What's the point of accumulating Asia Miles?
Oct 10, 2017, 12:32 am
#31
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,805
To me it's not like they're worth only $0.06 - when I get to use them, their value in use certainly outweighs the cost (trading loss) I pay for them.
However it is being able to use them - I've sort of ruled out using them on public holidays (not just Japan, even got bollocked for Bangkok CNY). And I honestly don't want to sell or trade them (preserve my ability to use them when I have to).
Due to change in circumstances I am less flexible about when I can fly, and CX is being ever more stingy about public holidays. Or stingy about the seats they release (HKG-SYD-AKL for handover holiday in PE even though I was happy to pay Priority 1 for J)
If it's not public holiday, much of my discretionary leave are booked with UO (they haven't let me down, but if they do I'll just roll back the leave).
It does seem odd that in the face of decreasing demand, CX is decreasing prices like crazy for cash fares (I just priced CAN-HKG-YVR in J at r/t RMB18k for Easter while HKG-YVR r/t is $30k) but decreasing redemption availability at the same time.
Oct 10, 2017, 7:14 am
#32
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
$0.06 https://forum.hongkongcard.com/forumSE/show/22044 #5 .
To me it's not like they're worth only $0.06 - when I get to use them, their value in use certainly outweighs the cost (trading loss) I pay for them.
However it is being able to use them - I've sort of ruled out using them on public holidays (not just Japan, even got bollocked for Bangkok CNY). And I honestly don't want to sell or trade them (preserve my ability to use them when I have to).
Due to change in circumstances I am less flexible about when I can fly, and CX is being ever more stingy about public holidays. Or stingy about the seats they release (HKG-SYD-AKL for handover holiday in PE even though I was happy to pay Priority 1 for J)
If it's not public holiday, much of my discretionary leave are booked with UO (they haven't let me down, but if they do I'll just roll back the leave).
It does seem odd that in the face of decreasing demand, CX is decreasing prices like crazy for cash fares (I just priced CAN-HKG-YVR in J at r/t RMB18k for Easter while HKG-YVR r/t is $30k) but decreasing redemption availability at the same time.
To me it's not like they're worth only $0.06 - when I get to use them, their value in use certainly outweighs the cost (trading loss) I pay for them.
However it is being able to use them - I've sort of ruled out using them on public holidays (not just Japan, even got bollocked for Bangkok CNY). And I honestly don't want to sell or trade them (preserve my ability to use them when I have to).
Due to change in circumstances I am less flexible about when I can fly, and CX is being ever more stingy about public holidays. Or stingy about the seats they release (HKG-SYD-AKL for handover holiday in PE even though I was happy to pay Priority 1 for J)
If it's not public holiday, much of my discretionary leave are booked with UO (they haven't let me down, but if they do I'll just roll back the leave).
It does seem odd that in the face of decreasing demand, CX is decreasing prices like crazy for cash fares (I just priced CAN-HKG-YVR in J at r/t RMB18k for Easter while HKG-YVR r/t is $30k) but decreasing redemption availability at the same time.
Oct 10, 2017, 8:19 am
#33
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM, JGC Sapphire, FWC Gold
Posts: 329
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this as I have let read through all threads in detail, but one thing AM (if you also have MPC status) attracts me is the ability to waitlist for CX flights. There are good chance you would be cleared unless the flight is heavily overbooked.
Oct 10, 2017, 9:33 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this as I have let read through all threads in detail, but one thing AM (if you also have MPC status) attracts me is the ability to waitlist for CX flights. There are good chance you would be cleared unless the flight is heavily overbooked.
Oct 10, 2017, 11:51 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 131
I think the valuable part is the route rules AM offered.
Generally, an AM reward ticket allows 2 transfer, 2 stopover and 1 open-jaw, which means you can have 6 segments on 1 tickets, and the least miles required is just 30k in Y or 50K in J, that's 5K each segment.
