Would a sane person fly UA MEL-LAX-ORD in whY to get 2 years of *A Gold?

[defurax]

Fellow AFFers,
I need some help! For some reason I decided to do the status match with UA last week and I am now Premier Platinum for 90 days. The reason (I think) I did this is because I miss flying on SQ. Somehow, because I have no status with *A anymore I always stick to OW. The catch or the beauty of this status match is that I only have to get 18,000 EQM in the next 90 days to obtain *A Gold for the remainder of 2013 and all of 2014. I currently need to plan a trip to the US in May and usually booking on QF would be a no brainer, but at the moment I'm considering...maybe..flying UA MEL-LAX-ORD return to get the 18K EQM.

Am I insane? I only flew UA international once on a SIN-HKG flight. I do not remember anything about this flight because it was a 5:30 AM flight and I slept the whole way.
I guess being QF WP and *A Gold at the same time is nice, but do people here with both status try to maintain both status every year?
I always felt that since a lot of *A airlines are selling lounge access passes (UA, US,AC,NZ), it's better to keep OW status to be able to access CX and BA lounges.

I just heard so many horror stories about UA trans-pacific, I would like some feedback from people who understand the concept of collecting higher status with multiple alliances...

note: 97% of my long-haul flying is in whY (with a few upgrades here and there to remain sane)

Cheers

 

[markis10]

Surprised you did not take up Turkish!

 

[defurax]

Surprised you did not take up Turkish!

I didn't know Turkish are/were offering status match. Do they ask you to fly X miles on Turkish flights in a given time frame or on any *A flights?

 

[casanovawa]

Flying UA trans Pac would be one of my last choices frankly...

Would rather fly 20,000 miles on a *A airline in the right booking class and credit it to Aegean to get *G...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

depends... if you had just 1 star alliance mile with USDM you can 'buy up' to star alliance gold for for USD1499 (plus tax). So it depends on whether flying 2x round trips in coach would be worth an outlay of USD3000 (1499 per year) and no flying!

 

[markis10]

I didn't know Turkish are/were offering status match. Do they ask you to fly X miles on Turkish flights in a given time frame or on any *A flights?

Pure match vs challenge and lasts two years:

Turkish Airlines status matching up to Star Alliance Gold - Live From A Lounge

 

[etops1]

Crazy indeed. I did that route in Y with UA three times in my student days.

After listening to one in-arm radio station over and over for 14 hours (it's on a 2 hour loop) you're ready for murder. The planes are 1989 vintage with seats and amenities to match. Food is awful (always take the pasta, if you go). The crew are not as bad as people say though. They're raisins, old but sweet.

But I've found redeeming points to be a cinch with very minimal taxes and have kept UA as my *A program in case I feel the need for more torture.

No one said getting easy status was easy.

 

[kevrosmith]

Flying UA trans Pac would be one of my last choices frankly...

Would rather fly 20,000 miles on a *A airline in the right booking class and credit it to Aegean to get *G...

Agree. Join Agean and then do J on KE to ICN. IIRC, that gives you *A Gold.

 

[defurax]

Agree. Join Agean and then do J on KE to ICN. IIRC, that gives you *A Gold.

KE is a Skyteam member. Do they have a special agreement with Aegean?

 

[kevrosmith]

KE is a Skyteam member. Do they have a special agreement with Aegean?

Hmmm... Perhaps I'm getting them mixed up today. Sorry about that. That's right, I joined Agean with the thought to get SkyTeam top level, and Turkish to get *A Gold.

 

[yohy?!]

do Aegean - 20,000miles = *Gold for 3 years

 

[kamchatsky]

I did UA Y SYD-LAX/SFO-ORD about 10 years ago for work(!) and yes it was tough ride. No IFE, and coughpy food, just radio music. I was totally exhausted by the time I got to ORD. QF is luxury at that time.

 

[defurax]

do Aegean - 20,000miles = *Gold for 3 years

I don't have my computer with me, but can you credit discount economy flights on NZ, AC or UA to Aegean? I guess the beauty of the UA match is that a 1500$ return flight gives you 2 years of *A Gold and that you already have UA FF benefits at the airport.

 

[yohy?!]

I don't have my computer with me, but can you credit discount economy flights on NZ, AC or UA to Aegean? I guess the beauty of the UA match is that a 1500$ return flight gives you 2 years of *A Gold and that you already have UA FF benefits at the airport.

need to check the aegean site for eligible booking classes (TT on NZ doesnt credit anything i think).

the only problem with the UA match is you have to fly UA! if youre not bound by this most other carriers in *A would be preferable I think!

 

[kevrosmith]

Hmmm... Perhaps I'm getting them mixed up today. Sorry about that. That's right, I joined Agean with the thought to get SkyTeam top level, and Turkish to get *A Gold.

Well.. I really got that mixed up didn't I.
Aegean is Star Alliance
Turkish is Star Alliance.
KE is SkyTeam

Anyway.. here's the hints on shortcuts to *A Gold... Shortcut to Star Alliance Gold frequent flyer status - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller