Miles or Cashback Programs
#16
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,564
Yes, I was using 2% as my example because that's the best rate you can find on a flat cash back on everything card (and as you say that might not even be an option at the moment with the Schwab card no longer available to new applicants.) Even having the Schwab Visa, I still put every purchase I can make on my SPG Amex instead...as I value a Starpoint at more than $0.02 (as stated above.) I could get one of those cards that offer 5% on groceries or gas, but I don't spend enough on those categories to really make it worth my while.
#17
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
The better assuption is that most people will get 1% cashback so 30k in spending would net $300. In my case I am currently spending $30k on my Chase BA card which will yield approx. 38k BA miles plus a BA companion ticket. I am pretty sure the miles and cert. will be worth more to me than $300 but you never know until you try to redeem.
The general moral is that if you use miles for premium travel (first or business) or five-star hotels you will get good value in terms of the corresponding cash pricing. For anything else, cash rebates may well be better value and will certainly involve less hassle for booking.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 920
The general moral is that if you use miles for premium travel (first or business) or five-star hotels you will get good value in terms of the corresponding cash pricing. For anything else, cash rebates may well be better value and will certainly involve less hassle for booking.
Cash back cards only work if you arent savvy enough or dont want to play the game to travel cheap/free.
#19
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
I tip my hat to the FF program designers, as they continue to benefit from the many participants' lack of understanding of basic economics. This thread, like most valuation discussions, makes almost no mention of factors impacting many users, such as:
1. Time Value of Money-Points I earn now will not be used for 4-5 years. Whatever your view of cash returns down the road, it isn't zero.
2. Availability-Less of a problem with some hotel programs, but if you think this can be avoided by booking ahead, spend some time reading the Delta boards.
3. Program Downgrades-I imagine there is some program that has lower redemption rates than it did 4 or 5 years ago, but none come to mind.
Each of the above factors should cause most users to discount the value of program miles by a big percentage. Yet they are rarely mentioned in these discussions, which I guess is to be expected since this is a site devoted to FF programs. This is not to say cash is always better than miles/points. It is just noting that factors like this apply to many users, yet they're often not taken into account. Just because something is hard to value doesn't mean it has no value.
One other note-the comment that 2% cash back can't be obtained (now that new aps for Schwab are not being accepted) ignores the ways other cards can be used to get various cash rebates for certain purchases.
1. Time Value of Money-Points I earn now will not be used for 4-5 years. Whatever your view of cash returns down the road, it isn't zero.
2. Availability-Less of a problem with some hotel programs, but if you think this can be avoided by booking ahead, spend some time reading the Delta boards.
3. Program Downgrades-I imagine there is some program that has lower redemption rates than it did 4 or 5 years ago, but none come to mind.
Each of the above factors should cause most users to discount the value of program miles by a big percentage. Yet they are rarely mentioned in these discussions, which I guess is to be expected since this is a site devoted to FF programs. This is not to say cash is always better than miles/points. It is just noting that factors like this apply to many users, yet they're often not taken into account. Just because something is hard to value doesn't mean it has no value.
One other note-the comment that 2% cash back can't be obtained (now that new aps for Schwab are not being accepted) ignores the ways other cards can be used to get various cash rebates for certain purchases.
#20
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
That couldnt be further from the actual truth. I stick with Hotel stays only and my points for resort/beach properties than arent 4-5 star but in popular places run 200-300 a night. Using Marriott Hilton and Starwood pts i can easily earn 3-5% return on my dollars to capture a desirable room (OceanView -- Corner room etc etc)
Cash back cards only work if you arent savvy enough or dont want to play the game to travel cheap/free.
Cash back cards only work if you arent savvy enough or dont want to play the game to travel cheap/free.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold + 1MM; HHonors Gold; Marriott Plat
Posts: 747
In the case of a BA flight bought with BA miles, you have to take into account that you will have to pay fuel surcharges and that can be quite expensive. Of course, you could use AA (except to UK from US) or LAN or perhaps other BA partners. But if you have to pay fuel surcharges, most of the apparent value of the 'free' ticket is gone.
Hotel redemptions on the other hand are almost always for free. There is an argument there saying that hotel redemptions are worth more than airline redemptions. I think it all depends upon what you need.