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Should I Pay My Flight With Miles
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27521		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Gringo Malo [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Should I Pay My Flight With Miles
Just checked and I can do round trip to San Jose from Chicago Ohare for under $300. That said; I have enough miles on Delta and on American for a freebie. Should I pay with miles or save them for when fares go up?
Author:  Cujo's [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
I say save it. 3 hundo isn't bad from there...


Cujo
Author:  Orange [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
No, you should pay for the ticket if it's under $300. You should use miles when the fares are high.
Author:  Rascal [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Gringo, I live in Wisconsin about 90 minutes north of O'Hare. I'd buy the ticket and use the miles when the fares are higher. Those long layovers suck..but...still worth it to me. Have fun!
Author:  Livincr [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
when you have 65,000 miles you can go to Thailand
Author:  El Viejo [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
I agree with Orange. I pay cash when airfares are cheap and save the miles when the fares go up. But, never let a few bucks keep you from a few Pfucks. :lol:
Author:  Icantstayaway [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
That depends on what you think you may run out of in the future, miles or $$$.

I have gotten very expensive tickets b4 for very little miles so I say , save the miles unless you have a gillion stored up and may never run out.
Author:  JP99 [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
I am heading to SJ on the 16th with a freebie from AA. It sucks. 3 flights from Austin, Tx. to get there and 4 flights covering 18 hours to get back. I probably could have gotten a flight on Continental for maybe $500 with 1 stop. Too late now but I'd rather pay and save my miles than be given the crappy options that AA gives their customers.
Author:  El Ciego [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Beware of expiring miles! :!:
Your miles (depending on which carrier) may have an expiration date. If you don't use the miles before they expire, they're gone.

I will be using miles for my LD weekend trip this year. :D
Author:  Icantstayaway [ Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Beware of expiring miles! :!:
El Ciego wrote:
Your miles (depending on which carrier) may have an expiration date. If you don't use the miles before they expire, they're gone.

I will be using miles for my LD weekend trip this year. :D


Great Point.
Different airlines and different credit cards have different rules. It is very important to keep informed and up to date to keep your miles valid. You can scan the post on CRT and get most of the 411.
I have Delta miles and I have to buy or use miles every year or two so I put it on my calendar every 6 months to go online and buy $10 dollars worth.
Author:  El Viejo [ Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:57 am ]
Post subject: 
Using a credit card that gives airline miles is a good way to keep your account active and your miles from expiring.
Author:  Mucho Gusto [ Fri Mar 06, 2009 10:36 am ]
Post subject: 
El Viejo wrote:
Using a credit card that gives airline miles is a good way to keep your account active and your miles from expiring.

We have a winner !!!!!!!!! :o :wink:
Author:  Orange [ Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Citibank has an AA card that charges no annual fee. It's the Bronze level card, although you only get 1 mile for every $2 spent versus the cards with annual fees that give you 1 for 1.
Author:  Senordos [ Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Srilm wrote:
Quote:
My rule of thumb is that 1000 miles are worth $10. So if a ticket to somewhere is $300, then I would not use more than 30,000 miles for it


So you value your miles at a penny, miles were generally valued not too long ago at 2 cents a mile. Personally they are worth about 1.5 cents to me. In any case it depends on how you or somebody else uses them.

No matter how you value your miles don’t forget to factor in your opportunity costs. This is even more important if you’ve achieved elite status within your program (or plan to). For example if a gold (or platinum elite) Continental OnePass member gets an award ticket from the Great Lakes area to San Jose they will be required to redeem 35,000 miles. But they will also be out the over 5,000 elite qualifying miles they would have earned if they had purchased the tickets. Now add their 100% elite bonus (another 5,000), and any other promotional or credit card bonuses. You’ll also pass on space available free upgrades to first class (and companion upgrades for Plats).

So even if Srilm does not value first class upgrades, has zero elite status and does not seek it, he should still factor in the foregone 5,000 miles (or whatever the actual miles are from his home airport). So his calculation would be 35,000 (cost of award) plus 5,000 (forgone miles) multiplied by a penny a mile, for a total of $400.

An elite flyer that values their miles at 1.5 cents would calculate 35,000 (cost of award) plus 5,000 (forgone miles) + 5,000 (bonus) multiplied by 1.5 for a total of $675. At this point it would also be fair to factor in how they personally value an upgrade to first class and add that to the cost. Finally they should review their overall frequent flyer strategy, they may need the miles to be elite qualifying to make their status goal for the year.
Author:  Mucho Gusto [ Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
GringoMalo,
IMO, like someone else said - just save your miles for more expensive tickets to other destinations. R/T tickets for less than $300 is a decent price. I think you're better off paying that price, and saving your miles. Just my dos colones....
MG :wink:
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