BOG-YYZ , 50k Anytime 2 award redemption good value? Jan 10
Nov 21, 2016, 11:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA Advantage, spg platnum, viporter, United Silver, Delta Med
Posts: 132
BOG-YYZ , 50k Anytime 2 award redemption good value? Jan 10
Hi,
I need to book a one way back to YYZ from BOG around Jan 10th.
These flights are extremely expensive given the time of year.
A one stop via MIA costs around $1500 - This is the best option to get to YYZ at a decent time (around 5pm).
50k Miles seems like good value in my head... any thoughts?
No business saver available already checked
I need to book a one way back to YYZ from BOG around Jan 10th.
These flights are extremely expensive given the time of year.
A one stop via MIA costs around $1500 - This is the best option to get to YYZ at a decent time (around 5pm).
50k Miles seems like good value in my head... any thoughts?
No business saver available already checked
Nov 21, 2016, 11:27 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,586
Hi,
I need to book a one way back to YYZ from BOG around Jan 10th.
These flights are extremely expensive given the time of year.
A one stop via MIA costs around $1500 - This is the best option to get to YYZ at a decent time (around 5pm).
50k Miles seems like good value in my head... any thoughts?
No business saver available already checked
I need to book a one way back to YYZ from BOG around Jan 10th.
These flights are extremely expensive given the time of year.
A one stop via MIA costs around $1500 - This is the best option to get to YYZ at a decent time (around 5pm).
50k Miles seems like good value in my head... any thoughts?
No business saver available already checked
Nov 21, 2016, 11:30 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA Advantage, spg platnum, viporter, United Silver, Delta Med
Posts: 132
Nov 21, 2016, 11:35 am
#4
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Nov 21, 2016, 1:59 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Posts: 132
Nov 21, 2016, 2:29 pm
#6
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Nov 21, 2016, 4:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 17
A Kayak search shows economy tickets starting at $420 on January 10th, but those have 2 stops including a 12-hour overnight layover in PHL. One stop tickets in Miami are running $750 on AA. Even at the $750 rate, you're only getting 1.5 cpp for your American miles. If you're cash poor and points rich, go for the award ticket. You could probably get more value out of your points in the long run. If it were me and I wasn't in a huge rush, I would probably just book the $420 tickets, have a fun night in Philly (mid January is low travel season, so nice hotels are cheap), and head back to the airport the next morning.
Nov 21, 2016, 4:21 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA Advantage, spg platnum, viporter, United Silver, Delta Med
Posts: 132
A Kayak search shows economy tickets starting at $420 on January 10th, but those have 2 stops including a 12-hour overnight layover in PHL. One stop tickets in Miami are running $750 on AA. Even at the $750 rate, you're only getting 1.5 cpp for your American miles. If you're cash poor and points rich, go for the award ticket. You could probably get more value out of your points in the long run. If it were me and I wasn't in a huge rush, I would probably just book the $420 tickets, have a fun night in Philly (mid January is low travel season, so nice hotels are cheap), and head back to the airport the next morning.
Also, the $750 rates you are seeing also all require overnight in MIA.
Any route that actually arrives the same day in YYZ is in the 1300-1500 range...
Nov 21, 2016, 4:24 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA Advantage, spg platnum, viporter, United Silver, Delta Med
Posts: 132
A Kayak search shows economy tickets starting at $420 on January 10th, but those have 2 stops including a 12-hour overnight layover in PHL. One stop tickets in Miami are running $750 on AA. Even at the $750 rate, you're only getting 1.5 cpp for your American miles. If you're cash poor and points rich, go for the award ticket. You could probably get more value out of your points in the long run. If it were me and I wasn't in a huge rush, I would probably just book the $420 tickets, have a fun night in Philly (mid January is low travel season, so nice hotels are cheap), and head back to the airport the next morning.
AND... the 2 stop in PHL arrives at 12:30am....doesn't leave much of a night..
