Redeem miles or pay for ticket
Dec 22, 2012, 2:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 78
Redeem miles or pay for ticket
Hello all,
Happy Holidays!!
I have a trip coming up in January and will be traveling from MSY - ORD. Dates of travel are leaving 17th and returning on 21st. When I priced the ticket, I see that AA and United have nonstop fares for $326.
If I do use my DM and redeem I'd be using up 20,000 miles (its actually 25,000, since I have the US Air MC, i'd get the 5000 mile discount) and essentially pay $35 in taxes + fees.
One reason why i'd like to save my miles is there might be a possibility of traveling to Oz later June, so I'm sort of trying to save my miles for that trip.
Which option would you choose?
Thanks in advance!
Happy Holidays!!
I have a trip coming up in January and will be traveling from MSY - ORD. Dates of travel are leaving 17th and returning on 21st. When I priced the ticket, I see that AA and United have nonstop fares for $326.
If I do use my DM and redeem I'd be using up 20,000 miles (its actually 25,000, since I have the US Air MC, i'd get the 5000 mile discount) and essentially pay $35 in taxes + fees.
One reason why i'd like to save my miles is there might be a possibility of traveling to Oz later June, so I'm sort of trying to save my miles for that trip.
Which option would you choose?
Thanks in advance!
Dec 22, 2012, 2:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: CAE,AGS
Programs: AAExP, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, IHG Spire, Marriott Plat
Posts: 3,124
Save your miles... work towards an international redemption ... would be my advice 
There is nothing quite like an international Business Award. And First Class? Unforgettable!
There is nothing quite like an international Business Award. And First Class? Unforgettable!
Dec 22, 2012, 6:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 273
There is nothing quite like an international Business Award. And First Class on a non-US airline? Unforgettable!
Dec 22, 2012, 8:43 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
This is a very very commonly asked question, in a variety of contexts.
The simple answer is that redemptions should get at least 1.5 cents per mile, and you're in that range. At the bottom of it, but in it.
The slightly more complex answer is to ask what you expect to be able to do with your points, and whether paying for the flight will have any impact on gaining elite status (sounds like it won't).
I agree that overseas business/first class is a good use of points (Mrs. RedTop and I flew to Paris biz last summer, and she's going to Europe in first next summer) but if you're not interested in going there, then there's no point in saving the points for it.
The simple answer is that redemptions should get at least 1.5 cents per mile, and you're in that range. At the bottom of it, but in it.
The slightly more complex answer is to ask what you expect to be able to do with your points, and whether paying for the flight will have any impact on gaining elite status (sounds like it won't).
I agree that overseas business/first class is a good use of points (Mrs. RedTop and I flew to Paris biz last summer, and she's going to Europe in first next summer) but if you're not interested in going there, then there's no point in saving the points for it.
Dec 23, 2012, 6:05 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Charlote NC USA
Posts: 250
F/BC East coast to China - immensely satisfying.