United To Increase Mileage Plus Award Costs

[clifford]

There is still value in short haul intra-Africa using the ADD and JNB hubs for routes less than 800 miles, also some Copa and Avianca routes and European routes.

Yes, the new 8,000 rate for short-haul flights is the only positive change for me.

I do quite a lot of short-haul flying in Europe and the Middle East and in many cases this will virtually halve the number of miles required.

Other than that, it goes from bad to worse. I certainly won't be redeeming any MP miles for AU - Asia flights after 1 November.

 

[boomy]

I don't follow Lifemiles so had no idea. I've lost interest in MileagePlus. There's no longer any value in the program for me. I'll spend up what's there before the devaluation and then they'll get the odd car rental from me but I'll be looking to credit 1 day car rentals elsewhere but even that's getting harder and harder to do.

I have done the same with Aadvantage.

I see it differently. Assuming Hertz continue their promo and based on $20 extra pay for midsize, it will take less than 8 extra rentals and cost $150 more (total $450) for one way J award to SE Asia. That's not too bad.

 

[JohnK]

I see it differently. Assuming Hertz continue their promo and based on $20 extra pay for midsize, it will take less than 8 extra rentals and cost $150 more (total $450) for one way J award to SE Asia. That's not too bad.

It's not bad because you hire cars regularly and a business deduction?

I hire maybe 30 days a year and that was enough for a business return to Thailand for ~$30-$40 per day rental which was good value. Now it will take closer to 2 years so if not buying miles I'll have enough for 2 returns to Thailand in just over 3 years. Not bad but not something I would go out of the earn.

 

[boomy]

It's not bad because you hire cars regularly and a business deduction?

I hire maybe 30 days a year and that was enough for a business return to Thailand for ~$30-$40 per day rental which was good value. Now it will take closer to 2 years so if not buying miles I'll have enough for 2 returns to Thailand in just over 3 years. Not bad but not something I would go out of the earn.

Assuming you need to hire cars anyway it doesn't matter how long it takes but how much extra it cost.
The changes mean that you need to rent 15 times more and pay ~$300 extra for that J return ticket.
While not amazing as it used to be it's still good offer.

 

[nightelves]

Hi so what is this Hertz program that you talk about?

 

[zainman]

Are there any awards that are decreasing in price as part of these changes?

 

[JohnK]

Hi so what is this Hertz program that you talk about?

Book Hertz rentals from United website ensuring that you use CDP as instructed. Normal earn is 500 United miles and the past couple of years there have been 1,500 miles bonus with each rental for a total of 2,000 United miles and after 15 rentals you have enough for a one-way award in business to Asia. If you have United status you earn extra miles.

A couple of things to note is you need to book Intermediate car or higher and United is increasing the costs of some awards including awards to SE Asia.

 

[JohnK]

Called Thai Airways today regarding infant fares. They do actually sell infant fares. It's 20% of the published fare..

One way business SYD/BNE-BKK infant fare is ~$500. Return business and infant fare is ~$750.

I am now going to book some United awards on TG for myself with some convoluted routings and then book a return for my wife and then call TG and purchase infant fare.

Luckily I don't have to deal with United and their ridiculous infant pricing.

One issue that I have is there are around 20,000 miles leftover and not sure whether to purchase 10,000 miles now and book another award or wait for the devaluation and use them later.

 

[clifford]

One issue that I have is there are around 20,000 miles leftover and not sure whether to purchase 10,000 miles now and book another award or wait for the devaluation and use them later.

I'd be buying the 10,000 miles and booking before 1/11/17. But what can you do with 20,000 miles that's worthwhile anyway?

 

[JohnK]

I'd be buying the 10,000 miles and booking before 1/11/17. But what can you do with 20,000 miles that's worthwhile anyway?

30,000 miles is one way business but the cost to buy the miles is ridiculous.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

30,000 miles is one way business but the cost to buy the miles is ridiculous.

20k miles I'd just upgrade the two business class tickets to first class. 10k miles is a bargain.

 

[JohnK]

20k miles I'd just upgrade the two business class tickets to first class. 10k miles is a bargain.

I just realised I only have 16,000 miles left as United owe me 6,000 miles but have left it too late to get the retrospective credit before the changes.

I'll book 1 sector in First for wife and daughter and I'll slum it in business. I think wife will love the surprise especially on TG.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just realised I only have 16,000 miles left as United owe me 6,000 miles but have left it too late to get the retrospective credit before the changes.

I'll book 1 sector in First for wife and daughter and I'll slum it in business. I think wife will love the surprise especially on TG.

I think that's a pretty good option!! MrsJohnK can guest you in the the SQ F lounge in syd

 

[JohnK]

I think that's a pretty good option!! MrsJohnK can guest you in the the SQ F lounge in syd

LOL. I didn't think about F lounge.

 

[JohnK]

I've just wasted most of the night trying to book some flights that I believe should be possible but having issues. I was on a Skype call to United the past couple of hours.

Basically what I am trying to book is the following

- SYD-BKK on 04 June
- BKK-HKG on 09 June
- BKK/HKG-SYD on 17 Aug

For some reason United thinks I am having 2 stopovers where as I believe my destination is HKG and I am having a stopover in BKK on the way. Correct?

Just last week I was able to price the following without issue and would have been able to book had I continued

- BNE-HKG 09 June
- HKG-CNX 24 August
- BKK-SYD 06 September

Trying the same itinerary again today and I get an error. Can someone please try a routing with a stopover and advise if you are able to book online. I believe what I am trying to do above is within the excursion/stopover rules?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

JohnK... just created your above itinerary and it works correctly for me... although I was trying dates in August. SYD-BKK TG F 40k, BKK-HKG a week later, TG F 0 miles, HKG-SYD a week later (no stopover in BKK on the way back, just a shirt transit) TG J 30k.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK... just created your above itinerary and it works correctly for me... although I was trying dates in August. SYD-BKK TG F 40k, BKK-HKG a week later, TG F 0 miles, HKG-SYD a week later (no stopover in BKK on the way back, just a shirt transit) TG J 30k.

Thanks. Were you able to create the itinerary with the list of flights and then be able to click on Continue? I can see all the flights but the last click fails.

Is it possible the issue is phantom availability? I may get you to try specific dates.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Your final flight, if from HKG it is a request for a single journey HKG-SYD? (which happens to fly via BKK?) Requesting sector by sector (hkg-BKK and BKK-syd) might trigger the second stopover.

Happy to try specific dates for you.

 

[JohnK]

Please try this routing on these specific dates?

- BNE-HKG 09 June departing near midnight on TG and arriving next morning at 11:20am
- HKG-CNX 07 August selecting the SQ/TG option departing 9:05am arriving 8:00pm
-BKK-SYD 17 August selecting the 7:20pm departure

All in business. I can try some other flights but generally get same error.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Please try this routing on these specific dates?

- BNE-HKG 09 June departing near midnight on TG and arriving next morning at 11:20am
- HKG-CNX 07 August selecting the SQ/TG option departing 9:05am arriving 8:00pm
-BKK-SYD 17 August selecting the 7:20pm departure

All in business. I can try some other flights but generally get same error.

prices correctly for me using TG/TG HKG-CNX, and takes me to the page to enter CC details. Selecting the SQ/TG option sends it in to a bit of a spin.