You Can Still Get the 50,000 Mile United Offer

Earlier this month, the 50,000 mile bonus offer on the United Explorer Card publicly ended.

The Cheapest Awards within One Region

If you THINK BIG, and take an amazing multi-destination trip, you'll need to book several tickets to hop between destinations.

In the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, flights are fairly cheap because of the many competing airlines, including low cost carriers. In other regions, like Africa and South America, short flights can be exorbitantly expensive as a lack of competition drives up prices.

When ticket prices are expensive, that's the time to use miles. I've already laid out the cheapest intra-region bargain awards with American Airlines and United miles.

Award Space Home from the Great Wall

I had a blast spending 70 hours in Beijing with my brother this week using the 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit rule.

on a section of the "wild" Great Wall near Jiankou

The rule requires you to enter China from one country and leave China to a third country within 72 hours among other requirements.

Since the time you can spend in Beijing under the rule is so limited, I would not fly directly from the United States to China, starting the clock when you'll be severely jet lagged.

More United Options to Brazil, Azul Adds Flights to USA

United partner Azul, a Brazilian low cost carrier, is adding flies to the United States in December 2014.

December 1, 2014: Viracopos-Campinas (VCP) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
December 15, 2014: Viracopos-Campinas (VCP) to Orlando (MCO)

Note that Viracopos-Campinas is often called a Sao Paulo airport. It is about 50 miles from the city center and farther away than Sao Paulo's other international airport (GRU.)

These new American destinations are in addition to the 100+ destinations served in Brazil.

You can book Azul flight with United miles.

Six Under-Priced Awards on the United Airlines Chart

As promised in yesterday’s post on the Five Under-Priced Awards on the American Airlines Chart, today I'll post six under-priced awards on the United chart.

The basic premise of these posts and my post on the Coolest Thing You Can Do with 60,000 Miles was connecting far-flung regions into a single trip by taking advantage of under-priced awards between the regions.

Why American and United awards?

How to Get Your Own Row in United Economy

A few days ago I flew from Honolulu to Guam in United economy and got myself five seats in a row, so I could sleep during the flight.

Even at 6'4", I only needed four consecutive seats for sleep. I raised the arm rests, collected a few pillows and blankets, and had some great sleep for a few hours after take off.

Review: United In Flight Entertainment on Your Own Device

Yesterday, I flew a United 777-200 equipped with the carrier's latest entertainment concept: I could freely stream hundreds of movies and TV shows on my own laptop or United's iOS app.

Reminder: You Can Still Book United Awards at Pre-Devaluation Prices

You can still pay United's award prices from January 2014 and before for premium cabin awards.

The catch is that you need to be changing an existing award that you booked February 2, 2014 or earlier.

Uber and United Team Up, Up to 1,000 Bonus United Miles

Uber is my favorite way to get around. I no longer call or flag down taxis. And on a recent trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles, I didn't rent a car, using Uber to get around instead.

Uber is the world’s best taxi service because it has clean, courteous drivers and the easiest ride-ordering app imaginable. Tap, tap, tap, and a car whose progress you can track towards you is on its way.

Now Uber and United have teamed up, with United putting an Uber button directly in the United app.

Anatomy of an Award: Three Cities in Asia on Two Awards

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Anatomy of an Award posts highlight real awards I’ve booked to show you the techniques needed to book your dream trip.

I recently booked my brother a pair of awards that will allow us to visit Hong Kong, Beijing, and Seoul together.