MilesBuzz! - 15,000 award or low fare + double miles?

Which would you do? This is for STL - BOS or STL - PVD. Prefered airlines are AA,TW, DL, or WN. We travel about once a month for leisure only so there will be many other trips.

A. Use 15,000 miles to fly for free. Have lots of other miles left over.

B. Get a fairly low fare (about $200), pay with a bump voucher, and get double miles.

C. Not really a consideration, but could use a WN Rapid Rewards award ticket.

What are the pros and cons? Can I still get the online booking bonus if I pay with a voucher? Any other options? Thanks.

B.

At least on Delta, if you have a voucher, I don't believe you can book on line, hence no on line booking bonus. (Do remember to call in and sign up for the double miles promo, though, otherwise you won't get that, either!)

[This message has been edited by flyerwife (edited 10-04-2001).]

With AA, you can go all the way until purchase and then call the tech support desk at 1-800-222-2377 and tell them you want to pay with a voucher - they will then hold your ticket for 24 hours. You will get the on-line booking bonus, and most of the taxes will be waived by using the voucher - even if the voucher is less than the total fare. Now that they have eliminated City Ticket Offices, you would have to go to an airport to do this, and the risk is that they won't know how to do this properly. Make a photocopy of your voucher before giving it to them. I, personally would buy a ticket to get the double miles - especially if on AA you are aiming for lifetime gold.

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DtG

bevcc- where are you on elite qualification on your selected a/l's? that could be a consideration.

I agree with clacko. If you have lots of miles, then the only reason to be buying tickets right now is to qualify/requalify for elite status. The 15,000 mileage awards are far too good to pass up. Save your vouchers (if you already are at the status you want) for next year to rebuild elite status again.

ff