Originally Posted by
echino
If you book economy tickets with your miles and pay fuel surcharges, then you get a very poor value for your miles. You would be better off just buying a ticket for cash, and also earn miles, which can be later used for business class awards.
For example, a cash economy ticket from Toronto to Singapore is around $1,200 - $1,300 all included, while a redemption could cost you 75,000 miles plus $1,000 in fees, so your 75,000 miles only get you $200-$300 discount, and you also miss out on earning miles, and you get much less flexibility.
Don't do it. Earn more miles and use them for a business class award.
+1.. Gotta watch what you redeem miles for nowadays and look at the fees and selling prices of the tickets before pulling the trigger on the redemption. Business and first class redemptions is worth it, and some routes i.e. HI. Shorthaul from Western Canada to Florida worked out not bad for my buddy as he redeemed for 7 tickets round trip on one plane (he has 5 kids) and saved quite a bit.