Originally posted by Library Dragon:
A question about using milage. I live outside Huntsville, Alabama. Due to the high government/business traffic there are very few low fares from here to anywhere. Also, with a few exceptions, you have to change planes to get to your destination. Does this increase the value of my "free" coach seat? Thanks.
Cool! Someone else from Athens. It
is a small world after all.
I've seen an average value of $.02/mile for US domestic miles, e.g. a 25000 mile award is assumed to be worth $500. Using that metric, if you use a 25000-mile award for a $200 ticket you're being silly.
For example, I occasionally have to travel HSV-SEA on business. Travelocity claims that the low fare with no specified dates is $238. If I didn't care when I flew, I could take that fare. By contrast, the same flight with the specific dates I need comes out at $384-- $0.01536/mi. If I suddenly needed to fly there on Monday, the best fare I can find right now would be $642, or
$0.02568/mi.
International flights can vary too. The best HSV-Tokyo fare (with no dates) is currently $1000. Delta wants 90,000 miles for a business class round-trip ticket from the US to Japan. For that fare, your miles would be worth $.01 each-- not so hot.
Bottom line? What the miles are "worth" depends on what you're willing to pay for a fare and what else you might want to use the miles for.
[This message has been edited by paulr (edited 04-21-2000).]