Award Travel is a WASTE
Apr 14, 2022, 8:07 am
#61
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA
Posts: 344
I would consider 130K each way still a good value if the alternatives are expensive. If the lowest workable cash option is $5K round-trip and you spend 260K miles, that is nearly 2 cents per mile and nothing to complain about, IMO.
I get the best deals (miles or cash) when I have the most flexibility and still consider my miles worthwhile when they save me $$$$ on less flexible plans, even if I am paying a lot more.
I get the best deals (miles or cash) when I have the most flexibility and still consider my miles worthwhile when they save me $$$$ on less flexible plans, even if I am paying a lot more.
Apr 14, 2022, 8:59 am
#62
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Paris
Programs: AA LT Plat (4m+), AF Plat, A3 Gold, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat/Ambassador
Posts: 2,648
I disagree, unless the main thing you care about is transatlantic redemption.
Any other region, including domestic, AA's largest market, I find AA miles to be among the most useful miles out there.
IMO, if TATL is your main goal, you should choose a star program such as UA or Lifemiles as your primary, depending how you mostly earn miles.
Exactly. The frequency I have been able to book domestic F on AA for a fraction of what any other program wanted stands out.
Note that the best time to find airfare bargains, be it with miles or cash, is not when the airlines are experiencing record demand as they are this month.
I would consider 130K each way still a good value if the alternatives are expensive. If the lowest workable cash option is $5K round-trip and you spend 260K miles, that is nearly 2 cents per mile and nothing to complain about, IMO.
I get the best deals (miles or cash) when I have the most flexibility and still consider my miles worthwhile when they save me $$$$ on less flexible plans, even if I am paying a lot more.
Any other region, including domestic, AA's largest market, I find AA miles to be among the most useful miles out there.
IMO, if TATL is your main goal, you should choose a star program such as UA or Lifemiles as your primary, depending how you mostly earn miles.
Exactly. The frequency I have been able to book domestic F on AA for a fraction of what any other program wanted stands out.
Note that the best time to find airfare bargains, be it with miles or cash, is not when the airlines are experiencing record demand as they are this month.
I would consider 130K each way still a good value if the alternatives are expensive. If the lowest workable cash option is $5K round-trip and you spend 260K miles, that is nearly 2 cents per mile and nothing to complain about, IMO.
I get the best deals (miles or cash) when I have the most flexibility and still consider my miles worthwhile when they save me $$$$ on less flexible plans, even if I am paying a lot more.
But even with transatlantic, AA has bad options. Their flights are always priced at ridiculous levels, they force you onto BA with ridiculous surcharges. So you're basically limited to IB and AY to the US. And transpacific travel is even worse, with fewer options. Deep South America is a toss-up with AA but again, this is all more relevant for folks living in the US.
As for StarAlliance LM used to be good and was a great option but it's been notoriously bad lately as LH/LX/AC have cut availability to LM in J.
LH and AF are way better in my opinion though earning those miles is harder and you pay in terms of fuel surcharges.
I for one would never pay 130K for a one-way ticket to Europe from the East Coast... when you can find $1000 OW fares on TP/B6 out of NYC/BOS... but to each his/her own...
Apr 14, 2022, 9:05 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,015
Apr 14, 2022, 9:31 am
#64
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,400
Only thing I could think of is an Air Tahitu Nu award to AKL then a (seperate) QR award to DOH/SEZ?
Apr 14, 2022, 9:41 am
#65
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Pro tip: When booking AA metal 6+ months in advance, you can choose the terrible schedule that costs so much less. When the inevitable schedule changes happen, you can choose the best schedule option without paying more.
Rather, transatlantic is the only major AA redemption weak spot compared to their primary competition.
To every other region from the US, AA miles value are competitive.
Having said that, I had lots of date options for 3 people business class at the saver level AA metal BOS-XXX-LHR in May booking 4 months out. I booked the connection, waited for the schedule change, and now have the desired nonstop.
My last LM TATL business class awards involved UA connecting to SN or all TK flights. Good to know they are harder to use these days.
LH and AF miles have occasionally provided me with the best value. Those fuel surcharges really add up.
Looking at what the OP needs, PDX-PMI, there are a few dates around $3K, so I wouldn't redeem the miles if those can work either.
I compare the price in miles to workable cash options and when all cash options are high, paying more miles than I prefer can still be a great value.
But even with transatlantic, AA has bad options. Their flights are always priced at ridiculous levels, they force you onto BA with ridiculous surcharges. So you're basically limited to IB and AY to the US. And transpacific travel is even worse, with fewer options. Deep South America is a toss-up with AA but again, this is all more relevant for folks living in the US.
To every other region from the US, AA miles value are competitive.
Having said that, I had lots of date options for 3 people business class at the saver level AA metal BOS-XXX-LHR in May booking 4 months out. I booked the connection, waited for the schedule change, and now have the desired nonstop.
LH and AF miles have occasionally provided me with the best value. Those fuel surcharges really add up.
I compare the price in miles to workable cash options and when all cash options are high, paying more miles than I prefer can still be a great value.
Last edited by wanaflyforless; Apr 14, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Apr 14, 2022, 9:42 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,482
Apr 14, 2022, 10:42 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
(Sips tea while thinking about his HEL-SEA nonstop in J this summer and his multiple SEA-LHR-SEA trips in AA J)
Yeah, totally useless, complete waste. I’ll take them off your hands for $20. Save you the trouble.
Yeah, totally useless, complete waste. I’ll take them off your hands for $20. Save you the trouble.
Apr 14, 2022, 11:05 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA PLT, IHG Spire
Posts: 551
I can pretty regularly get domestic flights for 2 cents per mile if I look, which I consider decent redemptions usually. Got some decent deals for this summer, including a total steal of a couple tickets at 12k miles RT.
YMMV but there are definitely deals to be had, especially if you can book out enough to risk AA changing the schedule. Got rid of a red-eye and some inconvenient layovers that was cheap due to schedule changes.
YMMV but there are definitely deals to be had, especially if you can book out enough to risk AA changing the schedule. Got rid of a red-eye and some inconvenient layovers that was cheap due to schedule changes.
Apr 14, 2022, 2:50 pm
#70
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Apr 16, 2022, 11:23 am
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 524
Haven't gone yet! Coming up in the fall. It's AA/TN from USA to PPT and back, then we have to go to a wedding in between trips, AA/QR from USA to SEZ.
Apr 16, 2022, 10:19 pm
#73
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
I just booked a one way flight for this coming Tuesday for 10k as a web special. I'm ok with that.
Not saying it isn't harder to get good deals compared to 5 years ago, but it is still doable if you are flexible.
Not saying it isn't harder to get good deals compared to 5 years ago, but it is still doable if you are flexible.
Apr 17, 2022, 11:53 am
#74
Used to be 'Travelergcp'
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Programs: AA Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,826
Awards are certainly different now. No more fairly predictable stuff at end of schedule, or within seven days, but stuff does randomly pop up on a web special. Grabbing “anything” and schedule changing into something better seems to be the way to go.