Buy FB miles at up to 75% bonus
Mar 14, 2019, 3:23 pm
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: AF/KL FB Gold (E+) TK Elite (*G) QR Gold (OW Sapphire) IHG Platinum, B&W Diamont, Ascott Gold
Posts: 115
Buy FB miles at up to 75% bonus
Until April 10th you can buy Flying Blue Miles, with a bonus of between 40% and 75%.
Mar 14, 2019, 5:09 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,609
I saw this, and a 30 second glance revealed that it is hugely not worth the money. It's far too expensive. I would have to be around a 150% bonus before I would be interested. Especially in this climate of dynamic pricing for awards these days.
Unfortunately, there must be some clowns around with no sense of the value of money, who make use of this offer. Otherwise, they would never make the offer, or perhaps make a 100% bonus. Even then, I would only use if for topping up the account to achieve a meaningful award. Now, meaningful awards - what were they?
Unfortunately, there must be some clowns around with no sense of the value of money, who make use of this offer. Otherwise, they would never make the offer, or perhaps make a 100% bonus. Even then, I would only use if for topping up the account to achieve a meaningful award. Now, meaningful awards - what were they?
Mar 15, 2019, 3:24 am
#4
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: AF/KL FB Gold (E+) TK Elite (*G) QR Gold (OW Sapphire) IHG Platinum, B&W Diamont, Ascott Gold
Posts: 115
There is a value if you are some miles short, of a 50% discount Promo Reward. Or you are, again, a bit short of miles and need some flexibility with a short houl reward ticket.
But that's about it...
But that's about it...
Mar 15, 2019, 8:01 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: SAN, CDG
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 59
This current offer from FB at maximal value is $0.0177 per mile, which isn't bad relative to recent offers from AA ($0.0181) and AS ($0.021).
For an example, on 5/22 AF 66 CDG-LAX (J) is $7,255, or 119,500 FB miles. For someone intent on that direct flight on that day, paying $2,115 for those 119,500 (if that person had zero miles in their FB account, which isn't likely) miles isn't a horrible proposition.
Sure, for about the same price you can put together a 25-hour 2-stopper on metal you'd never fly on otherwise, but that wouldn't be a good comparison.
Mar 15, 2019, 11:13 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 389
This current offer from FB at maximal value is $0.0177 per mile, which isn't bad relative to recent offers from AA ($0.0181) and AS ($0.021).
For an example, on 5/22 AF 66 CDG-LAX (J) is $7,255, or 119,500 FB miles. For someone intent on that direct flight on that day, paying $2,115 for those 119,500 (if that person had zero miles in their FB account, which isn't likely) miles isn't a horrible proposition.
For an example, on 5/22 AF 66 CDG-LAX (J) is $7,255, or 119,500 FB miles. For someone intent on that direct flight on that day, paying $2,115 for those 119,500 (if that person had zero miles in their FB account, which isn't likely) miles isn't a horrible proposition.
The R/T with CDG-LAX on 5/22 then return in 5/29 is only showing $2459 USD. In this case, if someone redeems a ticket at 180k miles R/T plus around $500 tax, the value per mile comes down to $0.109. Even with the lowest redemption (125k miles R/T) will still be $0.0156 per mile.
The only way to achieve a higher redemption value is the promo award, like last month's YUL-CDG at 53k miles R/T + $560 tax ($750 CAD), the lowest ticket price was $3700 CAD (~$2800 USD), thus the value per mile can go up to $0.0422.
There is also the MIA-PAP-PTP-FDF-CAY shuttle can usually have a decent value (in economy, $1200 ticket price at 25k miles R/T).
Mar 15, 2019, 3:43 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,609
However, although having denigrated the offer above, I intend to keep an eye on these offers going forward. Definitely worth it (at 100% bonus level) if topping up for an award, like some of the award tickets I have made to offbeat destinations in Russia.
Mar 15, 2019, 4:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: SAN, CDG
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 59
But that's the manner in which I always book flights -- one route at a time (ie, one-way).
Value to you is relative to R/T pricing, and that's understandable.
Value to me is relative to O/W pricing//seating/metal.
Value to you is relative to R/T pricing, and that's understandable.
Value to me is relative to O/W pricing//seating/metal.
Mar 16, 2019, 8:22 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
I am surprised that nobody has really run the maths on this and figured out that this deal is potentially a *fantastic* deal. Depends which camp you are in:
For instance, as a Blue member if you want to get 60,000 miles, you can spend EUR 15,000 on airline tickets, as every EUR spent gives you 4 miles. Alternatively you can spend EUR 935 in this "buy miles" scheme. That is a *fantastic" deal!
The maths is less favourable for Platinum members who get 8 miles for every EUR spent on tickets, so they'd "only" need to spend EUR 7,500 to get 60,000 miles, compared to EUR 936 in this buy miles scheme. Still, this is 8 times less expensive.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
- If you believe that the miles that you obtain/have are worthless to you anyway because there never is the redemption availability that you like (not the right dates, flights, destinations...), then having more miles is still pointless
- If you have found good usage for FB miles, for instance because on the route that you want to fly you typically find good availability and the money equivalent of the miles used is good, then having more miles is a good thing.
