People use different thresholds of when to buy in $$ or when to redeem miles.

But I think you will be hard pressed to see anyone here recommend you spend 50k miles for only $440 worth of tickets. THat is a less than $0.01/mile usage.

Unless you are currently strapped for cash or have a situation in which you would never envision using those 46,000 miles in the future, I would say just spend the $$.

Wait to redeem your miles when that RT fare is $980 or 25,000 miles.


My personal guidelines (and I am sure there are FTers much more stringent than me) is to try to get my miles for free if possible or as cheaply as possible if not for free. I will buy them at $0.01/mile. I try to redeem them at $0.03 or greater.


It is rare I purchase coach class tickets outright with miles, but more often use them to upgrade or buy in first.



Good luck.