Note: Sorry this is one day late. I hate some issues with finding a wi-fi connection in Algecias, Spain last night. I am currently sitting in a train station in Tangier, Morocco waiting for my overnight train to Marrakech.
A new year and a new decade is upon us and it is fitting that I lay out my travel goals for 2010 on this first day of the year.
DESTINATION GOALS
- Tokyo, Japan
- Shanghai and Beijing, PRC
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Dublin, Ireland
- Dubai, UAE
- Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada (probably via car from PHL unless UA brings back the 15K US/Canada awards)
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Nadi, Fiji
- Bermuda
If the POTUS and Congress decide to lift the silly travel ban to Cuba, Havana will move to the top of my list.
FREQUENT FLYER GOALS
My work schedule left me with frequent opportunities to travel last year and I do not anticipate the same opportunities this year. Therefore, I am going to conservatively estimate that I will only bank 125,000 EQMs this year on UA. This is partly because I want to burn some miles (including miles from my AA, BD, and DL accounts) and partly because I hope to spend my summer working in Germany (which would give me a great opportunity to take weekend trips, but not cheap UA transcons).
If UA reintroduces the ONT-TPA (or similar) deal, I will likely also use two of those trips to re-qualify for British Midland Gold status. Even though Red Carpet Clubs leave much to be desired, I have become accustomed to having access to all Star Alliance lounges before my flights and like 1K status—once you have it, it is hard to give it up (so hard I have not even contemplated it!).
BLOG GOALS
Shortly, I will be introducing a new name for my blog rather than simply “Matthew’s Blog.” I hope that doing so will increase my audience and increase the number of visitors to upgrd.com. I plan to continue to update the blog daily and attempt to make the content more helpful and interesting to my readers.
Happy New Year! Once again, it’s time to fly.
Matthew, I’m curious about your suggestion that you would drive to Nova Scotia unless you were able to get a 15K award, essentially implying that avoiding the 15+ hour drive (per google maps) from PHL to YHZ isn’t worth the extra 10K miles that a normal North America award would cost. I would gladly pay 10K miles to avoid a 5h drive, let alone 15h!
Great job on the blog so far, Matthew. Have really been enjoying it and looks like our travel goals are quite similar for next year, although you’re a bit more ambitious. Look forward to reading more of your excellent content in 2010, and curious to see what the new name is.
@CP@YOW: You make a good point, but I would take care a business matter in Burlington, VT and visit Montreal if I drove. For 15K miles, I would just make BTV/YUL a separate trip by car. I figure 25K for a ~$400 ticket does not come close in value to using my miles for international First Class trips.
@Lucky: Thanks for your comments. Coming from you, they mean a lot to me.
One thing to consider (particularly since you are also looking for non-UA *G) is AC Aeroplan. Unlike UA, it allows stopovers on its North American awards (if 100% AC metal) and also has permanent 15K North American short-haul awards (again, if 100% AC metal). So PHL-YUL(stopover)-YHZ(dest)-PHL is theoretically possible for 15K Aeroplan miles. The catch in this case is that to stay 100% on AC metal, you have to route it PHL-YYZ-YUL-YHZ-YYZ-PHL and the YYZ connections kick the award up to 25K miles. However, if you replace PHL with LGA or EWR it should work at 15K because there are AC non-stops to YUL. But then there’s Aeroplan’s surcharges, which are outrageous by U.S. airline standards (like $100 higher). Anyway, just a creative thought…
@CP@YOW: Thanks for your suggestion. I was AC Super Elite in 2007 and was disappointed with the mileage program, the high taxes on awards, and the inability to use any of my SSWUs/SWUs. Considering I can usually get 10K UA miles (or a $250 voucher) for a broken light, seat, or video system, I really should just focus everything on UA. If they offer RCC access as a 125K choice award again, I will likely skip BD. And there is always Asiana’s easy Star Gold program…