Is there a *A equivalent for AA's YUPP/KUPP runs??

[casanovawa]

I was thinking that *G might be more useful to me than OWE or OWS, so i have been pondering how i might do a trip that would qualify for Aegean's 20,000 mile *G offer without flying to Europe for $1500 or so...

Is there any equivalent on US or UA in the US for mileage runs in first/business that i could credit to Aegean??

 

[serfty]

Sure, I have done a few - a couple of the first few times I visited SJU were on UA & US.

That was back in the days when I chased NZ Airpoints status.

 

[dk4]

...the first two times I visited SJU...

ROFL Those poor Puerto Ricans have probably employed a think tank, to sit around and scratch their heads trying to figure out why so many mad Australians come and visit for a day, or night, and then leave. Long way to come for such a short stay. :shock:

 

[casanovawa]

Scratching their heads and bollocks and various other places...

Well if SJU is the go, is SXM just a bit off the coast and hopefully not that costly to get to, if so might visit both if that was the go... But does UA offer the same good deals as AA and is the booking process relatively the same??? And then just hope Aegean offers a good mileage bonus for UA J class...

Would say NYC to HNL be another option for such a run??

 

[anat0l]

UA J class gives 200% miles to A3, with a minimum of 1000 miles credited.

Keep in mind that your focus here is miles rather than status credits. So unlike typical AA YUPP/KUPP runs, you're not trying to specifically maximise the number of stops (unless that can maximise the amount of mileage you obtain).

Check the mileage run deals on FT and look for UA (or *A) run deals with low cpm. Of course, many of these deals are in Y, so if flying in UA Y is not your ideal, then that could be an issue. However, it could be a cheap proposition (if albeit slower) to get the status you need.

 

[serfty]

Of course, AirNZ Airpoints uses a zonal system for status earning, so business is 400% the earn for discount economy.

 

[Gold Member]

If seeking to credit back to VA, there are plenty of <2$/sc delta runs... In fact there is a Spreadsheet which details just a few of them available via this site.

 

[casanovawa]

So is Aegean the best airline to direct towards... Did Air NZ used to be better but not worth it now???

 

[anat0l]

So is Aegean the best airline to direct towards... Did Air NZ used to be better but not worth it now???

IMO NZ was never worth it unless you flew a lot of NZ.

A3 is the quickest one to run up *G and, from what I hear, the easiest to keep it, too (mainly through fluke and technicality). Probably wouldn't be burning any miles on A3 any time soon, though.

As for which is the best... that does depend mainly on your *A goals and travel patterns (i.e. earn and burn vs. *G status; which class do you normally fly).

 

[serfty]

IMO NZ was never worth it unless you flew a lot of NZ. ...

NZ WAS worth it, if nothing else it was for the confirmed upgrades at the time of booking for longhaul. That was until they 'castrated' the airpoints program.

You did need to earn 2/3 of yon SC's for Gold Elite on NZ though - so there's a bit of chicken egg there in anat0l's statement.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, i tend these days to fly business class long hauls via USDM/Avianca (well i have taken two redemptions in two years, hopefully another one shortly and another next year or maybe two) so i was more just looking for the *G to be able to get into lounges while i fly Y short hauls around Europe and the US... Not really sure of how great A3's earn and burn rates...

I guess another way is to just buy a month long AA pass for $100 in the US as its gets you anytime access at admirals clubs in the US if there are ones at your airport even flying another airline... In Europe, would one of the month long UA or US passes get you into any of the LH or other *A airlines lounges???

Every time i think about chasing status i always have another thought as to why it doesn't quite stack up for me....

 

[serfty]

It would seem for on Oz resident A3 may be most cost effective for earn and retain.

 

[anat0l]

NZ WAS worth it, if nothing else it was for the confirmed upgrades at the time of booking for longhaul. That was until they 'castrated' the airpoints program.

You did need to earn 2/3 of yon SC's on NZ though - so there's a bit of chicken egg there in anat0l's statement.

Exactly - you need to actually fly a lot of NZ to be worth it (even in the old programme).

If it's status you're after and the quickest way possible, A3 is the way to go.

 

[Princess Fiona]

ROFL Those poor Puerto Ricans have probably employed a think tank, to sit around and scratch their heads trying to figure out why so many mad Australians come and visit for a day, or night, and then leave. Long way to come for such a short stay. :shock:

I told my girls it was a quick trip to visit the birthplace of Ricky Martin

 

[anat0l]

I told my girls it was a quick trip to visit the birthplace of Ricky Martin

And they believed you? :mrgreen:

 

[casanovawa]

Is that still a worthwhile reason anyway?!?!

 

[serfty]

Exactly - you need to actually fly a lot of NZ to be worth it (even in the old programme).

If it's status you're after and the quickest way possible, A3 is the way to go.

Actually, I was referring to Gold Elite status.

Unlike GE, standard Airpoints Gold status (*G) there was no minimum travel on NZ requirement until about 18 months ago. 500 or so of the 900 required could be knocked over with a First Class LAS-SJU return for around USD1100. Now you need 450 or the 900 to be on NZ to qualify.

As for Aegean these days, be wary of the booking class. e.g. P class which feature frequently in first and business class segments for many of the KUPP "type" fares on UA does not earn anything with "Miles and Bonus".

Aegean Airlines - Earn Miles


Luckily you can force cabin class on UA.com and a Z class USD579 LAS-SFO-EWR-SJU itinerary earns over 9.1K with 'miles and bonus'.