US Airways 2011 Grand Slam Promotion - 20 vs 24 vs 28 hits

Not sure if this should be under how many hits or should be a new thread so moderator , decide what is best.

I have completed my 20 hits and I am thinking about going further on for 4 to 8 more hits. I am wondering if I should pay about $80 more for 4 car rentals with Hertz to complete 24 hits for 10k miles more.

Furthermore, from 24 hits to 28 hits I could add 2 more Hertz rental for total of $40, netflix subscription and wine accessory from Vinesse for an extra 15k miles on top of all this.

Is it worth it to spend another $190 or so for another 25k miles for total of 60k for Grand Slam?

it depends on how you use the miles. i aim for all 36 hits, but i think it is expensive to spend 190 for 25K miles.

i have many valuable ways to use the miles, but i have too many miles as i havent redeemed any miles i earned from last year GS.

With 20 hits, I would have roughly a total of 145 k miles ( I bought 60k with the 100% bonus miles for about $865 ). I plan to use part of it for my Vietnam and Cambodia trip on Biz or 1st class in Dec 2012. I could use the rest for another trip to Asia or Europe for a later time

In my opinion, you got to be very careful about hoarding US miles that you have not real plans of using in the next year or so. The miles could devalue dramatically, or US could go belly up.

In my opinion, you got to be very careful about hoarding US miles that you have not real plans of using in the next year or so. The miles could devalue dramatically, or US could go belly up.

If US Airways actually hikes up redemption rates (gulp), how much warning would there be -- months, weeks, no notice? Any guesses? My whole goal in accruing miles is to save them for years from now. Maybe that's risky.

Not sure if this should be under how many hits or should be a new thread so moderator , decide what is best.

I have completed my 20 hits and I am thinking about going further on for 4 to 8 more hits. I am wondering if I should pay about $80 more for 4 car rentals with Hertz to complete 24 hits for 10k miles more.

Furthermore, from 24 hits to 28 hits I could add 2 more Hertz rental for total of $40, netflix subscription and wine accessory from Vinesse for an extra 15k miles on top of all this.

Is it worth it to spend another $190 or so for another 25k miles for total of 60k for Grand Slam?

Shouldn't that be $190 for ~27100 miles?
Netflix = 1500
Hertz = 100/rental with double mile code.
Plus the misc points from Vinesse. :D

Is it worth it to spend another $190 or so for another 25k miles for total of 60k for Grand Slam?

That is exactly where I am right now. My USA points were wiped out, so I basically started with scratch. but their home airport is PHX and that's my home airport BUT, I still have almost a million miles that I am trying to use up in other programs: especially BA before Nov 15th. Wondering if I should pay the fees associated with getting to that level, or just be happy with my 20 hit bonus of 35,000 plus al the points that came along with that and then just leave it at that. Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Is it worth it to spend another $190 or so for another 25k miles for total of 60k for Grand Slam?

That's a no-brainer in my book. Anytime you can buy miles for less than 1 cent/mile, you buy them. (Assuming you will use them!) In this case, you're paying just .76 cents/mile! I'd buy at least 100,000 miles right now at that price if I could. Probably more.

Here's another way to look at what you're asking. You can book a domestic flight on US for those 25K miles (20K is you use the DM MC...), and you're going to pay just $190!

That's a no-brainer in my book. Anytime you can buy miles for less than 1 cent/mile, you buy them. (Assuming you will use them!) In this case, you're paying just .76 cents/mile! I'd buy at least 100,000 miles right now at that price if I could. Probably more.

Here's another way to look at what you're asking. You can book a domestic flight on US for those 25K miles (20K is you use the DM MC...), and you're going to pay just $190!

Agreed--IF you have immediate or mid-term plans for the miles. I'd first ask myself what I'm trying to do in traveling with US over the next twelve months and then get the miles you need. I want 100K miles (I don't have status so 40 hits do nothing for me), but I'm single. Plus, I have certain travel plans during the GS that make earning some of these hits relatively easy as I'd be doing some of the travel, hotels, rental cars, pickups at airports, anyway. I'm just going to direct some of that towards US's GS partners until this promo ends.

I think the approach Mommy Points has taken, which is get 25K for yourself and then accumulate 25K for others in your household, see here (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/mommypoints/2011/10/06/grand-slam-update-day-23/), now appears to be the most sensible scenario if you're accumulating points for more than one person or going for points for domestic travel only. $80 per person for a domestic roundtrip would sound good to me if I had a family of four, but I'm aiming for a trip to Italy during the winter and a trip to Hawaii--so max accumulation does make sense for a single like me.

I still think it's most important to define your travel goals clearly and then try to figure it out from there.

I'll stop at 20 or 24 hits myself, wouldn't pay real cash to hoard miles which may devalue soon, unless you happen to be on a trip which need hotel/rental cars, etc. Or you have a plan for travel soon whicn can use the US miles.

