United Credit Card

[PigDogg]

30K Free Miles

Getting this credit card gives you 30K free miles, half of a free roundtrip to Thailand. It's only good if you don't already have a United credit card and probably good for Americans only.

Lots of guys talk about ways to cut costs on Thailand trips. The best bang for the buck is flying for free and with this deal you're halfway there.

[mardhi]

Have you ever tried using miles on United between Tokyo and Bangkok? You have more chance of winning the lottery - seats are almost always totally blocked out. Tokyo to the US is easy but for some reason that one sector is infamous as almost impossible to obtain mileage seats in any class.

Cheers
Mardhi

[dummy_plug]

I've been able to book a few trips to BKK and other destinations in Asia before with no problems, but just checked a few weeks back and again today and the inventory for the next 5 months is virtually zero. I think United made a lot of cutbacks on overall flights as well as award tickets to deal with the rising fuel costs that have crippled them over the last 1-2 years.

Also, Mileage Plus Saver awards are increasing from 60k miles for an USA-SE Asia ticket to 65k miles effective Jan 1, 2009. So if you want to book at the lower rate you need to book soon! That is if you can find a flight hehe...

My opinion on miles is that they are going down in value in a vast spiral, so better to use em as quickly as you earn them before they're not worth much any more.

[PigDogg]

Excellent point Mardhi as the ways I've been redeeming miles no longer exist as the New York to Singapore non-stop on Sing is now all business class and the New York to Bangkok non-stop on Thai is kaput.

Here's the Star Alliance website. Note the Atlantic crossings are not legitimate routing for 60K miles but there are some legitimate Pacific routings that do not appear if you input let's say New York to Bangkok.

Star Alliance

Please also note that you can have a long stopover in another Asian city if you choose. A nice combo is a long stopover in Bangkok on the way to Bali. I've booked this 3 times. And a cash flight to Bali from New York is mucho dinero.

It's a good idea to have many of your options figured out before you speak to the United rep on the phone. Then when she says nothing is available cause they generally check the Narita routing first cause it's all United ask her to please check out New York to Bejing and Beijing to Bangkok on Air China. Or New York to San Francisco to Hing Kong to Bangkok.

Of course, this all works best if your dates are flexible. And be prepared to spend hours on the phone with various reps till you can nail down a great booking such as a Bangkok and Bali trip.

[PigDogg]

(dummy_plug @ Dec. 03 2008,12:24) Also, Mileage Plus Saver awards are increasing from 60k miles for an USA-SE Asia ticket to 65k miles effective Jan 1, 2009. So if you want to book at the lower rate you need to book soon! That is if you can find a flight hehe...

Thanks for the heads up DP!

You can generally book 11 months in advance so if you book today your return home can be no later than approx Dec 4th, 2009.

[mardhi]

You can book as far in advance as the seat controller allows. Forget the rules, the odds are you WONT be getting on the Tokyo to BKK service on UA. Easiest option is to just use Thai or ANA - lots more seats and invariably no more mileage if you use the * alliance grids. Just forget UA on that leg - its extremely rare to get seats.

Cheers
Mardhi

[mardhi]

By the way, UA used to fly a 747 on this route that was always packed solid. Then they went into chapter 11 and switched to a 777 I think with some 100 less economy seats. I think they also played with an Airbus A330 (or maybe that was Northwest???) - either way, the market lost 200 seats a day hence the problem.

[stonefre]

There was a time when airmiles were worth something. Not anymore. I would not go out of my way to accumulate them as their value is constantly dropping.

[BlueBallz]

Its back to a 747 (or as we say at the airline the 400). They switched back at the end of October!! Thank fuck for that because I can always hop on a jumpseat when its full-they have 4 more jumpseat I can use as a stew when I am travelling for pleasure to and form LOS!! When its full I take a jumpseat and fuck off upstairs (unofficially of course) for a nice peaceful ride!!

BTW its now $25 to speak to a PERSON on the phone!! Fucking pirates! If you think they treat you all like shit try being a fucking employee!!

[PigDogg]

   It's just about impossible to book a free FF trip from North America to Bangkok without speaking to a phone rep.
This is especially true if you're really trying to work the system when booking two cities for the price of one.

But I get my monies worth as it takes hours to book the best trip as there are many tradeoffs such as ideal dates vs. travel time.

Some reps are amazingly helpful while others are  just going through the motions.  If you get the latter then just abort the call and try again.

The jump seat, wish I could do that BB.  IMO it's a great seat with no one next to you and lots of legroom.

[BlueBallz]

Well its even better than that Mr Pigg. As I said I fuck off upstaris (where the crews take breaks on really long hauls) and not only are there big comfy seats but also bunks that you can have a lie down and sleep in!! SWEET!! The only problem with this perk is that you ahve to be a trolley dolly fo UAL. That means you get treated like shit at work (I mean by the company not the traveling folks although thats another story) and end up working for 40% less than what you used to and have the incompetent big wigs suck undeserved money from your pockets!!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!!

[PigDogg]

Are there seat belts in the bunks BB?

Sometimes on empty flights I snag 4 seats in a row and lie down but the seat belt is so uncomfortable I don't wear it.

[BlueBallz]

Yes there are and I know what you mean. Dont have a lot of experience in the crew bunks but I remember this one time working back from NRT to SFO, was in the crew bunk taking a nap and we it some rough stuff. Granted the back of an airplane gets it worse but we were rocking and rolling. Had the belt on and good thing I did.....nothing happened but if you were out of your seat you would have fallen down for sure!!!

[El_hefe]

Sometimes on empty flights I snag 4 seats in a row and lie down





Trying to remember the last time I saw 3-4 empty seats in a row.... maybe in the '90's?

[LoveYouLongTime]

I booked my flight using United Milegae Plus Miles 2 weeks ago (before all the B.S. happened at the BKK airport). I am flying from LAX to BKK nonstop on the Thai Airbus 340-600 nonstop. I plan on staying for about a month, but because I am flying on my return flight on United I can change the date without any $ penalty. I am going through Tokyo and if I want to stopover there I can (as long as UA has seats from Tokyo to the States). All this for 60,000 miles, not too bad!