Greetings, first post. Did a search and didn't see anything that answered this, apologies if I missed something.

Basic q for MR vets, is there a city/region that generally is the best place to MR from LAX/BUR on AA/UA? I know good fares pop up around the world from time to time, but as a rule of thumb is there one place that has the best fares for 1-3 nighters? Domestic or Int, either one.

Still figuring all of this out, thanks for your help.

 

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

In the past, I used to do multi-leg flights in California for realtively low cost one day runs on UA (SNA-LAX-SFO-SMF and back, for example). UA's elimination of some of these routes and the 500 mile minimum credit threw that out the window.

In general, I've found luck on routes with LCC (think, Southwest, JetBlue, etc) compitition; that seems to result in semi-decent fares at times.

 

Your best bet is to use a combination of Farecompare and Airfarewatchdog. Learn ITA and the language and you'll be surprised what all you will be able to find. Keep an eye on the MR forums as fares tend to pop up when you least expect it. I'm doing Hawaii in Jan for less than $300 and did it for $208 this past March. I also have LHR planed for $327 in September. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Also keep an eye out for threads that are several pages long here in the MR forum...that's usually a good indicator that something good is brewing.


Don't forget to come back and contribute what you learn and what you've found.

Welcome to FT,
Halothane

 

For UA, I've done mostly LAX-MHT same day turns, and internationally have done LAX-FRA & LAX-LHR turns (staying for one night). There are some dates out there in October for LAX-MHT $240 a/i. Agree with the other advice about checking out farecompare... it's a great tool!

BUR is much tougher... haven't had a true MR out of there since January (did a BUR-IAD run through SFO for about $238ish).

 

Also, consider LAX - PVD. More mileage than MHT. Several same day turns are available in September and October for example. Tuesday seems to be the day of the week that you will find availability.

 

Thanks everyone for the help & tips; trying to dive into the ITA software and learn as much as possible.

Poring over the threads from the past few months, it feels like I've discovered FT a little late - lots of talk about "the good old days!"

 

There were several UA fares from LA recently that would qualify for MR. CMH was one example.

 

LAX-ORF is a good candidate from time to time !

I did a LAX-SFO-DFW-ORF-DFW-LAX last weekend and even got the hotel for free through BRG ^

About 5500 EQM on AA for 223$ (paid via voucher)

DFW-ORF-DFW-LAX were also upgraded to F.

 

Thanks for the ORF tip; it seems like that Mid-Atlantic region has some good-to-great deals fairly regularly, am I right?

I did find something for December, combining the PVD-GEG and LAX-PVD deals already posted. Booked on two separate tix, here's what I came up with:

Dec 2/3: LAX-(Redeye)IAD-PVD
Dec 3: PVD-IAD-SEA-GEG
Dec 4: GEG-DEN-ORD-PVD
Dec5: PVD-IAD-LAX

Books into L, all on UA or United Express metal
10 Segments
10,795 EQM, 13,493 RDM (as 1P)
$419 total, 3.88 cents/mile

I tried to combine the PVD-GEG with the PHX-PVD, but adding the LAX-PHX legs put it over 5.5 cents/mile. Anyone in PHX should be able to have a field day with it though.

My first crack at it, any and all thoughts appreciated. What did I do right and wrong?