<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by married 2 miles:
why not use the depreciating asset (miles) now, and save your cash (which should appreciate) for retirement - then use the cash to buy tickets?</font>
1. Because award tickets do not accrue miles toward status, which many of us value, and the value of which is greater the more one flies.
2. Because, prior to retirement, many of us can have some of our travel paid for by a business or (if self-employed) partially subsidized as a tax deduction.
These are related: if one has sufficient business travel to approach an elite level, it makes sense (IMHO) to pay for enough travel to make it the rest of the way rather than using award tickets. How closely one has to approach the next level for this factor to come into play is a personal decision, but for many here the answer is "not very."