How does miles plus cash actually work?
Apr 6, 2021, 11:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Otherworld
Programs: *Gold
Posts: 211
How does miles plus cash actually work?
Hi,
I'm trying to book 3 award seats in business and am a little short on the required miles but the website keeps offering me the "Book with Miles Plus Cash" option - however when I click on that I just get redirected to the regular cash booking engine with no miles+cash option in sight. Has anyone successfully used this?
I'm trying to book 3 award seats in business and am a little short on the required miles but the website keeps offering me the "Book with Miles Plus Cash" option - however when I click on that I just get redirected to the regular cash booking engine with no miles+cash option in sight. Has anyone successfully used this?
Apr 7, 2021, 10:13 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
Hi,
I'm trying to book 3 award seats in business and am a little short on the required miles but the website keeps offering me the "Book with Miles Plus Cash" option - however when I click on that I just get redirected to the regular cash booking engine with no miles+cash option in sight. Has anyone successfully used this?
I'm trying to book 3 award seats in business and am a little short on the required miles but the website keeps offering me the "Book with Miles Plus Cash" option - however when I click on that I just get redirected to the regular cash booking engine with no miles+cash option in sight. Has anyone successfully used this?
May 16, 2022, 8:55 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,161
I tried it just on a lark, and the conversion rates were beyond absurd. Something like 90,000 Asia Miles would lower the ticket price by HKD 5,000. It's rather insulting.
May 17, 2022, 2:33 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
However, I think BA actually has a fairly decent rate that people seem to use.
May 17, 2022, 6:25 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,161
The AMEX MR program has something similar, which isn't terrible. Neither is the Hyatt C+P program. But these from CX are just downright insulting. Would only consider using if I really had no use for the points, couldn't extend them, and they were expiring shortly. And there are other ways to extend them, as we know.
May 17, 2022, 8:17 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
The AMEX MR program has something similar, which isn't terrible. Neither is the Hyatt C+P program. But these from CX are just downright insulting. Would only consider using if I really had no use for the points, couldn't extend them, and they were expiring shortly. And there are other ways to extend them, as we know.
May 17, 2022, 9:50 pm
#7
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Once CX removed Choice awards, miles plus cash is my highest and best use for AM. I'm valuing my miles at $0.058 now; hence, preferring most cash rebate programs for spending (recently, going for a lot of BoC 10X points promotions where each 1X = 0.6% cash rebate).
May 18, 2022, 12:16 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
You're realising HK$0.055/AM. I'm aiming for $0.058.
Once CX removed Choice awards, miles plus cash is my highest and best use for AM. I'm valuing my miles at $0.058 now; hence, preferring most cash rebate programs for spending (recently, going for a lot of BoC 10X points promotions where each 1X = 0.6% cash rebate).
Once CX removed Choice awards, miles plus cash is my highest and best use for AM. I'm valuing my miles at $0.058 now; hence, preferring most cash rebate programs for spending (recently, going for a lot of BoC 10X points promotions where each 1X = 0.6% cash rebate).
May 18, 2022, 12:30 am
#9
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Premium Economy, which is the tix most family members will travel on on any regular basis. Sure we buy business in an emergency, or if mother's involved, but not generally otherwise.
May 18, 2022, 12:46 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,345
I have been too lazy to update my own ratios, but with travel coming later this summer I might have to start doing so again.
May 18, 2022, 7:07 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,161
Compared to a recent redemption booking I made for SIN-HKG in J for 25K AsiaMiles, which depending on the J fare, is definitely more than HKD 0.20 per AM, HKD 0.058 per AM is a crass insult.
May 18, 2022, 2:48 pm
#12
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Some pre-pandemic travel on Choice has been refunded and can't be rebooked as Standard.
May 19, 2022, 1:03 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,161
