The Unofficial Star Mega Do III Meetin' Place

Looking to do the following flights to/from DO events.
9/5 US 4680 (express) PVD-LGA (dept 6am/arrive 7:20am)
9/11 US 652 DEN-PHX (dept 6am/arrive 6:51am)
9/11 US 271 PHX-IAH (dept 8:55am/arrive 1:46pm)
(DEN-PHX-IAH is $132+ tax)
9/11 US 1828 IAH-PHL (dept 5:45pm/arrive 10pm)
9/11 US3804 PHl-PVD (dept 10:46/arrive 11:47pm)

Let me look into this for me later. Looks good though.

May also do DEN-PHX-SFO-CLT-PVD

If I few to JFK on B6 or DL from BUF how much time should I leave to connect to make the LH flight to FRA, and how difficult will be it to cnx since I doubt they will be able to check them all the way through.

I think B6 will interline baggage with LH. LH is a part owner of B6. If you want to be part of the sendoff party at the LH lounge, you'd want to allow at least an hour before the party. B6 arrives at terminal 5/6, you'll take the Airtran over to terminal 1 and clear security to access the LH lounge.

Please tell me what I took out of context. You said that you planned to bug BD to get mileage credit. I'm saying that is a bad idea and does a disservice to the event.

While Seacarl is correct that B6 and LH have an interline agreement and that LH is a part owner of B6 I would be quite surprised if they could interline the bags on disparate reservations like you would need.

I'd plan to be in JFK no later than 1pm for a 4pm departure. Yes, it is entirely too early but you don't want to miss the flight to FRA.

I have a friend at BMI that I was going to ask about this, and after speaking to her, she determined she's not in a position to advance the idea but would keep it in mind if an opportunity arose. I had several other posts between these forums (even at the "other place") and private conversations that created the context about asking BMI for miles. I KNOW that its a bad idea (even before you suggested as such) to approach an airline asking them for something I don't readily deserve.

I probably will skip a mileage run this time. Will be gone from my family for a week. So looking right now into DEN-CLT-CLE on US or DEN-CLE on UA/CO

I've got den-phx-SFO-ord-grr lined up

What DEN-PHX-SFO flights are you on? US?

after looking at options I decided to not book that route yet (I was about to hit the pay now button when I was posting on MP at the same time, and balked) because the DEN PHX left at 6am. When I kayak'ed DEN-SFO-GRR, it gave me more sane options of UA DEN-SAN-SFO-ORD-GRR that left DEN at 8:30 or a UA option of DEN-LAX-SFO-ORD-GRR that left DEN at 9:50. Y fares are $280-320 depending on which run which to me seem reasonable for a one way ticket like this.

There's an F option for DEN PHX SFO ORD GRR that leaves 8:18 on UA metal to PHX and US Metal to SFO from PHX. Seems like Kayak throws up a different option every time I search. Notice F fares around 1400 which make it compelling considering the 3x multiplier I get with BMI and I'll probably need to sleep off the effects of the DO. Now I dont know what to do. Another piece of me wants to book these miles and the euro leg to united and get Mileage plus premier knocked off with just the DO miles. Decisions Decisions

The flight leaves at 3:40pm, so boarding will likely start around 2:45pm. LH has a great lounge with food, so I would agree, I think you would want to arrive by 1pm if not sooner. The lounge opens at Noon - this is really where the party begins. You could have lunch at the lounge, then dinner on the flight.

Not clear to me why the Andaz event was moved from 8am to 11am - unless the hotel is going to serve lunch. With the later time - it rushes one getting to JFK - leaving the only practical option of a taxi or hired car. Rules out taking the bus from Grand Central or the subway. If the event ended at 12:30pm and you rush out the airport and arrive say 1pm at the earliest - you need to check in and and go through security. That only gives you about 1 hour in the lounge.

I've got to book to YYC and am looking at DEN-LAX-(YVR, maybe)-YYC on AC/UA J sometime on the Sunday; considering taking the 777 that flies in the morning to see UA's new J.

Anyone else headed towards LAX/YVR/YYC? If not, I'm still happy to guest someone into the lounge at DEN.

It sounds like its cutting it close. You're one bad traffic jam/accident on a tunnel, BQE, Belt Pkwy, you name it from missing your flight if you leave Manhattan at 12:30. Seems like it would add stress to the day.

Here's an AirTrain map for those considering taking a train to meet up with AirTrain (you can easily take the J/Z or go to fulton st and grab the A train (insert Duke Ellington Tribute here)) and a couple of connections and you can get there. They claim it can take approx 1 hour.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf/jfk-airtrain-map.pdf

and a more expansive map showing NYC

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf/rail-connections.pdf

WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS DO:
I'm in a conundrum......
The original purpose of the do (outside of the experience itself) was of course to get miles to renew status. With this, comes a tough decision.

Originally I was going to put my LH Z miles into my BMI account to help get *G renewed for next year, and the bet that LH finally absorbs diamond club, and gives me senator status for a year or 2. The odds may or may not be in favor of that happening.

BUT:

After doing the MR math, if I play my cards right with positioning flights, the charter (F seat) and the Z miles from LH, I would scrounge up enough miles to get MP Premier.

On paper it seems to make much more sense for Premier due to upgrades, free E+, etc. The *G with BMI was primarily for their great redemption schedule (75k for a Biz class from US to anywhere in europe)andfor the Lounge access in RCC's and Senator lounges in europe. I know I can buy the RCC membership, and when I travel to europe its usually Z or better so lounge access is automatic (even if not senator lounges).

Is my logic correct? If I had to make a choice in the next 24 hours, I would go for the Premier and let *G expire. besides, mrs. 744 just became a *G (she doesnt like it when I call her *G fools gold, because I'm the one telling her how to do all of this) with BMI so I can use her for lounge access if I dont have an RCC card, and if she becomes a senator due to a program merger with LH, I'll be her proud companion. And I could return the favor if ever an upgrade clears from me at premier level.

AHHHHHHHHH! I don't know....if Mrs. 744 gets the BMI gold and you travel together most of the time I might go with getting the UA status. Just my 2c.

We do normally trek together when we go to europe. I think it would be nice to have shot at domestic upgrades. Usually I get 50-75k in a year, so this yr may be the abbreviated one to get premier, and then focus on PE next year, UA credits eqm's at lower multipliers than BMI Diamond club, but thats the only real downside. LH has attractive earning multipliers, but they dont have a 50k level. Its either Frequent Traveler at 35k or Senator at 100k a year. So the LH senator would wear off anyway in a year or 2 if they merge bmi diamond club. The more I think/write about this, the more likely I'll switch to Premier .

Am I crazy for contemplating this routing home.
6am DEN-PHX-SAN-PHX-IAH-PHL-PVD...it's less expensive than the SFO run I posted above.

Book it, I DARE YOU!

I'm back to DEN-LAX-SFO-ORD-GRR but if I can leave DEN at 6a and go to PHX, the DEN-PHX-LAX-SFO-ORD-GRR

just damn indecisive today.......

then theres always the short cut home:
DEN IAD ORD GRR

DEN-IAD is on 777
IAD-ORD is on 767
$245

Challenge Accepted!!!

Just booked the following positioning flights with Nancy from US for Star Mega Do.

9/5 PVD-LGA
9/11 DEN-PHX-SAN-PHX-IAH-PHL-PVD

Cost to me after applying voucher...$10
At the end of my call to US to book, Nancy said (with a friendly laugh) that I must be doing these flights for status.

Excellent.....Nice job with the voucher use!
I'll get mine booked by this weekend. Of course I could cop out and do the DEN-GRR nonstop, but what fun would that be.