The 5k must be hit or miss. I'm seeing $78 DD/$98 regular fares going for 20k. Those rates are what make me think the points are practically useless. Some years ago I went to Costa Rica on miles and taxes. Miles I earned over 4 something years of flights got me 2 round trip tickets. They really weren't a huge amount if bought cash but I was happy considering I never thought I'd get anything out of them.