Chase/Citi/AMEX is fighting for credit card market share after the debit card legislation. Looking at how they give out miles this/last yea, this is not sustainable and miles must devalue somehow. Just like AirCanada, BA, everyone will follow suit sooner or later.

DM is especially vulnerable, doing this GS and 100% buy miles bonus, giving out miles like crazy. One easy way they can do is to block some Star alliance booking.

I want to pay real cash for US miles may be max at 0.7c/mile. For UA/CO miles, I think they are much more valuable and I can get them for higher price.

International trips in business class or first class are FUN. If you can swing time for some trips go for the miles and travel in style.

A *A business class RT ticket to asia is 120k miles. If you can accumulate miles at half a cent per mile its only 600 bucks for a $5000 ticket.

That is COOL.

International trips in business class or first class are FUN. If you can swing time for some trips go for the miles and travel in style.

A *A business class RT ticket to asia is 120k miles. If you can accumulate miles at half a cent per mile its only 600 bucks for a $5000 ticket.

That is COOL.

Hell yes. See my signature for some amazing photos! ^

I want to pay real cash for US miles may be max at 0.7c/mile. For UA/CO miles, I think they are much more valuable and I can get them for higher price.

Please explain. How are UA miles more valuable? UA has Starnet blocking and redemption levels no better than US's.

Do it - I think it's worth it even in Y. Asia for 60k is so much better than dropping 1200 for a crappy ticket. Asia in C for 90k is that much better, and F for 120k is a tremendous value. I'm going to use my miles to take my gf and I to China from Europe in C with some stopovers and such, and it's costing me less than I would've paid for Y tix - not including the cost of the stopovers. Crazy values out there if you're into it.

I just signed up for netflix and am impressed - easily worth the 8$ a month.

I absolutely would, but only because I have a goal in mind and want to use these miles for a trip in Summer 2012 (which means that once I have enough miles to book, I'm booking flights). I've spent $501 and accumulated 120K after starting from scratch -- that's a first class ticket to North Asia! Granted, 40K of that was opening the US DM MC and 20K I bought, but I wouldn't have done so without the GS

Especially after US raised the prices for buying miles to 3.726 cpm (after tax), or 1.863 cpm if 100% bonuses continue, I think earning US miles at sub 1cpm is great and something the GS allows. Right now I'm earning at sub 0.5cpm, but wouldn't mind it if it took me up to 0.7cpm to reach 36 hits.

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Gosh, what am i thinking. I paid $868 to buy a total of 60k U.S. Airways miles not too long ago......And according to my rough calculation, for 28 hits, I would have way over 60k miles with a cost of approx. $450.

No brainer here.

Good thread to start. Lots of us can get to 20/24/28 hits with minimum $ spend, then to get to next 4, we need to spend $ on car rentals, hotels, or larger expenses (i.e. $40 or so). So I'm thinking is 20K miles worth up to $150 in expenses? I think so, I just don't like spending it with no plans on using the miles within the next year. A devalue could occur and if it does, we'd probably have limited notice, although I think we would have some notice to use them. I don't think US Airways is going anywhere anytime soon..

A devalue could occur and if it does, we'd probably have limited notice, although I think we would have some notice to use them...

Anyone have guesses as to the potential notice time before devaluation, theoretically? Months, weeks, days, minutes, nada? Asked earlier but no takers.

Anyone have guesses as to the potential notice time before devaluation, theoretically? Months, weeks, days, minutes, nada? Asked earlier but no takers.
For the last major revamp, US gave about 8 weeks' notice. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-airways-dividend-miles/1015431-us-revamps-award-charts-master-combined-discussion-thread.html

What happens in airline bankruptcies, from past experience? If US Air were to go belly up/taken over by another airline, what happens to the miles? That is my biggest concern with hoarding miles.

I just cleaned out a bunch of posts, for now they're deleted. I can bring them back and put them elsewhere, but they certainly don't belong in this US Grand Slam subforum.

If you want to compare *A programs, the place for that is the Star Alliance Forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-alliance-413/

If you want to compare across different alliances (such as US/UA/AA/DL), the MilesBuzz forum would probably be the best place for that--
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz-370/


If a post of yours was removed and you'd like it put somewhere, send me a PM and we can discuss the best place.

Thanks.


aztimm

I found the best analysis of how much I should be willing to pay for each tier of points at "The Man of a Thousand Places Blog". He spells out how much each tiers hits are actually worth.
http://www.theman1000.com/2011/10/20/mbhv/

I found the best analysis of how much I should be willing to pay for each tier of points at "The Man of a Thousand Places Blog". He spells out how much each tiers hits are actually worth.
http://www.theman1000.com/2011/10/20/mbhv/


I read it. I don't really understand it fully. Added all calculations again and it comes out to $321 for 28 hits. Is this good?

