Why airline mile is easier to earn than Hotel point?
May 4, 2013, 3:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Hilton, Hyatt, Priority, SPG - AA, Hawaiian Airline, United, US Airline
Posts: 608
Why airline mile is easier to earn than Hotel point?
I have read in this forum about Airline mile is valuable than Hotel points. However, I dont know why many people said that airline mile is easier to earn than Hotel point. I really dont get it. Anyone knows about it?
May 4, 2013, 7:24 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
All a matter of opinion and how you earn points. If you get miles from actual BIS and stays, you get 1 flight yet many nights at a hotel. If you get your miles from CC then hotels are more difficult in that you spend many nights in a hotel vs 1 flight.
May 4, 2013, 7:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 279
Why airline mile is easier to earn than Hotel point?
Hotel points are not comparable in my mind. You can burn 20 or 30k points for one night of sleep or you could suck it up and pay 75 bucks for a roof and a bed on Priceline. The opportunity cost of $75-150 applies no matter how nice the room. Miles on the other hand have a high opportunity cost since everyone charges roughly the same for flights. I would never accrue hotel points if i could choose miles.
May 4, 2013, 8:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: AMEX Plat, AAdvantage Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 963
Hotel points are not comparable in my mind. You can burn 20 or 30k points for one night of sleep or you could suck it up and pay 75 bucks for a roof and a bed on Priceline. The opportunity cost of $75-150 applies no matter how nice the room. Miles on the other hand have a high opportunity cost since everyone charges roughly the same for flights. I would never accrue hotel points if i could choose miles.
May 4, 2013, 8:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: In the heart of the Evil Empire
Programs: AA LT Gold, Starwood Gold, Hertz Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Plat., BFD
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^
For some, an important factor is the time spent in the hotel vs. the time spent on a plane. Five hours on a transcon, or on a flight over the pond is not a long time when compared to 24 hours (or longer) in a hotel. It's all about what is more valuable to each person for their individual circumstances.
For some, an important factor is the time spent in the hotel vs. the time spent on a plane. Five hours on a transcon, or on a flight over the pond is not a long time when compared to 24 hours (or longer) in a hotel. It's all about what is more valuable to each person for their individual circumstances.
May 5, 2013, 3:15 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
Why airline mile is easier to earn than Hotel point?
Too many variables in your question. Depends how you get them. Whether you earn by actually flying or credit card bonuses or high credit card spends. Also u can't generalize about airline miles being more valuable than hotel miles. The single most valuable currency is Starwood and that is hotel. Also Hyatt points are more valuable than many airline points.
May 5, 2013, 3:54 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 163
Hotels are fixed rate based on cost so its like a rebate of less than 10%.
Airlines the amount you earn is based on distance not on cost. So you can easily earn 20 miles/$ (inverse of 5 cpm). Factor in 100% elite bonus and you can be looking at 40 miles/$. Imagine if you could earn 40/1.25= 32 SPG points per dollar spent at hotels.
Airline loyalty programs generally belong to the airline and the cost of giving you a ticket is when they expect that seat to go out empty is very marginal cost since their costs are more from fixed costs of flying a plane from A->B. Hotel loyalty programs have to pay the hotel owner when u stay there.
Airlines the amount you earn is based on distance not on cost. So you can easily earn 20 miles/$ (inverse of 5 cpm). Factor in 100% elite bonus and you can be looking at 40 miles/$. Imagine if you could earn 40/1.25= 32 SPG points per dollar spent at hotels.
Airline loyalty programs generally belong to the airline and the cost of giving you a ticket is when they expect that seat to go out empty is very marginal cost since their costs are more from fixed costs of flying a plane from A->B. Hotel loyalty programs have to pay the hotel owner when u stay there.
May 5, 2013, 8:58 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Posts: 510
Well, if the question is what's easier to earn, it totally depends on a person's travel pattern. There is no specific rule that applies here.
