ユナイテッド航空のマイレージプラス、100% ボーナスマイルのキャンペーン中です。
いつものように、 Buy Miles へ行くと、11月3日からキャンペーン実施中です。
今回のオファーは、11 月 20 日（CST: 中部標準時間、日本時間より15時間遅れ）まで。
詳細は… 残念ながらご紹介できません。
なぜなら儂は今年、上限いっぱいまでマイルを購入してしまったので、売店へ入れないのぢゃ！
アクセラレータでも目一杯購入したので、オファーがめっちゃショボくなってしまったのぢゃ！(笑)
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買ったマイルはすべてトルコちゃんへ貢いでしまって、手持ちは… たった３千マイル!?
でもあと５回イスタンブールへ出かけるだけ予約入れたので、気分はめっちゃハッピー♪
シップチェンジもかまされ、エアバス A350-900 に搭乗できる可能性まで出てきました♪♪
今心配なのは…アメリカが某所大虐殺を黙認してるので、トルコのビザが停止されること。
３月まではビザを購入してあるので、８月以降のビザも発給される事を願うばかりです…。
（間隔が開いてるのは、パスポートの書き換えを予定しているから）
またオーマイさんに助けてもらって、原宿のトルコ大使館まで出かけるのは避けたい限り。
買ったことないのですが今回のボーナス中85,500マイルを1700ドルで買えるとしても太平洋往復に必要最低の7万マイル分がZipairだと$700で購入できるのに何故マイルを購入する人がいるのでしょうか？
ReplyDeletem e m o さん、
Deleteひとえに『ストラテジの違い』と申せましょう。
700ドル払って掃きだめの鶴（しかも2番絞り）に乗り、先任チーフパーサーから教育部長になったＦ野に学んだSSやASに遭遇するよりも、3,000ドル以上払ってでも全日空のF/Cに乗って大谷さんに教えを受けたCAさん達のお世話になる方を、私は迷うことなく選びます。それでも予約クラスDとかZで発券するチケット代の半額以下で済むはずです。
個人的には最近の特典発券はトルコちゃんに集中していて、あとはユナイテッド航空で年間2セグメント飛べばMP Questカードの特典で10,000マイル返してくれるので、ちょびっとだけUAも旅程に加えています。
確かに価値観の違いですね。コロナ中に無くした１Kが今年やっとプラチナムまで戻り、でも１Kは遠いな～思いつついろいろ模索してたところです。でも年内にあと一万ドルも使わないとなれないので諦めます。
Deleteそういえばヤル系はこの数十年乗ってなにのでそろそろジップってみます。
In your message, you humorously express that you've already reached the annual limit for purchasing miles, and as a result, further acquisitions, even through the Accelerator, have become less attractive for you personally.
ReplyDeleteYou mention having spent all the miles you bought on Turkish Airlines, leaving you with only 3,000 miles. I've always admired your management of United's "virtual" miles, as you consistently make effective use of the miles you accumulate.
You also mention having made five additional reservations to Istanbul, which clearly shows your fondness for the city. You're happy about the possibility of flying on the Airbus A350-900 due to a change in aircraft, and I share your excitement as I'm looking forward to flying first class on the same model with JAL from Itami to Naha next month, using shareholder discount tickets. Indeed, it's thrilling to fly on new aircraft.
Your current concern is the possibility of Turkey's visa being suspended due to the U.S.'s apparent indifference to Israel's actions in Gaza, which suggests a Turkey's leaning towards supporting Gaza. I remember your efforts to avoid the hassle of going to the Turkish embassy in Harajuku by seeking help from Ohmy-san.
As for myself, I don't usually purchase miles from United's Mileage Plus program. However, I do buy points from Bonvoy and IHG during promotional periods. Given the current weak yen, purchasing points in USD doesn't seem very profitable.
For instance, I recently bought 10,000 Bonvoy points, receiving a bonus of 4,000 points for a total of 14,000, which cost $125.00, amounting to ¥19,311. Similarly, I bought 11,000 IHG points during a double bonus campaign, resulting in 22,000 points at a cost of $126.50, which was about ¥19,348. Since Bonvoy rarely offers a double points campaign, I am considering focusing my point purchases on IHG.
Dear Yamada-Denki Sensei,
Delete(I’m grad here’s a ‘real’ MD showing up. In Turkish Hamamı here, staffs are being mis-recognized me as a medical doctor since I helped three customers under low blood sugar symptoms so far. As a result, I found which soft drink has the highest glucose level. (lol) After I treated one guy by gifting him a ‘sugar water,’ hamam staffs stated calling me “Doc.” I feel I were an eccentric scientist who modified fancy DeLorean to a Time Machine…)
My MileagePlus reward points account is now recovering over 30,000 miles, but that’s still nothing. I’ll be able to purchase miles from next calendar year, so I’m being anticipated about it.
IHG points purchases are also max-capped… so I’m waiting for the next 100% bonus point opportunities in 2024, Usually IHG offers bonus point sales quite often, probably the closest and highest chance would be on Valentine’s Day. Usually we can purchase 1 IHG point at 0.5 dollar at the best.
Well… I miss Marriott/SPG somehow… currently I’m fixed at Voyvoy Gold by UA1K, so I don’t hesitate staying at Marriott hotels, but IHG is treating me very well. This time I’ve got upgraded to a suite room, having fun using two shower rooms. …and melons are nice and ripe as always in Türkiye. Love it.