I didn't count the 60k miles I bought because I needed it for purchasing a ticket in the future. I counted $1 for dining even though I spent $30 because i needed the bonus miles for lst time dining rewards member

Please explain. How are UA miles more valuable? UA has Starnet blocking and redemption levels no better than US's.I think recent reports are that Starnet blocking is a thing of the past, but regardless, even with challenges booking LH F on Trans-Atlantic flights with US miles, the fact that many awards are cheaper on US than UA/CO means at worst their worth the same, I don't see how one can justify saying they're worth less.

For me, the 5k discount on US metal tickets along with the off-peak awards I've used twice (for two tickets each time) in the past two years gives US a very quantifiable edge. UA/CO does have the advantage of allowing one-way awards, but honestly, I've never had much need for one-way awards redeeming on legacy carriers (WN is another story ...).

What happens in airline bankruptcies, from past experience? If US Air were to go belly up/taken over by another airline, what happens to the miles? That is my biggest concern with hoarding miles.I don't think US is near bankruptcy, but even if they were, they're so large at this point one of the other legacy carriers would likely buy their key assets, including their frequent flyer program, and I doubt the miles would be wiped out.

I'm still sitting on over 400k in miles from the 2009 Holiday Promotion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12873007-post12.html) and still spending money to add to my pile with this year's GS.

I found the best analysis of how much I should be willing to pay for each tier of points at "The Man of a Thousand Places Blog". He spells out how much each tiers hits are actually worth.
http://www.theman1000.com/2011/10/20/mbhv/

I don't see anything worthwhile from that analysis ... or maybe it's because I'm at $220 marginal spend for 28 hits (not including buying miles which I would've done anyway).

I have 4 more car rentals possible, which would be $100 for 20,000 miles, easily worth it. The last 4 would be a stretch, depending on if I have any hotel stays or if e-Rewards gives me some surveys!

This is a cheap way to buy miles, no matter how many hits you target, as long as you are not doing something dumb, like booking a $400 hotel to get a hit if that is not your lifestyle anyway.

As for me, I have explored the joys of Econolodge/Rodeway Inns thanks to this GS. I have discovered products that I never though existed - like trackitback, and wine thermometers, and the yummy biscoff stuff.

If I assign some value to the time I spend on this, reading threads, follow up (office max/ biscoff!!), then this is a major loss. But I love this as a chase, and the thrill of the chase is everything.

I am off on a quick weekend trip today just for GS - 2 lovely choice hotels and 3 car rentals (thanks to Hertz shutting down the Manhattan 1hr rentals on me).

Another thing I discovered is that once you figure out the intricacies, it is wise to do multiple accounts - so 4 in my family are doing GS. The target is 36 hits for me, 16 for all the 4 others. So looking at a total of 200,000 miles for $800.

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I was looking to do the Hertz hits as well, how were you able to get rentals for $20 each?

I was looking to do the Hertz hits as well, how were you able to get rentals for $20 each?

Check the car rentals thread for details, but it generally boils down to finding a cheap location to begin with and renting on weekends (which can begin on Thursday at 12pm).

I know of a location offering $17 all-in rentals and I'm aware of others that may be even cheaper.

For whatever reason, Hertz has proven to be a very popular option for this year's GS promo - probably a combination of relatively low costs, reliable posting, and a relatively low hassle factor (some locations don't even require you to take the car out, and you may have a use for it anyway).

Check the car rentals thread for details, but it generally boils down to finding a cheap location to begin with and renting on weekends (which can begin on Thursday at 12pm).

I know of a location offering $17 all-in rentals and I'm aware of others that may be even cheaper.

For whatever reason, Hertz has proven to be a very popular option for this year's GS promo - probably a combination of relatively low costs, reliable posting, and a relatively low hassle factor (some locations don't even require you to take the car out, and you may have a use for it anyway).
and also the fact that non-airport locations give miles, which is not true of Budget or Avis.

Another thing I discovered is that once you figure out the intricacies, it is wise to do multiple accounts - so 4 in my family are doing GS. The target is 36 hits for me, 16 for all the 4 others. So looking at a total of 200,000 miles for $800.

Last year, I spent an average of $ 500 to earn an average of 130,000 miles per family member. That is a first class ticket or a business class ticket to Europe or Asia on a Star Alliance member metal. The value to me is the ability to fly FC on Singapore Airlines, Asiana, etc.

Last year, I spent an average of $ 500 to earn an average of 130,000 miles per family member. That is a first class ticket or a business class ticket to Europe or Asia on a Star Alliance member metal. The value to me is the ability to fly FC on Singapore Airlines, Asiana, etc.

I thought FC on SQ was blocked from US awards.

I thought FC on SQ was blocked from US awards.

FC isn't blocked per se, but awards on 77W, 345, and 388 aircraft are blocked in premium cabins for US (and 90% of other * carriers).

So you'd have to find FC on a 747 or 772/773, which is becoming increasingly difficult.

I decided to go for 36, so I'm "staying" :D at the Rodeway in Tempe, AZ tonight, and I'm renting cars from Thrifty @ PHX tomorrow and Sunday.