As for what's more valuable, obviously airline miles. But a longshot. Especially with the ability to turn these miles into car rentals, hotel rooms, etc, generally at very good rates (especially for elite members).
As for what's more valuable, obviously airline miles. But a longshot. Especially with the ability to turn these miles into car rentals, hotel rooms, etc, generally at very good rates (especially for elite members).
May 5, 2013, 9:23 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Well, if the question is what's easier to earn, it totally depends on a person's travel pattern. There is no specific rule that applies here.
As for what's more valuable, obviously airline miles. But a longshot. Especially with the ability to turn these miles into car rentals, hotel rooms, etc, generally at very good rates (especially for elite members).
As for what's more valuable, obviously airline miles. But a longshot. Especially with the ability to turn these miles into car rentals, hotel rooms, etc, generally at very good rates (especially for elite members).
May 5, 2013, 10:06 am
#10
Suspended
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^
For some, an important factor is the time spent in the hotel vs. the time spent on a plane. Five hours on a transcon, or on a flight over the pond is not a long time when compared to 24 hours (or longer) in a hotel. It's all about what is more valuable to each person for their individual circumstances.
For some, an important factor is the time spent in the hotel vs. the time spent on a plane. Five hours on a transcon, or on a flight over the pond is not a long time when compared to 24 hours (or longer) in a hotel. It's all about what is more valuable to each person for their individual circumstances.
May 5, 2013, 5:58 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TPA
Posts: 105
Airline loyalty programs generally belong to the airline and the cost of giving you a ticket is when they expect that seat to go out empty is very marginal cost since their costs are more from fixed costs of flying a plane from A->B. Hotel loyalty programs have to pay the hotel owner when u stay there.
May 6, 2013, 5:20 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South Bend, IN
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Hotel points are not comparable in my mind. You can burn 20 or 30k points for one night of sleep or you could suck it up and pay 75 bucks for a roof and a bed on Priceline. The opportunity cost of $75-150 applies no matter how nice the room. Miles on the other hand have a high opportunity cost since everyone charges roughly the same for flights. I would never accrue hotel points if i could choose miles.
It's best to accumulate lots of both but, like many others, I value air miles above hotel points.
May 6, 2013, 8:27 am
#13
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A few years ago, I would have said that the general observation of the OP is true: it's easier to earn large quantities of airline miles than it is a similarly-meaningful quantity of hotel points, regardless of whether you personally value hotel points or airline miles more.
Three reasons:
- Elite bonuses were 100% or more on midlevel tiers like UA 1P. Plus various route bonuses and seasonal bonuses were much more common. Hotel elite bonuses, even for high tier, were usually in the 50% range or less.
- Airlines were out in front of the hotels when it came to BIG credit card bonuses. My first 70k airline signup bonus was the DL Amex in 2000 or so. The hotel cards have been out there for a while but have only really ramped up the bonuses and annual renewal perks in the past few years.
- Airlines have always had many more partners than hotel programs. Both other airlines and other random products like flowers, rental cars, banks, etc. Some of those now do hotel points as well, but the best bonuses and promotions have usually been for air miles.
But I'd say the gap is closing a bit these days. I find it pretty easy to earn lots of both.
I personally value them both very highly. Sure, anybody can survive in a small seat at the back of a metal tube for 12 hours. And sure, I can always camp, stay in a hostel, or (in a fairly limited part of the world) use Priceline. On some types of trips, I might even look forward to doing exactly those things. But on other trips, I'm really happy I have points and miles to book J/F seats and a high-end hotel that takes good care of its elite members. I don't see why it has to be an either-or thing when collecting both is pretty easy.
Three reasons:
- Elite bonuses were 100% or more on midlevel tiers like UA 1P. Plus various route bonuses and seasonal bonuses were much more common. Hotel elite bonuses, even for high tier, were usually in the 50% range or less.
- Airlines were out in front of the hotels when it came to BIG credit card bonuses. My first 70k airline signup bonus was the DL Amex in 2000 or so. The hotel cards have been out there for a while but have only really ramped up the bonuses and annual renewal perks in the past few years.