It's a bit embarrassing to be called a 'real doctor', but there's no doubt I'm a holder of a medical license that's only valid in Japan. That means I'm practically unlicensed in Turkey, especially in that hamam. You, frequenting there, must know much more about the physical characteristics of the staff and guests than I do (lol).
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you've helped three guests with low blood sugar symptoms so far is remarkable. It's no wonder the hamam staff mistook you for a doctor, and you should continue with your medical practices. Like us, you've gained various experiences and knowledge through actual clinical practice, such as identifying the soft drink with the highest glucose level. If treating a man with 'sugar water' actually worked, it's understandable why the hamam staff started calling you 'Doc.' You don't need to feel like an eccentric scientist who modified a fancy DeLorean into a Time Machine...
It's interesting that IHG points purchases have a max cap... I've never bought up to the cap myself, usually just about 30,000 points at a time, including bonuses. So, like you, I'm waiting for the next 100% bonus point opportunity in 2024. The closest and highest chance might be on Valentine's Day, you say? I'll be sure to check my IHG emails so I don't miss it.
I also somewhat miss Marriott/SPG... I have fond memories of competing with you to achieve 20 nights a year on ‘that’ forum. You're currently fixed at Bonvoy Gold through UA1K, and I'm in a similar situation with Centurion automatic inclusion. I sometimes stay at Marriott hotels, but IHG treats me very well too. It's always nice when they recognize me as 'Platinum Ambassador - Yamada Denki' during check-in or when making a reservation call. Unfortunately, IHG in Japan rarely upgrades me to a suite room. The biggest difference between you and me is that you have become a VIP at specific hotels, which must be the secret to the special treatment for you.
Yamada-Denki sensei,
DeleteHelping those low blood sugar customers were easy to take care of. I had a similar situation when I visited Qua-Haus, a kind of super public bath in Heiwajima. One of our friend got sick, he said. I confirmed he skipped breakfast, conjunctivas went pale… so I gifted him Sprite and told him to drink it all and wait 5 minutes. If the symptoms remained. I was preaching to call ambulance.
After all, every time the sick guy who skipped breakfast recovered and completely healthy. I am fun watching this situation but always consider to call ambulance for sure.
I instructed hamam staffs how to identify and help. Check he had a good amount of meals before come to the bath, then check the inside of eyelids, but no positive progresses in 5 minutes, call ambulance immediately. (lol)
This year’s max cap was 150,000 points by IHG. However the trick is; if you purchase those points during the bonus promotion period, you can buy double, if you’re lucky.
And do you buy Ambassador status by IHG or MR points? I recommend you to pay by cash. It’s only $200 and you’ll receive 25,000 IHG points as a thank you gift. ;)
Whenever I encounter someone who has become unwell, not limited to low blood sugar, I feel a dichotomy in my heart between 'myself as a doctor' and 'just a passerby'. Previously, I'm embarrassed to say, the latter was more dominant. Now, perhaps due to my longer career as a doctor, I tend to act more as the former.
ReplyDeleteThe other day, while on the Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line, a grandmother fell in front of me, hitting her head, and the train made an emergency stop at the station. For a moment, I was about to ignore it, but my body and mouth moved on their own... Declaring 'I'm an internist', I briefly examined her, found no abnormalities, and as the station staff arrived, I told them, 'She should be fine. However, if any changes occur, she must visit a hospital,' and then I got off the train.
It was an unexpected incident. I was a bit embarrassed as the passengers in the train car quietly watched my examination.
What surprised me a bit was the reaction of the surrounding passengers. During the emergency stop at Marutamachi Station, I noticed everyone was unusually silent, intently watching my examination. I could hear passengers whispering to each other, 'That person's a doctor,' and 'Oh, now that you mention it, maybe.' I have no idea whether I look like a doctor or not, so their reaction was unexpected.
I vividly recall the scene when I approached the fallen grandmother, saying, 'I'm an internist.' As I made my way through the narrow gaps between passengers, I was struck by a strange sensation that everyone was watching me. Of course, it was just an illusion. There was no way any passenger knew who I was. But even though I knew that, I felt like I had already stepped into an inescapable situation. Looking around, the people filling the surroundings up to the distant dimness of the car seemed to jump into my view.
Declaring 'I am a doctor' felt like being a defendant who had just been declared guilty. It may be overthinking, but it was a valuable experience in many ways. At that moment, another thought struck my mind. A person who could be a judge for me, a colleague in the same profession.
I started to question myself again if my examination was appropriate. Did my colleague smile properly when I tried to reassure the grandmother? How would they have judged the moment I handed her over to the station staff?
Later, back at the hotel, I took a deep breath. This is medicine, the meaning of being a doctor.
Wow, the maximum points I could purchase with IHG this year was 150,000, wasn't it? Moreover, during the bonus promotion period, if I purchase those points, they can double (the meaning of 'if you're lucky' is a bit unclear though).
ReplyDeleteI don't purchase IHG Ambassador status with MR points. I use the regular AmEx payment method. However, I'm not sure if I received 25,000 IHG points as a thank you gift for only $200 at that time. I'll need to check it the next time I make a purchase.