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| Rant: United and FF miles | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 5 2011, 09:45:39 AM (782 Views) | |
| janders1957 | Sep 5 2011, 09:45:39 AM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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Been saving my miles up hoping for a dirt cheap flight one day. At one time, the 44k+ miles I've accumulated by now would have allowed me to make a round trip. Boy, have things changed. Right now I'm looking at around $1800 round trip with no miles, $910 round trip -IF- I had another 14.4k FF miles, or free if I had 80k miles.  Wanted to be there for our third anniversary, but that's looking very doubtful the way work is going right now... I know, it's the economy, and the US dollar rapidly rolling toward the gutter that have a big hand in this. United is offering a credit card that could net me -up to- 40k miles, but the card carries a hefty fee. Would certainly be worth it if I could get the full 40k FF miles, but I'm guessing that's for stellar credit ratings and a high limit. United has always been the cheapest, I'm sorta afraid to see what everyone else is charging... |
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| janders1957 | Sep 5 2011, 10:17:50 AM Post #2 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hmm, looking around, if I accept an LAX stop both ways I can get down to about $1600. But that means flying United to LAX, Qantas to SFO Baggage allowances are generally fairly generous for international flights w/United, but I'm not so sure my savings won't get eaten up by baggage charges for the short hop down to LAX. Anyone have any experience with this issue? |
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| RachaelK | Sep 5 2011, 11:09:05 AM Post #3 |
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True Blue Mate
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If you can manage to get them booked on the same itinerary (using kayak or orbitz or expedia or something of the like instead of booking each fligth separately) then generally the overseas flight allowances are what you get on all flights on the itinerary. Worth calling United to check. I've done it with USAirways before with no problems. |
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| janders1957 | Sep 5 2011, 01:09:14 PM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thanks Rachael, I was thinking after posting, surely they'd have to honor the international baggage rules for the overseas leg. I did see on the United site, if I get a Chase United Milageplus card and use it to buy something, I will get 25k miles, enough to book a round trip for about $900. Going to call on this before I apply to make sure that the purchase clause applies to any purchase, and not purchase of tickets... I've only got weeks to use my FF miles or lose them. |
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| Sutter Creek | Sep 5 2011, 05:26:50 PM Post #5 |
Yacker
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x
Edited by Sutter Creek, Oct 20 2011, 05:52:25 PM.
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| canaussie | Sep 5 2011, 07:41:05 PM Post #6 |
True Blue Mate
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Personally, I wouldn't apply for a credit card JUST to get the frequent flyer miles....go into debt to get points????  What I tend to do with my Air Canada points is to get a flight from Toronto to LAX and then pay for the flight to OZ from LA. Works out cheaper. You can get some good prices with V Australia LA to Sydney.... of course depending on time of year. Could you use your points to get you to LAX and then pay from there? How do you accumulate frequent flyer points with United? Flights only? Earlier this year my husband, daughter and I were at risk of losing all our Air Canada points, we can accumulate them by getting gas. So I had family members using the cards when they filled up. It was a transaction on each card that has given it that extra life for another 3yrs. Edited by canaussie, Sep 5 2011, 07:42:21 PM.
