 10:05 AM MCO 03:26 PM
MCO 05:44 PM DEN 07:44 PM
And sleep at home.
Repeat at least 4 more times



Denver Promo

Last edited by jason8612; Oct 17, 2006 at 2:22 pm
jason8612 is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 2:13 pm
  #14  
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in PALMYRA, PA, USA
Posts: 58,512
This may be the one place on the planet where you'll find plenty of people who find your desire/plan not only sane but perfectly reasonable.

One suggestion, though: if it's not illegal on your cheapie fares book your DEN-Europe flights via LAX and SFO!!!
kokonutz is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2006, 2:22 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 568
Originally Posted by hrada2020
Here's a challange.....
Can you anyone come up with a better way to get to 1K from Denver during the double eqm promotion?
This could be some fun answers.
HR
If better means cheaper, I think you'll come out ahead (and with fewer trips) via the scenic route to Singapore. But there's a six day minimum stay.

Edited to add that the "scenic route" could be DEN-SEA-LAX-SFO-NRT-SIN, which appears to be valid.

About 10,905 EQMs each way (10,735 actual miles without the 500 mile minimum on LAXSFO...max permitted actual miles is 10,876.)

Probably <$1000 per 20K EQMs (and per 40K EQMs with the doubling.)

Last edited by vdb seeker; Oct 17, 2006 at 2:34 pm Reason: found an even more scenic route
vdb seeker is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.