Originally Posted by
bluedemon211
I know this is a YMMV question, but I'm going to ask the experts. My question is regarding the "pay yourself back" option. I have the option to pay myself back for United flights at the $.01 exchange rate. I have committed the unpardonable sin of accumulating over 2 million miles over time while paying cash for tickets in my quest to reach 3 million BIS miles and lifetime 1K (I'm at 2.9 million now). With devaluation happening daily via dynamic pricing, it's killing me watch my balance rise. Now, with the Infinite card I can use those miles to knock down my CC balance.
Here's the question. With devaluation, what is a United mile truly worth today? $.01 feels low, but with dynamic award pricing it's tough to find an exchange much above $.015 any more, and many much lower. Am I looking at this wrong and just hold the miles for some aspirational trip that may never happen, or take the $.01 exchange and knock my CC balance down $10-20,000? Thoughts?
If you are really carrying a balance on the card, then absolutely, as you should also factor in the reduction in interest charges, which would have to be high.
Even if you are not carrying a balance on the card, turning "points/miles" into actual cash value can be a good use, even if not maximizing their actual value. Even more so if you do not have a use for these miles planned.