And it does not leave for YYZ till 1:30pm the next day.. Id rather spend the night in BOG
Nov 22, 2016, 5:57 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
I just spent 100K points for a ticket for my wife that would have cost $3K, which is about the same ratio. I think it's about as good as you're going to do if you, like me, typically need to book flights (vs. upgrades) for specific dates. I envy those who have the luxury of looking out 11 months and having the flexibility to snag bargains.
I'd book it and then keep looking to see if a bargain shows up. Though, I doubt one will appear. I've lived in Colombia for almost a decade and it has been my experience that between Dec 14 and Jan 15 you are going to pay through the nose to get to North America whether you book 11 months or 1 week in advance.
I'd book it and then keep looking to see if a bargain shows up. Though, I doubt one will appear. I've lived in Colombia for almost a decade and it has been my experience that between Dec 14 and Jan 15 you are going to pay through the nose to get to North America whether you book 11 months or 1 week in advance.
Nov 22, 2016, 12:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 17
Consider buying a roundtrip ticket and then not using the return flight (or do). Here are some good options that I see on Kayak:
Fly Delta mixed class (business from BOG-ATL, econ from ATL-YYZ) on Jan 10-mid feb for $977/pp
Fly AA business class on Jan 10-mid feb for $1500/pp
I didn't see much in the way of economy that compares with those two.
There may be even cheaper options - I just plugged in mid-february for the return as my first search.
Fly Delta mixed class (business from BOG-ATL, econ from ATL-YYZ) on Jan 10-mid feb for $977/pp
Fly AA business class on Jan 10-mid feb for $1500/pp
I didn't see much in the way of economy that compares with those two.
There may be even cheaper options - I just plugged in mid-february for the return as my first search.
Nov 22, 2016, 1:17 pm
#14
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If you value a 1-stop itin, the peace of mind of being on a single PNR, and already have 50,000 AA miles, I'd redeem the award.
You could probably piece something funky together for a mix of cash and miles that is theoretically better. My first thoughts were (a) cheap flight to ORD and then the 7500-mile award from there or (b) some sort of better option to Buffalo. But on a very quick check, it seems like neither of those yields an option that is both convenient and more optimal than just spending 50,000 miles. (The problem is getting an award seat out of Bogota to anywhere.)
So...there we have it...a case where a double-miles award is probably the best option short of extra connections and/or an overnight stay.
You could probably piece something funky together for a mix of cash and miles that is theoretically better. My first thoughts were (a) cheap flight to ORD and then the 7500-mile award from there or (b) some sort of better option to Buffalo. But on a very quick check, it seems like neither of those yields an option that is both convenient and more optimal than just spending 50,000 miles. (The problem is getting an award seat out of Bogota to anywhere.)
So...there we have it...a case where a double-miles award is probably the best option short of extra connections and/or an overnight stay.
Nov 22, 2016, 2:27 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA Advantage, spg platnum, viporter, United Silver, Delta Med
Posts: 132
If you value a 1-stop itin, the peace of mind of being on a single PNR, and already have 50,000 AA miles, I'd redeem the award.
You could probably piece something funky together for a mix of cash and miles that is theoretically better. My first thoughts were (a) cheap flight to ORD and then the 7500-mile award from there or (b) some sort of better option to Buffalo. But on a very quick check, it seems like neither of those yields an option that is both convenient and more optimal than just spending 50,000 miles. (The problem is getting an award seat out of Bogota to anywhere.)
So...there we have it...a case where a double-miles award is probably the best option short of extra connections and/or an overnight stay.
You could probably piece something funky together for a mix of cash and miles that is theoretically better. My first thoughts were (a) cheap flight to ORD and then the 7500-mile award from there or (b) some sort of better option to Buffalo. But on a very quick check, it seems like neither of those yields an option that is both convenient and more optimal than just spending 50,000 miles. (The problem is getting an award seat out of Bogota to anywhere.)
So...there we have it...a case where a double-miles award is probably the best option short of extra connections and/or an overnight stay.
Thanks everyone for their input!