50000 Points First Class to Austin
Dec 20, 2007 | 4:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA, NW, CO, AA (General Member)
Posts: 168
50000 Points First Class to Austin
Would you guys consider 50000 miles from New York to Austin in April of 2008. First class cost about $1250 plus, what would you do?
Dec 20, 2007 | 4:38 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,859
unless I ate a lot more donuts beforehand, I don't think its worth either the cash or the miles to fly F to AUS.
Dec 20, 2007 | 4:56 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 25,600
It's just against my FF religion to spend 50k on anything domestic. Others may feel differently.
Dec 20, 2007 | 5:12 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: UA S; Marriott LG; IHG P; Hertz PC; AA, WN, Pan Am!
Posts: 820
Considering that's the longest flight I can take (assuming my itin begins and ends at home, which is a good bet if I'm spending miles) and stay lower 48, I mostly agree.
Dec 20, 2007 | 5:54 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: NY
Programs: CO Plat
Posts: 73
With a cousin at UT, I have flown EWR-AUS a bunch of times. They fly 733s and 735s, so if you you are gold or plat just get a flight where you can get seat 14a or 14f, which are in the exit row and have no seat directly in front of them (i.e., infinite leg room). But even if you cant get the exit row, 50K in miles or $1250 for what amounts to just over a 3 hour flight seems like a waste.
Last edited by Rebigulator; Dec 20, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Silver, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 7,493
Spouse and I are doing just that in early Jan, so obviously I think the answer is yes in the right circumstances. Special getaway trip, fairly high fares in Y, and I have lots of NW miles to burn.
But F on that route is not a great value. The three EWR-AUS nonstops are over 4 hours and you won't even get a meal on two of them (only breakfast on the morning flight). And two of the flights are 737-500's -- not exactly the most luxurious F experience. If you're going to go for it, you might try for one of the 767 or 757-200 flights from EWR-IAH, and connect. You'll at least get something more substantial for the extra mileage.
But F on that route is not a great value. The three EWR-AUS nonstops are over 4 hours and you won't even get a meal on two of them (only breakfast on the morning flight). And two of the flights are 737-500's -- not exactly the most luxurious F experience. If you're going to go for it, you might try for one of the 767 or 757-200 flights from EWR-IAH, and connect. You'll at least get something more substantial for the extra mileage.
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:15 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Fabulous on one of the US carriers..
Posts: 11,878
Nope. Not worth it. I didn't even bother to spend 15K to upgrade my bad self this Sunday (AUS-LGA). Good thing I didn't as the upgrade just came through. ^
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:15 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: United 1k ; SW A+ Preferred; Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 634
The question is too simple.
If all I had in my account was 50k miles and I wasn't looking at any future mileage earning or spending possibilties, then maybe I'd do it.
But if I wanted to travel somewhere else someday where comfort was a primary factor (such as an international trip) I probabaly wouldn't spend 50k on NYC-AUS. As was pointed out, there isn't a lot of comfort to be gained on this route with the little 735's CO uses.
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: EWR-N.Haledon NJ
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 1,136
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:36 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,658
Are you booking standard first reward because only EasyPass rewards are available? If so, I would book standard first reward. I would otherwise pay for first only on the westbound leg because it's a longer flight and more likely to be delayed by ATC departing EWR/LGA/JFK. Economy is more bearable on the eastbound leg.
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:56 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,955
Save it for double the milies you can go BF to europe...
Dec 20, 2007 | 6:57 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA, NW, CO, AA (General Member)
Posts: 168
one problem is I am not an elite so i was thinking that since we have 10 mil Amex Points we could transfer 50000 to onepass and buy the ticket through award
Dec 20, 2007 | 7:07 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: CO non-elite, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,621
If you have miles to burn, which it sounds like is the case, then why not? Like ryerflyer says, it's a small fraction of your (potentially) available balance.
My personal philosophy is that miles were meant to be used!
My personal philosophy is that miles were meant to be used!
Dec 20, 2007 | 8:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS (1MM), DL Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Avis CC
Posts: 526
Not to mention that 2/3 of the EWR-AUS flights only have the snack service... Definitely much better ways to spend 50k miles.
Dec 21, 2007 | 9:09 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NNJ
Programs: CO - Gold, Presidents Club, Priority Club - Gold
Posts: 11
If you got points to burn, why not take the train into manhattan and take the helicopter connection. It'll be the cheapest helicopter sight seeing tour of manhattan. That connection is about 15k points.