Originally Posted by
Stoughton
I certainly don't mean to be critical of people who do value these things - if you do, it's a great way to get a better seat, but for myself, it's not at all enticing.
I do thank you for not competing with us for those flights in C.
Originally Posted by
learningtime
I don't use miles for India trips for two reasons:
(1) It's almost impossible to find award flights for/around dates we want, and
(2) We would go to India "anyway", whether or not we get award flights. At times, the cost has been $1700/coach ticket but we still do it. I want to use hard earned miles for experiences we would otherwise not get/not spend on.
1
As one who has done over 100 trips to Asia for my family and friends this is not correct, but I do not want to elaborate.
2
I know the cost of the economy ticket is over 1700$. Would you pay that much in miles (by the US air 250% promo) and go in F for $1100? I would and did. 160k @ 0.7 cpm = 960$ plus taxes 135$ = 1100$ for LH F.
My usual cost of miles is 1.5c, so I would happily pay 1900 for Biz while Y is 1700. My lasting regret is not buying $30-40k up front in 1 CP account. That would have taken care of all our travel for 2-3 years in F!
Originally Posted by
Stoughton
And that's entirely opinion based. It's only 2x the value if you actually value the business class over coach.
To me it's like saying I can buy a Honda for $25k or a Benz for $50k. They're both cars, the MB doesn't have more "value" to me even though it's 2x the cost. It's just a means of transport and both will get me there in a similar fashion.
True, but in the example I gave above, the Honda (Y) was 25k, the MB (F) was 15k!
Would you also consider a MB for 25k if both were on sale at that price?
When I value my miles I use 1.5c each. If I can go in Y for 1800$ cash or C in 120k miles, I always choose C. You might choose Y in miles at 80k saving about 600$ for a flight of 30 hours. or 20$ an hour for your comfort. Going IAD-FRA-BLR/SIN-FRA-IAD in Y is torture for an adult. in C that is 150$ to upgrade each leg of over 8 hours each.
Originally Posted by
nkedel
I can pretty much always afford to go where I want to in coach these days, and am more constrained on free time. ......... Yield management is a weird art.
I can also get to work the next day and that is worth value in my remaining leave
Originally Posted by
stevens397
Apparently, some of us who are lucky enough to generate enough points/miles the get access to international First Class seats cannot be happy with that.
No. Anyone who reads FT in the US or EU can very easily maximize their points with minimal effort. The extra points can be spent anyway you choose.