America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - pay $$ or use miles?

OK, I admit it, I am a mileage junkie (like so many others around here).

I currently have just over 700,000 HP miles. I want to go to Cancun with my partner over the Christmas/New Years Holidays. the best fare for my dates of travel seems to be about $750.00/person. Yes, this is "discounted"! I can also get discounted F for about $1,100 per person. Finally, I can cough up 100,000 miles per ticket and go in F. Any recommendations as to what I should do?

I hate to burn 200,000 miles just for cancun. But the thought of spending 750.00 for a coach plane ticket seems like it is a lot of money. Well, it IS a lot of money. Spending the $1,100 on a ticket, well, that is pretty cheap compared to the coach fare, but....

That's an expensive use of 200,000 miles. Consider that the two of you could go to London on BA in Club World for the same miles, with a market value of more than $19,000, more than 12-times the value of your Cancun trip.

If it's paradise you're after, you could have two First Class peak travel tickets to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. (Or, for 40K less, it's two off-peak First Class tickets)

Plus, it's Cancun! In Mexico! Personally, I couldn't bring myself to use 200,000 valuable miles for a first class trip to Mexico. If it were me, if I really wanted to go, I'd pay the coach fare. And then, if I really wanted to sit in First to make it more special, I'd burn 40K miles to confirm an upgrade.

Fundamentally, I guess it depends on how significant the money is to you and how you plan to use your miles. If it's a lot of money for you and you're a mileage junkie without any grand plans for the 700K you have, then use the 200K -- you'll still have a half a million more. You'll no doubt build it back up in no time.

That's a lot of miles for me to give up. You might want to try the dream maps or wait a little bit longer for a sale. Cancun shouldn't be that expensive from Phx.

This is a ridiculous fare. I'd guess that after a month or so, these fares should come down a bit. What days are you flying? Obviously if you're in the peak periods (Dec20-23 and Jan 1-4), you're going to be paying a premium.

If it were me, if I really wanted to go, I'd pay the coach fare. And then, if I really wanted to sit in First to make it more special, I'd burn 40K miles to confirm an upgrade.

I thought that you could only use the 10K/segment upgrade if there was availability in the 'value' F seats, which are 55K each to Mexico. If so, I would then just use the 55K each rather than pay. FYI - a quick check shows the 55K F seats avail outbound Dec 16, 20, 21, 24; and return Dec 31, Jan 5,6,7. So some availability, if you are not picky.

I thought that you could only use the 10K/segment upgrade if there was availability in the 'value' F seats, which are 55K each to Mexico. . .

I don't believe they are related in HP's case. Value seats are often difficult to come by (on some flights none are offered) but I've only not been able to upgrade with miles once and that was because they were holding two seats (out of 12) open for sale. I'm pretty sure the mileage upgrades come from a different bucket than the Value First Class award seats.

When I'm doing this I usually call and inquire as to mileage upgrade availability on the flights I want. Then hang up and book my ticket on-line up to the point of finalizing the purchase and call back to double check. If the agent says they're available, I hit purchase, read off the record locator and have them process the upgrade. The agents have always been willing to wait a few seconds while the purchase finalizes. In fact, if I've given them my FF number, often they can see the reservation on their screen before I see it on mine. I think it is the safest way to do it.