For instance, as a Blue member if you want to get 60,000 miles, you can spend EUR 15,000 on airline tickets, as every EUR spent gives you 4 miles. Alternatively you can spend EUR 935 in this "buy miles" scheme. That is a *fantastic" deal!
The maths is less favourable for Platinum members who get 8 miles for every EUR spent on tickets, so they'd "only" need to spend EUR 7,500 to get 60,000 miles, compared to EUR 936 in this buy miles scheme. Still, this is 8 times less expensive.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
Mar 16, 2019, 8:32 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: SAN, CDG
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 59
...The maths is less favourable for Platinum members who get 8 miles for every EUR spent on tickets, so they'd "only" need to spend EUR 7,500 to get 60,000 miles, compared to EUR 936 in this buy miles scheme. Still, this is 8 times less expensive.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
Mar 16, 2019, 9:39 am
#11
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,333
I am surprised that nobody has really run the maths on this and figured out that this deal is potentially a *fantastic* deal. Depends which camp you are in:
For instance, as a Blue member if you want to get 60,000 miles, you can spend EUR 15,000 on airline tickets, as every EUR spent gives you 4 miles. Alternatively you can spend EUR 935 in this "buy miles" scheme. That is a *fantastic" deal!
The maths is less favourable for Platinum members who get 8 miles for every EUR spent on tickets, so they'd "only" need to spend EUR 7,500 to get 60,000 miles, compared to EUR 936 in this buy miles scheme. Still, this is 8 times less expensive.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
- If you believe that the miles that you obtain/have are worthless to you anyway because there never is the redemption availability that you like (not the right dates, flights, destinations...), then having more miles is still pointless
- If you have found good usage for FB miles, for instance because on the route that you want to fly you typically find good availability and the money equivalent of the miles used is good, then having more miles is a good thing.
For instance, as a Blue member if you want to get 60,000 miles, you can spend EUR 15,000 on airline tickets, as every EUR spent gives you 4 miles. Alternatively you can spend EUR 935 in this "buy miles" scheme. That is a *fantastic" deal!
The maths is less favourable for Platinum members who get 8 miles for every EUR spent on tickets, so they'd "only" need to spend EUR 7,500 to get 60,000 miles, compared to EUR 936 in this buy miles scheme. Still, this is 8 times less expensive.
Thus: if you need miles, then don't waste your time flying, just buy them. It's a good deal.
Mar 16, 2019, 10:08 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
Except that this was exactly the point I had excluded right in the beginning: if in any case you do not have any use for miles (don't need them, or cannot find availability, or find that award prices are too high) then no offer in the world is attractive. But that has nothing to do with how many EUR you pay to obtain more miles. It has to do with the fact that you simply don't want/need miles. However, *if* - big if - more miles are attractive to you, then this is by far the least expensive and time-consuming way to obtain more of them.
Mar 16, 2019, 11:26 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,362
Except that this was exactly the point I had excluded right in the beginning: if in any case you do not have any use for miles (don't need them, or cannot find availability, or find that award prices are too high) then no offer in the world is attractive. But that has nothing to do with how many EUR you pay to obtain more miles. It has to do with the fact that you simply don't want/need miles. However, *if* - big if - more miles are attractive to you, then this is by far the least expensive and time-consuming way to obtain more of them.
It does not factor in that possibility that the point of buying an airline ticket from A to B and the utility thereof might first and foremost to, uh... , fly from A to B? I know, I know... crazy and ridiculously contrived idea...
Mar 16, 2019, 11:43 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
But your analysis is premised on the EUR15000 or airlines tickets that you buy has no utility whatsoever other than acquiring miles so that all you are buying with your EUR15000 of air tickets is airline miles.
It does not factor in that possibility that the point of buying an airline ticket from A to B and the utility thereof might first and foremost to, uh... , fly from A to B? I know, I know... crazy and ridiculously contrived idea...
It does not factor in that possibility that the point of buying an airline ticket from A to B and the utility thereof might first and foremost to, uh... , fly from A to B? I know, I know... crazy and ridiculously contrived idea...
"If you want to obtain miles, then this method is a less expensive way to obtain them than buying air tickets with participating airlines".
Anything wrong with that statement?
Like that, I exclude any discussion if it's worthwhile for someone to have miles or not in the first place, whether you were going to get the award ticket anyway or only now because you can find a less expensive way to obtain the miles, whether there is another benefit in flying, whether maybe other airlines have even better offers, etc.
It's pure math: compare how many EUR do you need to spend to get a certain amount of miles. Answer: less EUR if you buy the miles through this promo than EUR you spend on air tickets that get you the same amount of miles.
Mar 16, 2019, 1:03 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,362
OMG, you make this far too complex again... when in fact there is a very simple statement:
"If you want to obtain miles, then this method is a less expensive way to obtain them than buying air tickets with participating airlines".
Anything wrong with that statement?
Yes: because if I need to fly from LHR to CDG and need to buy a ticket for that purpose anyway, the net cost of the miles that I get as a side benefit of acquiring the ticket is exactly zero.