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Paula (dual Canadian/Australian) married to an Aussie since 1999 and mummy to an Aussie since 2000 | |
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| crapola | Sep 5 2011, 09:10:40 PM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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there's always this sale happening for the next couple weeks... http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/australia-new-zealand/us/en?rgn_cam=us:qf:QTS044 |
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| minx | Sep 6 2011, 02:02:43 AM Post #8 |
True Blue Mate
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Hi Janders, you didn't say when you were hoping to travel? A quick check shows me $1293 in November from LAX to Sydney. Where would you be flying from/to? You can extend the life of your miles with any sort of earn - not just flying. Shopping online, dining, etc with any of the Mileage Plus partners. If you like to use miles to buy your tickets, you really should be doing that anyway. The affiliated credit card would be a good idea in that case. 500 miles here and there really can add up  You could also use your miles for a oneway ticket. |
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| janders1957 | Sep 6 2011, 08:39:54 AM Post #9 |
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True Blue Mate
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Well, if I understand the terms correctly, I only have to use the card once and there doesn't appear to be a set dollar purchase to gain the 25k FF miles. Even if I ended up paying the $95 fee after the first year, I still save $800+/-. So I go out and buy a couple pair of pants, or something else I need. Bingo, now my miles don't expire (a benefit of the card) and I gain the miles I need to book my flight for $900 or so, vs $1800+ right now. (basically buying with miles and cash) That works for me. I have all but stopped using credit cards, this would be to benefit me, not the bank. Once I'm there, I'd just cancel the card, as I certainly don't anticipate flying back here often enough to accumulate miles fast enough to offset the annual fee. Oddly enough, I need 55k+ FF miles to get half the flight free using cash and miles. I can fly one way for 40k miles, but a one-way flight back is over $2k. Crazy... I can save $200 flying through LAX, but hate the hassle of swapping flights. Just two more chances for some twit to lose my luggage.... And, these trips have to be planned pretty far in advance, I need to let my customers know I'll be gone for X weeks, and prod them into looking ahead so they don't run out of something while I'm gone. The other reason for buying as far in advance as possible is to get the prime economy seats, the row right behind the kitchen galley. These sell out very quickly. Hmm, just went to check, and they're still available for March 18, but I noticed the price has come down almost $100 since just 2 days ago... Time to start checking every couple days! Heck, prices come down around $1200 or so, and I'll sit on the miles. Add the 25K miles I gain from the card to what I have, plus the March trip, and I just might make the 80k I'll need when I actually move late next year! (unless the b**tards up the miles requirement on me again...) |
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| Sutter Creek | Sep 6 2011, 03:32:04 PM Post #10 |
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Yacker
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x
Edited by Sutter Creek, Oct 20 2011, 05:53:20 PM.
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| janders1957 | Sep 6 2011, 04:44:26 PM Post #11 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thank for the thought, but we're specific on the dates as it puts our 3rd anniversary almost in the middle. I hate to even think about not being together on that special day... I can't afford to be away for 3 weeks, it just puts too big a hole in the budget. And Sunday works great for me. My brother lives near San Francisco. I drive to his place, he takes me to and from the airport, and stores my car for me, saving me several hundred dollars in parking fees. While he has a fair bit of freedom and has picked me up mid-week during the day, I don't like to do that unless I have to. Weekends are easier all around. Jon |
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| Pothole | Sep 6 2011, 05:41:22 PM Post #12 |
True Blue Mate
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Hey Mate, Have a look at this website...... prices are very cheap and I might be reading them all wrong (if so I apologize am sitting in the Qantas club waiting on the plane to go to Sydney) LAX to Sydney Fingers crossed for everything working for you both on this |
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Those Who Lose Dreaming are Lost. Aboriginal Proverb A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour Anon | |
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| janders1957 | Sep 6 2011, 07:10:31 PM Post #13 |
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True Blue Mate
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Thanks Mate, But LAX is a 7 hour drive! And connecting flights from SFO or SAC to LAX run up the bill. Though strangely, a stop over at LAX does lower the bill some. Can't figure that one out... That is an interesting site however, I'll keep an eye on it. Right now, SFO to SYD, it's showing prices running from a bit over $2k to right around $1750 for October. Prices dip in November, but it won't go past the end of the year. I think the best I can hope for, the way things are going, is around $1300-1400. |
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| Sutter Creek | Sep 7 2011, 03:45:38 AM Post #14 |
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Yacker
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x
Edited by Sutter Creek, Oct 20 2011, 05:51:47 PM.