- Airlines have always had many more partners than hotel programs. Both other airlines and other random products like flowers, rental cars, banks, etc. Some of those now do hotel points as well, but the best bonuses and promotions have usually been for air miles.
But I'd say the gap is closing a bit these days. I find it pretty easy to earn lots of both.
I personally value them both very highly. Sure, anybody can survive in a small seat at the back of a metal tube for 12 hours. And sure, I can always camp, stay in a hostel, or (in a fairly limited part of the world) use Priceline. On some types of trips, I might even look forward to doing exactly those things. But on other trips, I'm really happy I have points and miles to book J/F seats and a high-end hotel that takes good care of its elite members. I don't see why it has to be an either-or thing when collecting both is pretty easy.
May 6, 2013, 8:27 am
#14
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 15
Hotel points are not comparable in my mind. You can burn 20 or 30k points for one night of sleep or you could suck it up and pay 75 bucks for a roof and a bed on Priceline. The opportunity cost of $75-150 applies no matter how nice the room. Miles on the other hand have a high opportunity cost since everyone charges roughly the same for flights. I would never accrue hotel points if i could choose miles.
May 6, 2013, 8:58 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: In the heart of the Evil Empire
Programs: AA LT Gold, Starwood Gold, Hertz Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Plat., BFD
Posts: 113
A few years ago, I would have said that the general observation of the OP is true: it's easier to earn large quantities of airline miles than it is a similarly-meaningful quantity of hotel points, regardless of whether you personally value hotel points or airline miles more.
Three reasons:
- Elite bonuses were 100% or more on midlevel tiers like UA 1P. Plus various route bonuses and seasonal bonuses were much more common. Hotel elite bonuses, even for high tier, were usually in the 50% range or less.
- Airlines were out in front of the hotels when it came to BIG credit card bonuses. My first 70k airline signup bonus was the DL Amex in 2000 or so. The hotel cards have been out there for a while but have only really ramped up the bonuses and annual renewal perks in the past few years.
- Airlines have always had many more partners than hotel programs. Both other airlines and other random products like flowers, rental cars, banks, etc. Some of those now do hotel points as well, but the best bonuses and promotions have usually been for air miles.
But I'd say the gap is closing a bit these days. I find it pretty easy to earn lots of both.
I personally value them both very highly. Sure, anybody can survive in a small seat at the back of a metal tube for 12 hours. And sure, I can always camp, stay in a hostel, or (in a fairly limited part of the world) use Priceline. On some types of trips, I might even look forward to doing exactly those things. But on other trips, I'm really happy I have points and miles to book J/F seats and a high-end hotel that takes good care of its elite members. I don't see why it has to be an either-or thing when collecting both is pretty easy.
Three reasons:
- Elite bonuses were 100% or more on midlevel tiers like UA 1P. Plus various route bonuses and seasonal bonuses were much more common. Hotel elite bonuses, even for high tier, were usually in the 50% range or less.
- Airlines were out in front of the hotels when it came to BIG credit card bonuses. My first 70k airline signup bonus was the DL Amex in 2000 or so. The hotel cards have been out there for a while but have only really ramped up the bonuses and annual renewal perks in the past few years.
- Airlines have always had many more partners than hotel programs. Both other airlines and other random products like flowers, rental cars, banks, etc. Some of those now do hotel points as well, but the best bonuses and promotions have usually been for air miles.
But I'd say the gap is closing a bit these days. I find it pretty easy to earn lots of both.
I personally value them both very highly. Sure, anybody can survive in a small seat at the back of a metal tube for 12 hours. And sure, I can always camp, stay in a hostel, or (in a fairly limited part of the world) use Priceline. On some types of trips, I might even look forward to doing exactly those things. But on other trips, I'm really happy I have points and miles to book J/F seats and a high-end hotel that takes good care of its elite members. I don't see why it has to be an either-or thing when collecting both is pretty easy.