I’m up to nearly 200,000 EQMs this year on United and have some domestic trips in paid First Class coming up next month. With more than enough miles to qualify for elite status for 2010, I am having trouble deciding whether to credit my miles to United or to re-qualify for Gold status on British Midland.
•Arguments in favor of crediting to UA include:
-Lifetime flights miles (even before watching the latest Up in the Air trailer I have always wanted million-mile status on UA)
-Double redeemable miles
-If I credit to UA, I will surpass 200K EQMs for the year, meaning two more SWUs.
•Arguments in favor of crediting to BD include:
-Earning miles in a mileage program that does not use StarNet blocking
-Domestic lounge access (since non UA and US Star Gold card holders can access any Star Gold lounge on any flight)
-Lufthansa benefits? LH owns BD and we are still waiting to see what they will do with BD’s Diamond Club (mileage program).
To throw a wrench into this, UA is offering free Red Carpet Club access to holders of their new Visa credit card, which they are giving away free to those who earn more than 125,000 EQMs this year. But, if I don’t choose the credit card as my 125,000 EQM gift, I can choose two systemwide upgrades instead.
I think this is a difficult choice. Any thoughts?
Two SWUs are far more valuable than a crappy Red Carpet club membership. With that choice out of the way, I would go with BMI and hope that LH doesn’t make any big changes in the next 12 months.
@Mike: I already will have 10 SWUs for next year (6+2 for surpassing 150K EQMs + 2 carryover [fingers crossed]) and I love having RCC access during my MRs. Crackers, cheese, veggies, and crisps make a decent lunch when I am not upgraded.
But, I am leaning toward BD. Sadly, I’m not sure UA will be around in 5-6 years when I potentially would make MM status.
You should quantify the cost/benefit comparison. The key is the UA 100% RDM bonus versus BD’s 25%.
You need 38K miles for BD*G. This means you are losing 28,500 bonus miles you would have received on UA. So, if UA offered you domestic RCC access for 28,500 miles, would you buy it?
The second issue is Starnet blocking. Again, factoring in the difference in bonus miles, you should imagine a situation where UA raises award requirements (e.g. from 125K miles to 200K miles) BUT eliminates all Starnet blocking. Is that a fair trade-off?
(I’m not implying that there is a right answer to either of these; it’s all personal choice).
Your third point is a slower road to MM status. I don’t know how old you are, but you looked relatively youthful in the video podcast; I think you have a lot of flying ahead of you and would reach that milestone anyway. It would be different if you were in your 50s or 60s, getting ready to retire.
@CP@YOW: Thanks for your analysis. Good points.
One thing I forgot when I initially posted is this:
-If I credit to UA, I will surpass 200K EQMs for the year, meaning two more SWUs.
Does this change anyone’s recommendation?
Two questions:
1) How many BD status miles do you currently have?
2) When does your “membership year” end?
@FT Lurker: I currently have 0 BD EQMs (though I would surpass the 38K in three trips in A class). I must re-qualify by Dec 22.
I don’t know what the positioning costs are from PHL to TPA, but you can requalify for BD Gold with just two creatively routed TPA-ONT Q-ups. ~1100 a/i without positioning flights.
Hi Matthew,
This may or may not help, but for the UA 125K mile “extra” elite choice between 2 SWUs, free Chase VISA with RCC access, and 25K RDMs, I think the Chase RCC card is the best choice b/c that card also comes with 30K RDMs after a $250 purchase. Obv, it will depend on your travel plans for 2010, but for me, with 8 SWUs avail for use in 2010, and my planned intl travel schedule, I’d rather have RCC access and 30K RDMs, plus I don’t feel the need to re-qual for BD Gold.
@David: You make a good point–I will already have 10 SWUs and don’t have any specific plans for them right now.
I need to determine if the RCC Visa Card will give me access to US Clubs and President’s Clubs as well.
I spend a lot of time in PHL now and it is nice to be able to access the RCC, US Clubs, and especially the Envoy Lounge with my BD card.
I just am so sick of StarNet blocking and would like a backup plan when I want to book NZ 1 and 2. BD miles would allow for it.
This choice becomes harder each day!
I think having *G on a decent carrier would be pretty useful myself, but I think I have an overstated impression of their cash+miles feature that you podcasted about so long ago.