PNW Mileage Runs: Still Time for UA SEA/PDX-BOS at 3.3 CPM

October 10, 2012 By 5 Comments

Yesterday The Flight Deal shared some great fares to Boston from Seattle and Portland and to Baltimore from Seattle. I was preoccupied with a mileage run of my own, but it seems these deals are still around. Here’s a routing to BOS for about 3.3 CPM.

ITA itinerary screenshot

Be careful, though. I was tempted by this outbound routing SEA-DEN-BWI since it would let me be in and out the same day. Notice that outbound is a “direct flight” with the same number for SEA-DEN and DEN-BWI. United now awards miles for direct flights based on the assumption it’s actually nonstop, so that connection gets you no extra miles; it would be as if you flew SEA-BWI. The CPM wasn’t as good to begin with (though still under 4), and now it’s worse.

ITA itinerary screenshot

There are still a few other routings, but not as good. For example, I don’t really want to risk a mad dash through Houston for the last flight back home, only to arrive after midnight if I make it and be stuck in Houston if I don’t. For now, I think I’ll stick with the BOS run.

ITA itinerary screenshot

Filed Under: Mileage Runs Tagged With: , ,
About Scott Mackenzie

Scott founded HMT while traveling on a budget during graduate school and stays loyal to United, Alaska, Hyatt, and Starwood.
Email // Twitter // Facebook // Google+ // Subscribe by RSS

  • frugalmartini

    Just FYI-I’m still finding SEA-FLL on UA for $203 ai. Plenty of dates in Dec and a few in Nov, with more into 2013 at this point. Just about the biggest distance one can fly x country…even moreso if you can multiply those segments for max miles!
    http://matrix.itasoftware.com/view/flights?session=66e7e4eb-cacf-46a0-89c2-e9985d46e726

    • Scottrick

      True, Florida is a great place for MRs from Seattle. However, I find the best routings often go through EWR. Sometimes IAD, but usually EWR. And I hate EWR because of the delays. Too much potential to foul everything up. Routing to New England via IAH is so much safer.

  • Nerd Traveler

    Any MRs from IAH on UA?

    • Scottrick

      Starting in the middle of the country makes domestic runs tough, especially since UA likes to limit you to one connection. International runs are probably going to be your goal, but the benefit is that Asia and Europe are each a few thousand miles farther away ;)

  • Pingback: PNW Mileage Runs: Still Time for UA SEA/PDX-BOS at 3.3 CPM - Street Smart Traveler (beta)