Reward or Buy?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 173
Reward or Buy?
Hi, I am in need of some advice.
In March I need to go to NYC for a long weekend (from ZRH). I am a SEN. I would ideally like to have the return flight (NYC-ZRH) in C as I am going directly to work. I dont really care about the outbound as it is a day flight (and I can get an emergency exit seat - they're still available).
In your opinion, should I:
- Buy an economy class ticket (Cheap Y on outbound, Mid-priced Y on outbound to allow for upgrade) for 870 CHF and upgrade return with miles (50,000 miles).
- Get a Business Class reward (105,000 miles + 333 CHF in taxes).
I have enough miles (with the SEN overdraft) and have already re-qualified until 2015 (so don't really care about status miles).
Cheers!
In March I need to go to NYC for a long weekend (from ZRH). I am a SEN. I would ideally like to have the return flight (NYC-ZRH) in C as I am going directly to work. I dont really care about the outbound as it is a day flight (and I can get an emergency exit seat - they're still available).
In your opinion, should I:
- Buy an economy class ticket (Cheap Y on outbound, Mid-priced Y on outbound to allow for upgrade) for 870 CHF and upgrade return with miles (50,000 miles).
- Get a Business Class reward (105,000 miles + 333 CHF in taxes).
I have enough miles (with the SEN overdraft) and have already re-qualified until 2015 (so don't really care about status miles).
Cheers!
#2
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
I find the mileage upgrades in M&M to be outrageously poor value.
But I see two more alternatives:
A "mixed-class" award (outbound in Y, inbound in C) should net 85'000 miles.
Or use your SEN e-vouchers for the upgrade, if you have some left?
But I see two more alternatives:
A "mixed-class" award (outbound in Y, inbound in C) should net 85'000 miles.
Or use your SEN e-vouchers for the upgrade, if you have some left?
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN**, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 669
Comparing the two options depends on how you value your miles vs. money:
option 1 costs you ~500 CHF more than the C-award, but you also earn ~10k award miles (with 100% earning+exec. bonus). So your net spending of miles is 'only' 40k, if you upgrade the return.
Also, if I am booking a C-award, I usually try to spend the 105k miles on a longer, more complicated trip to the US, rather than a 'simple' ZRH-JFK hop.