Journey to Top Elite Status on American and United Airlines UPDATE June 2012

Greetings from Hong Kong! I am currently staying at the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin.  Just flew in on Thai Airways in First Class (8 hours ago) after spending a day in Bangkok and staying the night at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel (plus going shopping and getting massages).

After returning from Hong Kong on May 31st, I not have much traveling this past month as the ticket prices are very high due to the summer vacation season and nothing booked.  It did a few turns on United (DFW-IAH with IAH-DAL turns for 1 week and DFW-IAH with IAH-CRP) that gave me 4,000 Premier Qualifying miles, and 33,000 redeemable miles (8,000 from flying and 25,000 from promotion). 

I did have some fun and relaxation by booking another one week vacation trip using my miles as well with First Class on Lufthansa/Thai Airways from DFW to HKG and then a First Class ticket on Cathay Pacific back from HKG to DFW. I will be spending July 4th in Hong kong!

Here's my travels for this month (it was a slow month!) but I did work 22 days, take off 2 days for mileage running, 3 days off for resting/errands and the last 3 days of the month on vacation.

	United Airlines	American Airlines
January	Premier Qualifying Miles – 7,726 Premier Qualifying Segments – 4  Redeemable Miles – 15,452	Elite Qualifying Miles – 54,942 Elite Qualifying Segments – 11 Redeemable Miles – 46,158
February	Premier Qualifying Miles – 12,924 Premier Qualifying Segments – 8  Redeemable Miles – 27,146	Elite Qualifying Miles – 20,692 Elite Qualifying Segments – 8 Redeemable Miles – 58,952
March	Premier Qualifying Miles – 21,961 Premier Qualifying Segments – 12  Redeemable Miles – 43,922	Elite Qualifying Miles – 11,712 Elite Qualifying Segments –  4 Redeemable Miles – 17,568
April	Premier Qualifying Miles – 16,382 Premier Qualifying Segments –  10 Redeemable Miles – 35,622	None
May	Premier Qualifying Miles – 7,726 Premier Qualifying Segments – 4  Redeemable Miles – 15,452	Elite Qualifying Miles – 13,028 Elite Qualifying Segments – 8 Redeemable Miles – 23,158
June	Premier Qualifying Miles – 4,000 Premier Qualifying Segments – 8  Redeemable Miles – 8,000 + 25,000 promo	None
Totals to Date	Premier Qualifying Miles – 70,719 Premier Qualifying Segments – 46 Redeemable Miles – 170,594	Elite Qualifying Miles – 100,374 Elite Qualifying Segments – 31 Redeemable Miles – 145,836
Remainder Needed	Premier Qualifying Miles – 29,281 Premier Qualifying Segments – 74	Re-Qualification Achieved

HKIA Frequent Visitor Card APPROVED!

Just checked my status and after 40 days of waiting... too bad I can't use it for my trip tomorrow.  The card will take 3 weeks to arrive to the US.  Next time...

Rendezvous Redux

Just a quick up date on my trip next week...


I have finally decided on what I am doing or where I am going and staying:

• I will fly on Lufthansa and Thai Airways on the Outbound
• Lufthansa DFW-FRA-MUC
• I will be transiting Frankfurt and Munich (first time there)
• It would take me 2 days to get to Asia by routing through Europe but I get 2 long haul First Class flights
• Frankfurt FIRST CLASS Lounge
• I will be stopping in Bangkok for one day and night
  
• Thai Airways MUC-BKK-HKG
• Thai Airways FIRST CLASS Lounge & Spa Services
  
• Rubber duckies
•  I will be transiting through Hong Kong again.
• I want to visit Lantau Island
• I want to visit Victoria Peak at night
• I will fly Cathay Pacific First Class on the return (Via LAX) and am the only one in FIRST Class Cabin at the moment
• I plan on visiting Cathay's First Class Lounge The Pier
• I Plan on visiting the QANTAS First Class Lounge at HKG
  
  
• The hotels I have booked and will be staying with:
• Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel for one night (using a promotional Marriott free night certificate) with a current the daily rate is about $185 (including taxes)
• As a Marriott Gold Member, I will have access to the Executive Lounge to enjoy free drinks, Hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and breakfast during this free stay
• Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin for one night with a current the daily rate is about $170 (including taxes)
• As a Hyatt Diamond Member, I will have access to the Regency Club Lounge to enjoy free drinks, Hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and breakfast during this paid stay
• I will also receive a special welcome food and beverage amenity during the stay and receive a nightly room refresh
• Grand Hyatt Hong Kong for 3 nights 
• As a Hyatt Diamond Member, I will have access to the Grand Club Lounge to enjoy free drinks, Hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and breakfast during this paid stay 
• I will also receive a special welcome food and beverage amenity during the stay and receive a nightly room refresh
• I will be using one of my 4 confirmed Suite Upgrade awards to get a Harbor View Room on a Club Floor
• I am using promotional FREETIME rate (Stay 3 nights but pay only for 2 nights)
• Hotels and resorts outside the US, Canada and the Caribbean:
• Receive 1 free night during your stay from June 21- September 8. Minimum length of stay required, varies by property.
• 2 p.m. late checkout
•  My Marriott free night certificate expires September 30 of this year so I wanted to use it before then as it is limited to Category 1 to 4 properties
• I need the Hyatt Stays/Nights  for requalifying Diamond Status and thus the need for staying at 2 different properties (as I am trying to requalify with 25 stays at Hyatt this year as opposed to 50 nights)
• The first night I will be staying at Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin located in New Territories, Hong Kong and is further from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island
• The next three nights I will be staying at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong which located across Victoria Harbor from Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui where I stayed last month during my visit to Hong Kong and is closer to the airport

I will keep you posted and have a trip report as well!