Originally Posted by
blitzen
With AA Europe fares around 135k / UA mostly 155k ..... you would spend app. 250-300k miles (yes I know MR can't be transferred but on Alaska I find nothing and Aeroplan charges 180k one way and the flight times are sometimes 24+h) vs let say $4k > 400k MR - 35% back - 5MR per $ = net MR costs 240k MR with most of the time a better selection of flights/ times/....
Yes, it's getting increasingly difficult to find long-haul redemptions at a reasonable mileage cost, which as you note makes the MR purchase an increasingly more attractive option.