Spend 27,500 miles or $187?
Oct 15, 2015, 5:04 am
#17
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
Well it is a little bit like asking if you should get a bed or a car. For sleeping, the bed would be a lot better. However, the car can do more things. 
Depends on your needs.
So, 27K miles are more valuable than $187 if we only consider air travel. On the other hand, cash is far more versatile.
So it will depend on whether you are particularly flush with or lacking in each currency.
Everything else being equal, it is no contest: pay $187. However, if you have a huge number of miles, are trying to burn them, etc., or if you are in a pinch for cash, that is a special case and use the miles instead.
Depends on your needs.So, 27K miles are more valuable than $187 if we only consider air travel. On the other hand, cash is far more versatile.
So it will depend on whether you are particularly flush with or lacking in each currency.
Everything else being equal, it is no contest: pay $187. However, if you have a huge number of miles, are trying to burn them, etc., or if you are in a pinch for cash, that is a special case and use the miles instead.
Oct 15, 2015, 9:55 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,639
(e.g. on some domestic US flights at least, selecting a 'premium' seat can cost $48 and the asterisk says "aadvantage members must pay". They nicely point out that there's nothing premium about the seat other than it's near the front of the cabin. )
I wonder if the freight business is so good they can profit from the relatively empty cargo hold.
Oct 15, 2015, 2:48 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: WN, DL, UA, AA, Hilton, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 1,303
If it were an apples to apples comparison, I *might* consider paying the miles if I was cash short. But given that it's a cheap, non-stop flight v. a connecting flight with miles, definitely pay cash!