For example, CAN-HKG-ICN, GMP-HND-AOJ, MMB-HND, NRT-CAN can be in one ticket which only cost 30K am in Y, or CAN-HKG-USM, USM-SIN, KUL-BKK, BKK-HKG-CAN.
Also, Shenzhen airlines offers a great deal when travel within mainland China, for example, WUX-XMN, XMN-NKG, NTG-TPE, TPE-WUX, which allows you to book two travels (one to XMN and the other one to TPE, the time can be different) in 1 ticket, and it just cost 20k in Y.
There are so many great way to redeem AM miles for leisure travel, and with credit card offers, it can be easily done within 1 years to get 30k miles, isn't it?
Generally, an AM reward ticket allows 2 transfer, 2 stopover and 1 open-jaw, which means you can have 6 segments on 1 tickets, and the least miles required is just 30k in Y or 50K in J, that's 5K each segment.
For example, CAN-HKG-ICN, GMP-HND-AOJ, MMB-HND, NRT-CAN can be in one ticket which only cost 30K am in Y, or CAN-HKG-USM, USM-SIN, KUL-BKK, BKK-HKG-CAN.
Also, Shenzhen airlines offers a great deal when travel within mainland China, for example, WUX-XMN, XMN-NKG, NTG-TPE, TPE-WUX, which allows you to book two travels (one to XMN and the other one to TPE, the time can be different) in 1 ticket, and it just cost 20k in Y.
There are so many great way to redeem AM miles for leisure travel, and with credit card offers, it can be easily done within 1 years to get 30k miles, isn't it?
Oct 10, 2017, 8:45 pm
#36
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,805
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this as I have let read through all threads in detail, but one thing AM (if you also have MPC status) attracts me is the ability to waitlist for CX flights. There are good chance you would be cleared unless the flight is heavily overbooked.
Wedding 5/8 SYD. We were mailed invites in May.
We couldn't risk RSVPing without confirmed flights so mate redeemed PE r/t and me Y r/t on AM (my dates were tighter: 4-6/8 only). School holidays in HK but not Aus so it's not much demand.
We added waitlists to J both ways but we didn't clear them T-4 days out
HKG-SYD J cleared for us 3 days out <--- seems like revenue control were waiting for the waitlists to expire or something. We both reissued.
SYD-HKG became available for me when I was being driven to the wedding. So that's around 30 hours before departure <-- my reissue 2
My mate got his J seat essentially when I was waiting for my luggage at HKG and he was packing for SYD. 5 hours out <-- reissue 2 for him.
Due to my $0.06 trading cost I paid for all my reissue fees in AM. My mate is also sick of waiting for last minute availability and also followed suit.
Oct 11, 2017, 2:49 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
Not much help. Mate and I:
Wedding 5/8 SYD. We were mailed invites in May.
We couldn't risk RSVPing without confirmed flights so mate redeemed PE r/t and me Y r/t on AM (my dates were tighter: 4-6/8 only). School holidays in HK but not Aus so it's not much demand.
We added waitlists to J both ways but we didn't clear them T-4 days out
HKG-SYD J cleared for us 3 days out <--- seems like revenue control were waiting for the waitlists to expire or something. We both reissued.
SYD-HKG became available for me when I was being driven to the wedding. So that's around 30 hours before departure <-- my reissue 2
My mate got his J seat essentially when I was waiting for my luggage at HKG and he was packing for SYD. 5 hours out <-- reissue 2 for him.
Due to my $0.06 trading cost I paid for all my reissue fees in AM. My mate is also sick of waiting for last minute availability and also followed suit.
Wedding 5/8 SYD. We were mailed invites in May.
We couldn't risk RSVPing without confirmed flights so mate redeemed PE r/t and me Y r/t on AM (my dates were tighter: 4-6/8 only). School holidays in HK but not Aus so it's not much demand.
