FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Help with most economical strategies to fly AA Flagship transcon J or F

Oct 15, 2023 | 10:31 am

#11

someone

Join Date: Sep 2006

Location: SFO and JFK

Programs: One relative: BAEC GGLfL, UA 1MM Gold, LH life Senator, AA 1MM Gold, etc. Another: SQ life Solitaire

Posts: 66

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Here is a bit of back of the envelope math:

Put $150k in a Bask Bank account
Receive 375k AA miles per year
Opportunity cost of that is $150k in Treasuries @ 5% return and 35% tax rate = $4875 (for a per-mile cost of 1.3c)
Redeem 15k miles + $75 for an upgrade: 15k * 1.3c + $75 = $270
This is just $25 more than the "buy up" offers currently going for that route for $243 ... and guaranteed every time.
Or just redeem outright for ~35k miles where possible (if flexible), which is $455

Does the math check out?

Forgot to add, I am lifetime OneWorld Emerald on a non US carrier, so I get MCE seating with Basic Economy for as long as they honor their OneWorld alliance partnership... (fingers crossed)

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