Would you redeem an award just to fly??
Jun 16, 2007, 11:36 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,404
Would you redeem an award just to fly??
There are some crazy people out there...some of them on FT, believe it or not.
I just learned of somebody booking a *A C award to Asia just so they could experience SQ in C...they're only staying for 2 nights?!?!?!
This seems like a huge waste of miles -- they're flying for probably 40-45 hours and not earning one mile/point!
Help me understand why anybody would want to do this!!
I just learned of somebody booking a *A C award to Asia just so they could experience SQ in C...they're only staying for 2 nights?!?!?!
This seems like a huge waste of miles -- they're flying for probably 40-45 hours and not earning one mile/point!
Help me understand why anybody would want to do this!!
Jun 16, 2007, 12:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
A FT'er once told me that one of the best uses of CO miles is award tickets on QF in F to Australia. Last year I booked 1 for me and a friend, not because I want to go back to Australia (didn't really enjoy it that much the first time), but to experience QF F!
My next use of CO miles: VS Upper Class to London (massage included).
I'm also going to Asia (again) next month, and a big factor in my going is being able to secure a seat in SQ F both ways....can't wait!
When you're in F (or SQ C), it's all about enjoying the experience of flying, instead of just getting from point A to point B.
My next use of CO miles: VS Upper Class to London (massage included).
I'm also going to Asia (again) next month, and a big factor in my going is being able to secure a seat in SQ F both ways....can't wait!
When you're in F (or SQ C), it's all about enjoying the experience of flying, instead of just getting from point A to point B.
Jun 16, 2007, 12:03 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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When UA was "on the brink" and I had about a million miles still banked, I "sorta" did the same, and stayed @ AKL for "only 2 nights" - a trip (in F) I wouldn't have made but for uneasiness of my large account balance.
Consider that "only 2 nights" stay is a typical stay for many of us. My "typical" London trip was 2 nights hotel, and they weren't primarily "earn" or "burn" trips.
Consider that "only 2 nights" stay is a typical stay for many of us. My "typical" London trip was 2 nights hotel, and they weren't primarily "earn" or "burn" trips.
Jun 16, 2007, 1:47 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
It's the old cliche of life's a journey and you should enjoy it every step of the way. I'd say SQ F is a good way to enjoy the journey.
Plus if it's the choice between flying 2 days and spending 2 days on the ground or not going at all because your schedule does not permit more which would you pick from?
Twenty years from now would you rather say "Well I flew Qantas first class to Australia once on miles, had two fabulous days and nights in Sydney and then flew back first class consuming about a gallon of champagne on the entire trip." or "Well I saved up the 135,000 miles it would have cost to go but because I couldn't make it out there for a good length of time I never went."
Plus if it's the choice between flying 2 days and spending 2 days on the ground or not going at all because your schedule does not permit more which would you pick from?
Twenty years from now would you rather say "Well I flew Qantas first class to Australia once on miles, had two fabulous days and nights in Sydney and then flew back first class consuming about a gallon of champagne on the entire trip." or "Well I saved up the 135,000 miles it would have cost to go but because I couldn't make it out there for a good length of time I never went."
Jun 16, 2007, 2:45 pm
#6
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No, unless it would have been to fly Concorde (and I never had the miles in the right programs to do this, although I did squeeze in a one-way paid trip before she retired forever).
I'm not opposed to redeeming miles for a short vacation where the flying time exceeds the actual ground time, but purely for the experience of flight? No dice, even if it is in a premium cabin on a world-class airline. My bed, couch, television/stereo, liquor cabinet, and dining options at home or in nearby restaurants are far superior to what even the best airlines in the world can offer.
I'm not opposed to redeeming miles for a short vacation where the flying time exceeds the actual ground time, but purely for the experience of flight? No dice, even if it is in a premium cabin on a world-class airline. My bed, couch, television/stereo, liquor cabinet, and dining options at home or in nearby restaurants are far superior to what even the best airlines in the world can offer.
Jun 16, 2007, 4:22 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I'm doing this, more or less, next month to Paris. I'll only be there for a couple nights, but the main reason for me doing it is to start to use up some of the few hundred thousand miles I've built up over the past year. In fact, while I could have gotten the CO flight direct from EWR-CDG, I chose to fly via FRA on the outbound and YYZ on the return so that I could experience SQ, AC, and LH, all airlines (and aircraft) which I have never flown before. My thought is that I might as well use the miles while I can.
Jun 16, 2007, 5:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sunny Place
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 1,655
I'm nutty enough to try it! I, too, would love the try the legendary SQ C. While it's not likely to live up to all the hype, it's still a comfortable way to travel long distances, I'm sure. I don't find UA international C to be fatiguing, so two days on the ground and back would be a nice mini-vacation.
Jun 16, 2007, 5:58 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Didn't lucky9876coins burn miles for six transpacs in 5 days on (of all airlines) UA F? Even though they were for reduced mileage through a mistake, I don't think he's old enough to drink his miles worth in champagne 
Jun 16, 2007, 11:13 pm
#14
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Well, if I had millions of miles and not much vacation time it might be tempting, especially in something like F on SQ. Use 'em or watch 'em erode.
Thankfully, I've made enough time to do trips for both earning and burning. I won't turn down free domestic or int'l operational upgrades, but my specialty is using stopovers/open jaws to maximize places visited, and using free tickets to get places that'd cost lots of money to reach on paid tickets.
But there's probably a small minority sitting on huge mileage balances that even family members can't burn off. When Continental did its mileage auctions for prizes, some of the bid totals were pretty surprising.
Thankfully, I've made enough time to do trips for both earning and burning. I won't turn down free domestic or int'l operational upgrades, but my specialty is using stopovers/open jaws to maximize places visited, and using free tickets to get places that'd cost lots of money to reach on paid tickets.
But there's probably a small minority sitting on huge mileage balances that even family members can't burn off. When Continental did its mileage auctions for prizes, some of the bid totals were pretty surprising.