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| josetann | Sep 10 2011, 03:44:07 PM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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I can't be much help, sorry. All I can say is check multiple sites. I like Kayak.com, put in that I'm flexible for 3 days before/after, and it'll show me a week's worth of fares. Then I pick another day and see another week's fares. If nothing else, it shows me some good days to look on other sites. I was going so far as to look for flights from LAX to SYD, then booking another flight to get us from BNA (Nashville) to LAX (or even going Greyhound!). After a couple weeks of research (and the cheapest price I found from LAX to SYD at the end of December was around $650 or so), I stumbled on a price from Orbitz (and nowhere else) that would get us to Melbourne in three steps. BNA to LAX, LAX to Beijing (with a nice 18hr layover...we've never been so we'll make a mini-vacation out of it), and from there to MEL for under $970 each (one-way). Every other day, every other site, it was $1,500 or MORE to book that route direct. Anyways, all I'm saying, is check multiple sites; the aggregators are NOT all the same. Usually they all show the same routes, same fares...but sometimes one will pop up with a different route than the others. |
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| Jumpin John | Sep 10 2011, 10:47:23 PM Post #16 |
Piker
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You did not say exactly where you wanted to go to the US. Qantas now has direct a direct flight to DFW. No LAX. I would also take a look at Cathay Pacific since they fly from Australia to Hong Kong to different parts of the US. Malayasian Airlines are can get you to LAX or JFK depending on the route you would like to take. Nothing against United mind you, but when we have flown back to the states we have used anything but a US carrier. |
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| i<3sydney | Sep 11 2011, 08:34:07 AM Post #17 |
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True Blue Mate
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i'm in the same boat as i've been trying to use united (or alliances) for years to get points in hope of one day getting a free flight. but they keep changing and uping the miles, so it seems it's never going to happen! so frusturating! when it's close to the date when my miles are to expire, i'll actually buy more miles. you can do that to keep you active? i'll probably have to do so in dec myself. |
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| plannerOH | Sep 12 2011, 02:45:16 PM Post #18 |
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Anklebiter
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janders, Regarding baggage, United changes their policy for USA-Aust flights.. as of Aug 2011, you only get ONE free bag (can you believe it??). A second one costs US$70. So if you need to take bags, maybe look at another airline. But I would DEFINITELY recommend applying for the credit card, plus look at united.com to see the other ways you can earn a bundle of miles quickly, especially for financial products. If you have investments, you can xfer funds to a new brokerage and basically have a free ticket. Also, it's worth sticking with a single airline alliance if you're going to try to rack up miles. If you already have miles with united, keep it going. You realize that a r/t flight from the east coast of the US to Oz is 20k miles, halfway to a one-way reward. One more endorsement for the credit card, you shouldn't get yourself into debt-- just use the United card for everyday spending instead of using a debit card. That way you can pay it off every month but still earn 500-$1k-$2k miles every single month just based on your everyday spending (food, mobile, shopping etc). ANOTHER reason for the card is mileage expiry. I am pretty sure I read in the T&C/benefits language that cardmembers' mileage doesn't expire, as long as you have the card. This may be even more valuable for you.. Good luck! Edited by plannerOH, Sep 12 2011, 02:48:22 PM.
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| Cimexus | Sep 13 2011, 04:17:56 AM Post #19 |
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Chinwagger
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I find you can get very cheap flights on Cathay Pacific from the US to Australia from some cities. You have to go via Hong Kong so the flight is longer, but you can save thousands. The other way though (AU -> US) Cathay is rather expensive. Qantas beats em almost always. |
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| janders1957 | Sep 13 2011, 06:58:56 AM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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plannerOH; Ah, didn't know about the change in baggage policy, thanks for the heads up. No investments, so no benefit there. My primary motivation in applying for the card is to get the 25k miles, with the non-expiring miles a very strong secondary benefit. I've decided, IF I can swing it, going to keep the card and just build miles. It's going to tap me severely, moving all my stuff down there. I'd hate for say, my father to pass away and find I can't afford a flight home. So going to try to bank the miles and have a free trip back sitting in my back pocket, at least until we're back ahead of the game there and can buy such a trip out of savings. I don't even like applying for another card, I want to get out of debt. But for sure, I'm NOT looking to run the card up. However, using it for occasional purchases when I have the cash anyway, is a good way to pick up a few miles here and there. I live pretty cheaply, so not going to rack up a lot, but anything helps so long as I can pay off the balance each month. Thanks for the input! Cimexus; Checked Cathay Pacific, $220 more than United. I've yet to see any airline beat United's prices outside of a special sale, and those sales never show up when I have money and time to travel. 
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6:34 PM May 22