Originally Posted by
RHines81
If you could find a cheap way to get to SEA, then of course your options would be in the $500+ range around the holidays.
The $850.00 price is semi-borderline.
Using a $0.02/mile spend - $0.01 earn rule:
By my math, using 32K miles you are spending $640.00 with no earned miles.
By paying the $850 (taxes/fees included), you are effectively spending $690.00 (16K earned = $160 value)
I did not add the fees for using miles, but this would come in around $40/ticket. Using 32K miles would still be equivalent to the $850 fare. If it were to cost you 40K miles, I'd pay the cash. The 16K miles earned here is the swing decision.
yeah but not really. I mean, when you order a new CC, you get free 25k miles. With AA, you can churn and essentially fly to Kenya from NYC for the 'cost' of signing up for 3 credit cards and then buying some US mint coins that you return. Those miles effectively cost you nothing but time.
Time is money, but this is a hobby for most, so that has no cost. In fact it alleviates stress for some, which saves them elsewhere!
I'd use miles if I can when a fare is over say $300. I have more chances these days of coming up with new miles to put into an account than I have to get a new $300. What, with the economy and all--and not to mention the cost of a box of baby diapers!
If you are not flying AA of course, I've found that people who know each other trade awards and other airlines have promos and other means to get many miles with ease.