You could consider getting a ticket to SIN or HKG and then using miles for xxx-BKK-xxx. I think SIN might be cheaper in miles (south asia zone) vs HKG (north asia zone?).

Finally found time to call UA!! Booked Dec/Jan ticket at an ungodly price. But... the good news is, the fare is an upgradeable one... hope it comes through!! (I doubt there is a chance on the return, but maybe going over I'll move "up" as there are some seats available still)

DS is also booked. His dates were much more flexible than mine, so his ticket price was a little more than HALF what I had to pay (choke choke).

Just glad it's DONE!!!

BTW, the price I paid was about $600 LESS than what the fare was showing on the UA site. I find that hard to believe... it pays to CALL them!!

Thanks, everyone, for pushing me to make the call.

Carol

Well congrats I think,lol. Keep checking prices religiously and if it does go down, get a refund quickly. With what you paid you shouldn't have to pay a penalty for changing tickets. Have fun!

Aloha!

I don't think there is any chance it will go down in price, ht. There were only 2 tickets left at the price I paid! The UA agent made some comment about "everyone going to Asia like crazy" and I had to agree. The agent had been there, so we had a nice discussion about BKK. Like I said, I'm just glad it's done!

Now that I'm booked, I feel like I can ask if anyone else will be there at that time!

Carol

Carol, I am glad you were able to get your tickets! You may have read my saga about our flights home from Bangkok - which ended very well for us.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ea-nonstop.cfm

It pays to call United!

Kathie
Yes, I did read about your little ordeal with United. I'm glad it all worked out for you in the end.

It does pay to call UA.

I know but the flu season is starting and you know what that means......

(ht, did you mean to post that comment on the BKK street food thread???)

What fare codes are your flights? W outbound? and M or H on return?

Looks like it's all M code, both ways.

That's good, then you can upgrade with miles outbound instead of getting an early deposit of SWUs. I suppose you are waitlisted for the return upgrade with miles.

After your SWUs are deposited you might be able to get UA to use a SWU instead of the miles for the upgrade, if the ug hasn't cleared yet (or even if it has). That is, you might be able to upgrade with a SWU to save the miles.

But sounds like you are going to be booking enough W fares in 2010 to use all your SWUs. In that case, upgrade the M with the miles to save the SWU for the W fares next year.

I would bet that both upgrades clear.

I hope you are right about both upgrades clearing.

Depending on how long it takes to get the DEQMs deposited in my acct from Hawaii, Manchester, October BKK, and the trip OVER to BKK in December, I will have 1k BIS miles earned by the time I return Jan 4, and probably before I go over to BKK in Dec. I like your idea of using an SWU, if necessary, on Jan 4. Miles have been taken out already. But, that said, I had booked my Hawaii upgrade using miles, but opted for 1000 mi electronic certifs instead, and did it when checking in at HNL for the return trip. So I do know that you can change "payment" for upgrades at the last minute.

Thanks, Bill.

Carol

OK, I was curious. I just did a quick check of my BIS EQMs and I'll be 1K upon my return from BKK October trip. Then I'll have a Nov trip to Europe on a Star Alliance airline (no Dbl EQM) and my Dec flight to BKK. That's without ever earning any of the double EQM promotion miles.

poor united, you are cheating them out of all their revenue...

Bob
With all your flights all over the world this year, you should be in pretty good stead with Northwest, right? Isn't that you most frequently used airline?

Oh, wait, I think you were trying various airlines, maybe? I recall Singapore for BKK...

Anyway, sure hope you've been earning miles for all your BIS EQMs!!!

Carol

Have you figured out how many SWUs you will earn after all the BIS and bonus EQMs are posted?

I guess I don't know how to figure that out! How is that number determined? I'm new to this 1K thing... I've been enjoying premier exec for a few years but never thought I'd reach the next level. It's all a great new discovery! lol

carol, welcome, you are now a 1k heavy.

"heavy..." ?? Thanks, Ken. I guess that's because these are all BIS miles, not miles earned by Dbl EQMs...

Are you 1K? I assume so.