Frequent Flyer Question

docetboy · #1 10-11-2005, 10:08 PM

I used my United MileagePlus Gold Class Visa Signature Card to book airfare on Continental.com for thanksgiving weekend...

Am I going to go to hell now?

Oh yes, I am also crediting my miles towards Northwest WorldPerks, Continental's SkyTeam Partner.

And just so y'all can get another laugh, I'm flying San Antonio-Raleigh via Houston; and Raleigh-San Antonio via Newark....

(and y'all thought this was a serious question.....

)

DeltAlum · #2 10-12-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by docetboy
Am I going to go to hell now?

If you do, you'll have to go through Houston, Cleveland or Newark (or another Continental hub).

To go to Hell on Delta, you have to go through Atlanta.

On United, it's Chicago or Denver (or one of the smaller hubs).

On American, I hope you like Dallas.

Etc. Etc.

Lindz928 · #3 10-12-2005, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
If you do, you'll have to go through Houston, Cleveland or Newark (or another Continental hub).

To go to Hell on Delta, you have to go through Atlanta.

On United, it's Chicago or Denver (or one of the smaller hubs).

On American, I hope you like Dallas.

Etc. Etc.

You will also have to pay more to get to Hell from Austin than you would from Houston or Dallas. In case you were wondering.

docetboy · #4 10-12-2005, 05:04 PM

DeltAlum:

My routing is SAT-IAH-RDU-EWR-SAT...does that last connection make any sense at all...I have to fly north to go southwest!

Lindz:

You actually pay less....hub cities are more expensive, Austin has the competition so it's cheaper...recent example: AUS-SEA (with a IAH connection) was $188, IAH-SEA (same flight, minus the AUS leg) was $488. Plus, AUS gets Jetblue in January...meaning $79 fares each-way to JFK and BOS.....

Lindz928 · #5 10-12-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docetboy

Lindz:

You actually pay less....hub cities are more expensive, Austin has the competition so it's cheaper...recent example: AUS-SEA (with a IAH connection) was $188, IAH-SEA (same flight, minus the AUS leg) was $488. Plus, AUS gets Jetblue in January...meaning $79 fares each-way to JFK and BOS.....

All of the times I have looked at going to major cities (like Vegas or New York) it was going to cost me more to fly out of Austin. Dallas was the cheapest everytime I looked. *Shrug*

docetboy · #6 10-12-2005, 05:15 PM

Let me look for you next time, i'm an expert

BTW, if it makes you feel better, AUS is traditionally cheaper than SAT.....though i've always made the fares close enough it doesn't matter.

#7 10-12-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docetboy
Let me look for you next time, i'm an expert

Hey man, I used to get paid to do that!

As far as redeeming 25K/35K (from Hawaii) miles on United, you wouldn't believe how creative I had to get. Since Saver seats are often very limited and inventory control usually doesn't replenish the supply right away, many of the favorable routes tend to be sold out.

I once had to route a lady from HNL-LAX-PDX-DEN-DRO for her outbound, then for her return she went DRO-DEN-ORD-LAX-HNL...just so she could use her 35K.

Lindz928 · #8 10-12-2005, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docetboy
Let me look for you next time, i'm an expert

BTW, if it makes you feel better, AUS is traditionally cheaper than SAT.....though i've always made the fares close enough it doesn't matter.

Haha, that does make me feel better. Strange thing, the airport here is international, but it seems SO small. I guess I am just used to DFW.

docetboy · #9 10-12-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OTW
Hey man, I used to get paid to do that!

As far as redeeming 25K/35K (from Hawaii) miles on United, you wouldn't believe how creative I had to get. Since Saver seats are often very limited and inventory control usually doesn't replenish the supply right away, many of the favorable routes tend to be sold out.

I once had to route a lady from HNL-LAX-PDX-DEN-DRO for her outbound, then for her return she went DRO-DEN-ORD-LAX-HNL...just so she could use her 35K.

Oh, that's nothing...you should go to www.flyertalk.com and look in the Mileage Run forum...there's guys there that do routings even crazier than that just to maximise the miles!

BTW, it's common knowledge that domestic coach awards are some of the worst value around...while Hawaii is probably the exception, you always get more $/mile if you do International First or Business class tickets.

docetboy · #10 10-12-2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindz928
Haha, that does make me feel better. Strange thing, the airport here is international, but it seems SO small. I guess I am just used to DFW.

