Triangle Trip

Most United Premier members from 2008 who didn’t qualified for 2009 Premier levels probably received an email from United asking for the following:

• $350 to be a Premier Associate (a sellout scheme created by United)
• If you fly 7,000 actual miles within 90 days, UAL will promote you to Premier
• If you fly 15,000 actual miles within 90 days, UAL will promote you to Premier Exec

As a frequent flyer, I believe you can achieve status if you just go about your business. Paying for status is not a best practice. If you read enough of our posts, you will see tons of ways to get status quick and tips to improve your travel experience.

I have the following gripes with UAL’s most recent pitch to pimp out status:

1. Premier Associate is purely a desparation to get more money from passengers. $350 for 90 days is not a good deal. I believe you can get a Premier Associate membership for $400 that can last a calendar year.
2. The latest pitch to extract $350 from 2008 Premier members devalues the Premier status. It is a kick in the face to the 2009 Premier members who have truly earned their status by flying on UAL in 2008. Essentially what UAL is saying is:  15,000 miles + $350 in present terms = flying 50,000 in 2008 which could have been worth $10,000 as you were on the plane at least 25 times at around $400 a ticket.
3. United also tries to sell you seats in the Premier zone when you check-in which is a “sell out” move. Now they are trying to make you pay for “bonus” miles when you check-in to speed up your qualification.

I have over 700,000 actual flight miles on UAL. The recent tactics  implemented by UAL not only devalues everyone’s status, it also makes me ashamed to be affiliated with them.

What’s next for UAL?  … charging me for the floatation cushion on a 1970s aircraft?

A follow up to my post highlighting issues with public transportation from JFK to NYC, here are step by step instructions to get you to the City from JFK for $7 instead of paying the $45 flat fee + tips on a dirty taxi with a rude taxi driver.

Just follow these instructions and you won’t be lost or intimidated with the process.

If you’re going to Uptown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Sutphin Boulevard. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Sutphin Blvd which is after the Federal Circle stop. Sutphin is also the last stop before the train goes back to JFK.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit. Right before the turnstiles, you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7. There are options to deposit more money in the Metrocard which can be used on NYC buses as well. The $7 card will pay for the $5 Airtrain and leave you $2 for the E train which you will take to get to Uptown/Midtown Manhattan.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall and make a left. You’ll see a sign that reads LIRR and Subway (E, J, Z trains).
4. Walk pass the LIRR boarding area/tracks until you see an elevator at the end of the hall. Take that elevator to level B – the basement.
5. Get out of the elevator and the NYC subway entrance is to your left. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the E train towards Manhattan.
6. Lexington Avenue/53rd Street is the first stop in Manhattan for the E train. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
7. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

If you’re going to Downtown Manhattan:

1. From any JFK airline terminal, get on the Airtrain that takes you to Howard Beach. The train will not make any announcements so you’ll need to pay attention. Get off the Airtrain at Howard Beach which is two stops after the Federal Circle.
2. After you get off the train, walk towards the exit where you will see a row of Metrocard vending machines. Go to the Metrocard machines and buy a Airtrain + Subway card which costs you $7 — $5 pays for the Airtrain and the remaining $2 will pay for the A train.
3. Insert your $7 Metrocard into the gate which will open – remember to take your card with you. Walk straight towards the end of the hall take the elevator or escalator down to the Subway station. You’ll see signs that reads “To A Train.”
4. After you have reached the ground floor, you will see NYC subway entrance. Insert your Metrocard which should still have $2 in value and take the A train towards Brooklyn/Manhattan.
5. Broadway-Nassau Street is the first stop in Lower Manhattan for the A train. It is near Wall Street and NYC City Hall. You can find your way around the City from there. Here’s a link to the MTA map.
6. Keep in mind that you can transfer to any train within the MTA system as long as you do not exit the subway station.

Hope you find these instructions helpful. Have a great time in NYC!

If you’re flying in the US, always check-in online as soon as you can.

Here are the reasons why:

1. For Southwest, you can get a better seat and avoid boarding towards the end of the plane.
2. For most carriers, you can pick an Exit row seat which is reserved for same day check-in if you don’t have status.
3. As I have recently experienced on (ghetto) Delta, they actually give up your seat if you do not check-in 31 minutes before the actual flight. Delta is actually treating their Medallion Gold members this way, image when you do not have status.

Most airlines also have mobile sites that allows you to check-in via your phone. However most do not work too well. I actually tried to check-in via ghetto Delta’s online site and it failed me. The recent experience will definitely prompt a letter to management,