553 Miles For $11

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Do I book a flight where I will earn 553 miles for $11 or do I save myself 1 1/2 hours?

I’ve been going over the pro’s and con’s for the past 11 days and can’t decide, perhaps you’d like to share your thoughts?

Here’s the situation:  I need to book a one way ticket from San Diego to San Francisco on November 13 so I can begin the Star MegaDo 4.

Option 1:

I can book a flight on American Airlines from San Diego connecting in Los Angeles and then onto San Francisco.

Cost: $98

Seat: Coach*.  * As an Executive Platinum (EXP) status I get free first class upgrades if seats are available.

Miles to be earned: 1000*.  *Flyers with elite status on American earn a minimum of 500 miles for each segment.  Flyers without elite status would earn 446 miles (109 for San Diego to Los Angeles and 337 for Los Angeles to San Francisco).

Cost per mile (cpm): $0.09

Flying Time: 3 hours

Option 2:

I can book a flight on United Airlines from San Diego nonstop to San Francisco.

Cost: $87

Seat: Coach

Miles to be earned: 447.

Cost per mile (cpm): $0.19

Flying Time: 1 1/2 hours

I have no status with United so no chance of free upgrades nor minimum miles.

So what do you think? Go for the lower cost per mile, earn more miles, and possible free upgrades?  Or pay less for the ticket, earn less miles, but save or earn 1 1/2 hours of time?  What would you do?

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