We added waitlists to J both ways but we didn't clear them T-4 days out
HKG-SYD J cleared for us 3 days out <--- seems like revenue control were waiting for the waitlists to expire or something. We both reissued.
SYD-HKG became available for me when I was being driven to the wedding. So that's around 30 hours before departure <-- my reissue 2
My mate got his J seat essentially when I was waiting for my luggage at HKG and he was packing for SYD. 5 hours out <-- reissue 2 for him.
Due to my $0.06 trading cost I paid for all my reissue fees in AM. My mate is also sick of waiting for last minute availability and also followed suit.
Oct 11, 2017, 3:32 am
#38
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
I think the valuable part is the route rules AM offered.
Generally, an AM reward ticket allows 2 transfer, 2 stopover and 1 open-jaw, which means you can have 6 segments on 1 tickets, and the least miles required is just 30k in Y or 50K in J, that's 5K each segment.
For example, CAN-HKG-ICN, GMP-HND-AOJ, MMB-HND, NRT-CAN can be in one ticket which only cost 30K am in Y, or CAN-HKG-USM, USM-SIN, KUL-BKK, BKK-HKG-CAN.
Generally, an AM reward ticket allows 2 transfer, 2 stopover and 1 open-jaw, which means you can have 6 segments on 1 tickets, and the least miles required is just 30k in Y or 50K in J, that's 5K each segment.
For example, CAN-HKG-ICN, GMP-HND-AOJ, MMB-HND, NRT-CAN can be in one ticket which only cost 30K am in Y, or CAN-HKG-USM, USM-SIN, KUL-BKK, BKK-HKG-CAN.
I thought it was two stopover, two transfer OR one open-jaw?
Also how did you price 30k?
https://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/site/terms
2. The Member or the Nominee may make two stopovers, two transfers or one open-jaw at either the origin, en route or turnaround point on all airline partners except Air China where no stopovers or open-jaws are permitted.
Oct 11, 2017, 9:49 am
#39
Join Date: May 2017
Location: HK
Programs: MPC Diamond
Posts: 101
$0.06 https://forum.hongkongcard.com/forumSE/show/22044 #5 .
To me it's not like they're worth only $0.06 - when I get to use them, their value in use certainly outweighs the cost (trading loss) I pay for them.
However it is being able to use them - I've sort of ruled out using them on public holidays (not just Japan, even got bollocked for Bangkok CNY). And I honestly don't want to sell or trade them (preserve my ability to use them when I have to).
Due to change in circumstances I am less flexible about when I can fly, and CX is being ever more stingy about public holidays. Or stingy about the seats they release (HKG-SYD-AKL for handover holiday in PE even though I was happy to pay Priority 1 for J)
If it's not public holiday, much of my discretionary leave are booked with UO (they haven't let me down, but if they do I'll just roll back the leave).
It does seem odd that in the face of decreasing demand, CX is decreasing prices like crazy for cash fares (I just priced CAN-HKG-YVR in J at r/t RMB18k for Easter while HKG-YVR r/t is $30k) but decreasing redemption availability at the same time.
To me it's not like they're worth only $0.06 - when I get to use them, their value in use certainly outweighs the cost (trading loss) I pay for them.
However it is being able to use them - I've sort of ruled out using them on public holidays (not just Japan, even got bollocked for Bangkok CNY). And I honestly don't want to sell or trade them (preserve my ability to use them when I have to).
Due to change in circumstances I am less flexible about when I can fly, and CX is being ever more stingy about public holidays. Or stingy about the seats they release (HKG-SYD-AKL for handover holiday in PE even though I was happy to pay Priority 1 for J)
If it's not public holiday, much of my discretionary leave are booked with UO (they haven't let me down, but if they do I'll just roll back the leave).
It does seem odd that in the face of decreasing demand, CX is decreasing prices like crazy for cash fares (I just priced CAN-HKG-YVR in J at r/t RMB18k for Easter while HKG-YVR r/t is $30k) but decreasing redemption availability at the same time.
