FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Am I wasting my miles?

Mar 16, 2012 | 6:40 am

#18

pbuntrock

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: New Hampshire

Programs: AA EXP Hilton Diamond

Posts: 543

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcamp028

Hi all,

I am in love with the South Pacific. Frankly, it seems unconscionable for me to even consider going on a vacation anywhere else.

Recently, I've been considering the idea of booking 2 flights, using my hard earned miles (mostly all earned through cc spend), to go to the Cook Islands, a place we haven't been yet.

Considering the mileage cost of this trip (2 x 135,000 for business class), I can't help but wonder if I'm wasting my miles. The numerous stories on this board of people going on mini-RTW's in F make it seem like even more of a waste, considering these trips are only 40k more miles than what I'm considering.

Unfortunately, I can't do both. It would need to be one or the other.

Compounding this tough decision is

(1) the fact that it seems difficult to get any decent availability on NZ- especially for a once weekly flight and;

(2) the fact that NZ runs a 767 to the cook islands, which from what I've read, doesn't have a very good business product. It seems similar to domestic business

Does anyone think I would be wasting my miles to take this trip? Would I be better using them for a mini-rtw? Does NZ have plans to substitute larger aircraft on this route at any point in the near future?

The reason that I'm posting this in this forum is because I'm an aeroplan member and greatly trust the advice of others in this forum

I have a slightly different view. As the airline industry continues to consolidate, capacity continues to reduce and fuel price continue to be high - all of the airline FF programs will continue to devalue. I think the concept of saving your miles for a better deal is not going to work out. I expect that every year you can expect that you miles will be worth less. I have started to taking the approach that I use my miles as soon as I can, in whatever way I can, just to avoid the contiuing devaluation. For the once in a life time trips I'll pay cash.

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