What's a US-based member to do with 52,000 expiring miles???
Jun 17, 2012, 2:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 141
What's a US-based member to do with 52,000 expiring miles???
As a US-based Skywards member, what am I to do with 52,000 expiring miles?
It looks like the only flight I can make is IAD/JFK-DKR, but I'm not DC or NYC based and West Africa just isn't calling my name right now. Skywards phone reps encouraged me to buy a bunch of raffle tickets or some chocolate from the EK High Street rip-off shop. BTW, a few years ago I bought an international power plug adapter from the High Street--again due to expiring miles. Shipping cost more than the purchase price and the thing broke after a few uses.
Is there any hope for Skywards to have ANY real value for this US-based flyer? If I book a partner award for the future, will I be able to change the dates? If so, I'd really appreciate a tip on decent value redemptions hiding in the award charts.
It looks like the only flight I can make is IAD/JFK-DKR, but I'm not DC or NYC based and West Africa just isn't calling my name right now. Skywards phone reps encouraged me to buy a bunch of raffle tickets or some chocolate from the EK High Street rip-off shop. BTW, a few years ago I bought an international power plug adapter from the High Street--again due to expiring miles. Shipping cost more than the purchase price and the thing broke after a few uses.
Is there any hope for Skywards to have ANY real value for this US-based flyer? If I book a partner award for the future, will I be able to change the dates? If so, I'd really appreciate a tip on decent value redemptions hiding in the award charts.
Jun 19, 2012, 7:20 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
It would help if you stated where you lived, or which airports you routinely fly out of.
I am confused, however, by you statement:
"It looks like the only flight I can make is IAD/JFK-DKR"
The redemptions for JFK-DKR is 82,500 miles for a one-way award and 90,250 miles for a return saver award. How are you using 52,000 miles to book any JFK-DKR itinerary?
I am confused, however, by you statement:
"It looks like the only flight I can make is IAD/JFK-DKR"
The redemptions for JFK-DKR is 82,500 miles for a one-way award and 90,250 miles for a return saver award. How are you using 52,000 miles to book any JFK-DKR itinerary?
Jun 19, 2012, 12:21 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 141
I'm willing to make a domestic staging flight in the US or Canada, but based on the EK award chart, it won't be possible to use these miles for any award (other than perhaps an upgrade) unless I cross an ocean first. The US-DKR award I mentioned is 40,000 round trip on partner South African. Perhaps that's my only option?
Jun 19, 2012, 5:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
I'm willing to make a domestic staging flight in the US or Canada, but based on the EK award chart, it won't be possible to use these miles for any award (other than perhaps an upgrade) unless I cross an ocean first. The US-DKR award I mentioned is 40,000 round trip on partner South African. Perhaps that's my only option?
Your most bang for your mile-buck is to use your miles for upgrades, and with purchasing miles you can upgrade a USA-DXB leg from Y to J or J to F.
When do your miles expire? With Alaska Airlines redemptions coming online by the end of the year, and perhaps Jet Blue as well, you could have more options there.