Originally Posted by
tommyleo
Is your post really relevant? You're comparing peak coach awards on US to non-peak *A-partner business class. We can't even get the "high season" awards from *A partners that those partners may make available to their own customers.
And why are US's low-season awards "a joke"? For example, I can fly from PHL to Rome in coach throughout February for just 35K rt. And it's only 30K miles for me because I have the US Mastercard. That's a great deal, actually.
That's easy. low season awards are 60 for coach and 100k for business. You quote off-peak, which is such a limited period, it may as well not exist. US now has four levels off peak, low, mid, and high. low is the equivalent of partner travel award costs, and anything above that is a US penalty for loyalty. The 5k discount for having and using their credit card is ok and may make the first level palatable if you don't look at the difference in service levels on anything above coach. But if you travel coach and can limit yourself to the designated off-peak, not low, mid or high travel season, then the new award is a plus, otherwise it sucks. Also I can buy that PHL to Rome flight for such a low price that it is the equivalent of 25k purchased, so still no real deal.