International just means that there is a customs agent at the airport...and there's maybe one or two daily flights to Mexico from Austin, hence international.

Dallas is big because it is/was a major hub for two major airlines, AA and Delta. Delta recently moved out leaving an entire terminal empty.

DeltAlum · #11 10-12-2005, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lindz928
Haha, that does make me feel better. Strange thing, the airport here is international, but it seems SO small. I guess I am just used to DFW.

I think one trip to either Canada or Mexico can make an airport "International."

I won't use the international letter designations, so nobody has to look them up, but I was once routed from Paris DeGaulle - Pittsburgh -- Charlotte -- Denver. That was a real long day of flying.

You guessed it -- US Scarelines -- I mean US Air.

docetboy · #12 10-12-2005, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I think one trip to either Canada or Mexico can make an airport "International."

I won't use the international letter designations, so nobody has to look them up, but I was once routed from Paris DeGaulle - Pittsburgh -- Charlotte -- Denver. That was a real long day of flying.

You guessed it -- US Scarelines -- I mean US Air.

You mean the Airline formerly known as US Air, which merged/was bought out by America West Airlines, which took on the name US Air for the new expanded operation :-D

DeltAlum · #13 10-12-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by docetboy
You mean the Airline formerly known as US Air, which merged/was bought out by America West Airlines, which took on the name US Air for the new expanded operation :-D

That's the one. A later permutation of the former Agony (Allegheny) Airlines.

As for OTW's routing, I can understand having to fly thru Denver to get to Durango, but the DEN/ORD/LAX routing is ugly.

Although I've often flown Denver/Columbus (CMH) via Atlanta.

A few years ago, nobody really knew the airport codes -- with the possible exception of JFK and LAX. Now, more and more TV stations are using their local airport designator as part of their call letters.

Cases in point, WCMH, Columbus; WDTN, Dayton -- the ones that come immediately to mind, but I have heard of others.

Tom Earp · #14 10-12-2005, 05:53 PM

Air Lines Suck! Business accum is non esential! Fly My Air Line, it is Old and costs more! DA!

Cheaper to do Hubs, pay more to fly DI instead of Hubs.

Okay, Gas is up so I am going to fly Y0ou waqy the hell out of the way and charge more going direct where You land and take off again!

They want to be in every market but who do is cost? You and Me!

We have already lost TWA, Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff ect.

Why, EGO. Ego there and Ego go there!

SWA had the right idea from the get go. One Plane, interchangeable parts.

Oh, I am going to buy all of these different planes that have different parts. OOPs!

Hell ATA is and has been in trouble and they are somewhat regional.

Airlines are their own worst enemies or inamias(SIC

So, go out of business or until you all figure out how to make it work! Times change and You had better too!

docetboy · #15 10-12-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Air Lines Suck! Business accum is non esential! Fly My Air Line, it is Old and costs more! DA!

Cheaper to do Hubs, pay more to fly DI instead of Hubs.

Okay, Gas is up so I am going to fly Y0ou waqy the hell out of the way and charge more going direct where You land and take off again!

They want to be in every market but who do is cost? You and Me!

We have already lost TWA, Eastern, Pan Am, Braniff ect.

Why, EGO. Ego there and Ego go there!

SWA had the right idea from the get go. One Plane, interchangeable parts.

Oh, I am going to buy all of these different planes that have different parts. OOPs!

Hell ATA is and has been in trouble and they are somewhat regional.

Airlines are their own worst enemies or inamias(SIC

So, go out of business or until you all figure out how to make it work! Times change and You had better too!

So JetBlue is now going to fail because they are introducing a second type of airframe? The Embraer 190 Regional Jet, with the standard Airbus A320?

I'll also remind you that Southwest has also flown for short periods of time other airframes than the 737...i'll post pictures to prove it, too. Of course, this was just when they couldn't get their hands on 737s quick enough for their rapid growth. I'll also remind you that Southwest still flies to very limited destinations, so good luck if you want to get to New York City proper (Islip barely cuts it...), Atlanta, Denver, Hawaii, London, Cancun, Barbados, etc... (not including codeshares)
or for you Dallas residents out there, anywhere further away than Tulsa! :-D