Originally Posted by
amolkold
Not on Ink -- 5X has essentially become 2.5X - 3X if you redeem for partner First. Find me a card that currently gets 3X miles in a program without YQ.
Only problem is $50k/yr cap.
Taking into account the $35 fee for five $200 GCs at office supply stores, you're paying 0.7 cents per point at 5X. At only "3X" aren't you paying 1.25 cents per point, a substantially worse value than VRs or most other GCs bought at 1X?
That said, I redeem mainly for domestic trips on UA, and those aren't seeing devaluation, plus I usually get 2 to 3 cents per mile of value even in Y class at today's high airfares.