If incremental value is only HK$0.02, you probably won't breakeven with 2MM miles earned/year (this is a complete guess), but if either of those variables moves up a bit I think you start to get close?? You can probably "efficiently" buy Diamond if you are targeting it without spending much more than HK$60-80K (based on G-CIVC here).
Oct 11, 2017, 10:07 am
#40
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,805
Oct 11, 2017, 10:19 am
#41
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,805
percy, if the primary devaluing factor for you is usability, doesn't that improve drastically if you are Diamond? Just out of curiosity, have you weighed the incremental amount you think your miles would be worth if you had access to revenue seats for redemption multiplied by the # of miles you earn each year vs. what net cost might be to "purchase" Diamond each year?
If incremental value is only HK$0.02, you probably won't breakeven with 2MM miles earned/year (this is a complete guess), but if either of those variables moves up a bit I think you start to get close?? You can probably "efficiently" buy Diamond if you are targeting it without spending much more than HK$60-80K (based on G-CIVC here).
If incremental value is only HK$0.02, you probably won't breakeven with 2MM miles earned/year (this is a complete guess), but if either of those variables moves up a bit I think you start to get close?? You can probably "efficiently" buy Diamond if you are targeting it without spending much more than HK$60-80K (based on G-CIVC here).
2. Only point of being DM is to open seats from revenue. This only applies to the DM personally - being on a DM's redemption list (my family members) will get you "you're on the top of the waiting list" which is as meaningful as the CPG promising we can elect our Chief Executive (sure, if you vote on the people we pick/sure, if we choose to release redemption seats at all).
3. There's only a limited number of miles you can use to open seats from revenue at every membership year.
Oct 11, 2017, 10:41 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 131
Can you explain?
I thought it was two stopover, two transfer OR one open-jaw?
Also how did you price 30k?
https://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/site/terms
2. The Member or the Nominee may make two stopovers, two transfers or one open-jaw at either the origin, en route or turnaround point on all airline partners except Air China where no stopovers or open-jaws are permitted.
I thought it was two stopover, two transfer OR one open-jaw?
Also how did you price 30k?
https://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/site/terms
2. The Member or the Nominee may make two stopovers, two transfers or one open-jaw at either the origin, en route or turnaround point on all airline partners except Air China where no stopovers or open-jaws are permitted.
For example, A-B, C-A, then the miles are based on the longer trip. Or A-B, C-D-A, then compare A-B and D-A, the longer one will be 'destination', let's say D-A in this case, then the miles are based on A-B+C-D, or D-A, the longer one will determine the miles required.
PS: the route I mentioned are the actual ticketed routes, which you can just check availability and call AM to have it.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:28 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
Although it says 'or', in practice, the rules is actually an 'and', and the miles are calculated by the longest one-way trip (which can be a bit complicated).
For example, A-B, C-A, then the miles are based on the longer trip. Or A-B, C-D-A, then compare A-B and D-A, the longer one will be 'destination', let's say D-A in this case, then the miles are based on A-B+C-D, or D-A, the longer one will determine the miles required.
PS: the route I mentioned are the actual ticketed routes, which you can just check availability and call AM to have it.
For example, A-B, C-A, then the miles are based on the longer trip. Or A-B, C-D-A, then compare A-B and D-A, the longer one will be 'destination', let's say D-A in this case, then the miles are based on A-B+C-D, or D-A, the longer one will determine the miles required.
PS: the route I mentioned are the actual ticketed routes, which you can just check availability and call AM to have it.
Oct 14, 2017, 10:48 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bangkok/Singapore
Programs: Frantic Hilton/Marriott runs
Posts: 926
One possible use for AM - 190K miles for a RTW business fare. Cheaper than QF apparently:
https://www.pointhacks.com.au/asia-m...emption-guide/
https://www.pointhacks.com.au/asia-m...emption-guide/