I purchase two tickets to HNL worth $550 each, so it's 30k points each ticket, totaly 60k points, I got 4 nights ritz-carlton for free when reach +3 status, so when spending 60k/year, I got $1100 worth of tickets+ 4 nights ritz-carlton (usually I only pay hotel thorugh PL with maxium $150/night, so I value it $600), that's toltal of $1700 for 60k points. additionally, I got $175 gift cards from sports express for free as merrill+3 member, so I deliver my luggage to ritz roundtrip, save me much hassle. I fly from PHL to RDU often, which fare is only $80, 5 roundtrips get me additional one free domestic ticket is not bad, I will buy all my tickets from merrill card.