Originally Posted by
sbm12
So anyone who buys miles from the airline is a sucker in your book? And anyone who buys full fare tickets is a sucker? That's a mighty broad brush to be painting with.
I didn't say either of those things. You are unilaterally widening the brush I am painting with.
What I DID say is:
1)
Someone who ponies up $30k for 1 million Mileage Plus miles is a sucker. 3 cpm is a terrible deal. And typically volume purchases create a discount. In this case a volume purchase creates a higher price. @:-) Can I create some hypothetical situation where it makes more sense to buy 1MM for $30k rather than $30k on tickets. Sure. But it is purely hypothetical and even then would be quite a stretch. $30k can buy a LOT of air travel even in premium cabins. And if your hypothetical needs flexibility on close-in purchases then one-way tickets are his cheaper solution. I can buy a one way ticket to BKK next week for $1200.
2)
Anyone who pays $15k for a Global First ticket on UA is a sucker. Lots of people buy full fare for international F tickets. On airlines that offer a value proposition for those tickets. Anyone who pays $15k for F on UA rather than Singapore or Cathay or British or etc. is a sucker.