While not specifically a redemption help question, I'm wondering what the current thoughts are on burning miles? I haven't kept up will all 71(!) pages of the LH takeover thread so am not sure what the current thinking is (ok to hold for a while or burn?)

I don't have a huge number of miles (54,000) and am current *S and at the moment am unlikely to renew this before my year is up. I'm heading to Egypt for Xmas and flights are currently around �550 return with swiss. I'm wondering if it's worth using some miles instead (even for Y)? The only other thing I have planned for my miles at the moment is a one way to Russia next year in C (will be coming back via finland). I also have a trip to NZ planned for March next year so I will recouping some (if not all) of the miles I spend.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Mel.b

I don't think that there is anything major to worry about. LH has just poached the head of India's Jet Airways to run BMI so closure or quick sale seem unlikely for now.

What MAY happen is little tweaks like the end of cash and miles, in the same way that F redemptions were moved to 2.5x instead of 2x Economy.

At the end of the day, cancelling redemption flights is not expensive so you may want to lock in major trips for 2010.

Egypt - do it in BMI Business Class. It's a fairly long flight and you'll find this a good use of miles I think. You could always buy some more if needed. (Is the �550 Swiss flight in Y?). Similarly, Russia is a great use of miles as Moscow is treated as a European redemption, so very few miles needed even for Business, especially with cash and miles.

Thanks for that Raffles. Have been playing around with ANA for the last hour or so.

Orginally wanted to fly out on the 18th Dec, but the only option from LHR with availability is MS in either C or Y. Otherwise I can fly out on the 17th with BD in C.

Coming back on/around the 4th Jan there is nothing into LHR at all. The best option looks to be LH in C into FRA.

So it's either Swiss in Y for �550 or 30000 miles + �300ish (which includes a flight with Aer Lingus from FRA to DUB) for a trip in C.

Cheers,
Mel.b

Seeing you're starting in FRA, do look carefully at the taxes before booking all the flights, as BD still take the piss on YQ charges to CAI ex. DUB . In short, you don't save a penny in taxes/YQ by starting in DUB compared to starting in LHR.

Thans FlyingOnceMore - I'd actually planned to book it at two one ways LHR - CAI and then CAI-FRA and purchasing my own flights from DUB - LHR to start and FRA-DUB to finish. Your post however reminded me that I'd forgotten to include taxes altogether and a quick look at ITA shows that taxes are going to add around an extra �150, bringing the total cash portion up to around �450. For the sake of an extra �100euro, I'd rather save my miles & go with the convenience of Swiss (even if it is in Y) as I can fly in/out of LHR and it availability on the days I want.

Cheers,
Mel.b

Check if there are any decent Swiss deals ex-Birmingham or ex-Manchester in Business - they have had some good fares recently to various destinations. (EDIT - they don't!)