How would you dispose of 56K Exec Club Miles?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: London, UK
Posts: 342
How would you dispose of 56K Exec Club Miles?
So I've got 56K miles and figured I'd use them for a trip (LON <-> DXB, IAH or SIN). When I come to book a ticket using miles, I discover I that the amount I pay in "taxes and fees" adds up to about 1/3 - 1/2 of just buying the same ticket on Expedia.
I earned these points the hard way...my butt in a BA seat and I've used them in the past for free/low cost travel. The current fees kill the benefit and if I book the same itinerary with CO I pay 1/2 the taxes and fees (LHR<->IAH) that BA wants.
I can't see myself choosing BA in the near future to use an upgrade but I hate the idea of losing the points. So I ask this question: What would you do with these points?
I'd love to get them into a hotel program or Membership Rewards or something that doesn't require me to pay a fee to claim them.
Any ideas?
I earned these points the hard way...my butt in a BA seat and I've used them in the past for free/low cost travel. The current fees kill the benefit and if I book the same itinerary with CO I pay 1/2 the taxes and fees (LHR<->IAH) that BA wants.
I can't see myself choosing BA in the near future to use an upgrade but I hate the idea of losing the points. So I ask this question: What would you do with these points?
I'd love to get them into a hotel program or Membership Rewards or something that doesn't require me to pay a fee to claim them.
Any ideas?
Last edited by The_Diamond_Z; Jan 7, 2010 at 4:02 pm Reason: Grammar correction...I hope
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,167
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
Out of which just about 30 of that would be TLV departure tax and the rest UK!
#8
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,751
try jfk-nrt in Y on AA. Fees only 29.20. Good availability, and you could redeem it for a 'friend'. A good $1000 worth of flight, and 50,000 miles for this is a very fair rate considering the UK equivalent, LHR-SIN would cost 80,000 miles.....
There are other US options (redeem on AA, not JAL or CX):
ord, dfw, lax - nrt
ord - pvg
ord - pek (from may)
ord - del
The other option is LAN.
MAD-LCL is only 27.20 in taxes (250 on Iberia), but you don't have enough miles and would need to position at MAD, so it won't be worth it.
Consequently, you might be better off redeeming for two Y, or one J, redemption within S America. 25/50k miles, and minimal taxes. If you can find SCL-IPC availability, that would probably be best......
http://www.lan.com/info_viajes/clase...ess-en-un.html - full flat bed, 74" seat pitch, 15.4" TVs - looks like a great deal to me.
There are other US options (redeem on AA, not JAL or CX):
ord, dfw, lax - nrt
ord - pvg
ord - pek (from may)
ord - del
The other option is LAN.
MAD-LCL is only 27.20 in taxes (250 on Iberia), but you don't have enough miles and would need to position at MAD, so it won't be worth it.
Consequently, you might be better off redeeming for two Y, or one J, redemption within S America. 25/50k miles, and minimal taxes. If you can find SCL-IPC availability, that would probably be best......
http://www.lan.com/info_viajes/clase...ess-en-un.html - full flat bed, 74" seat pitch, 15.4" TVs - looks like a great deal to me.
Last edited by meester69; Jan 7, 2010 at 6:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,751
Israel is (just) in Band B, and the departure tax is 90 in WT+/CW/F. The rest is BA fees.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: London, UK
Posts: 342
I figured this would be the very first suggestion
meester69's suggestion of using a partner airline and a different origin for a better deal seems like the way to go. Of course, I have to get myself to a different origin first...
Thanks everyone.
meester69's suggestion of using a partner airline and a different origin for a better deal seems like the way to go. Of course, I have to get myself to a different origin first...
Thanks everyone.