Merrill+ VISA [Consolidated]
Dec 15, 2016 | 11:01 am
#511
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,329
It's really easy to book online, just like if you were using Orbitz. The first $500 is covered by 25,000 points, then you pay the rest at a lower value.
Here is a search result, Europe to West Coast USA. Doesn't matter that it originated from outside the USA and all airlines are treated equally.
Taxes and Fees are included, and you can benefit at times from Orbitz method of combining airlines, like British & Virgin Atlantic below:
Here is a search result, Europe to West Coast USA. Doesn't matter that it originated from outside the USA and all airlines are treated equally.
Taxes and Fees are included, and you can benefit at times from Orbitz method of combining airlines, like British & Virgin Atlantic below:
abt prices - have you noticed them to be the same if you were to book on Orbitz or Expedia or Priceline, using your regular account? i hope they dont inflate their prices or something for going through BOA's end
Last edited by mia; Dec 15, 2016 at 11:07 am Reason: Please do not "quote" images.
Dec 15, 2016 | 11:11 am
#512
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,891
You don't. You login to your Bank of America account, navigate to the rewards area, and click a Flights link. It launches the booking engine. It happens to be outsourced to Orbitz, but it is not marketed or branded as Orbitz. It's no different than booking travel through American Express, Chase or Citi. They all have sites where points can be redeemed for travel, and they are all outsourced to someone. The availability and pricing are not necessarily identical to the operator's own branded site.
Dec 15, 2016 | 11:13 am
#513
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: LAS
Posts: 13
thank you - i presume you would have a separate login to orbitz? i guess my question is how do you go from BOA website to Orbitz - and use the points? i have never redeem any travel-related stuff from BOA so this could be something straightfwd but right now looks like blackbox to me
abt prices - have you noticed them to be the same if you were to book on Orbitz or Expedia or Priceline, using your regular account? i hope they dont inflate their prices or something for going through BOA's end
abt prices - have you noticed them to be the same if you were to book on Orbitz or Expedia or Priceline, using your regular account? i hope they dont inflate their prices or something for going through BOA's end
Regarding prices, they seem about the same or lower in some cases. They definitely do not seem inflated. As we approach Euro/Dollar parity, I am finding it a much better deal to pay cash (or use points that convert to cash) for these sub-500 roundtrip flights in Economy.
Dec 15, 2016 | 12:10 pm
#514
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,329
The website is travelcenter.ml.com
Regarding prices, they seem about the same or lower in some cases. They definitely do not seem inflated. As we approach Euro/Dollar parity, I am finding it a much better deal to pay cash (or use points that convert to cash) for these sub-500 roundtrip flights in Economy.
Regarding prices, they seem about the same or lower in some cases. They definitely do not seem inflated. As we approach Euro/Dollar parity, I am finding it a much better deal to pay cash (or use points that convert to cash) for these sub-500 roundtrip flights in Economy.
You don't. You login to your Bank of America account, navigate to the rewards area, and click a Flights link. It launches the booking engine. It happens to be outsourced to Orbitz, but it is not marketed or branded as Orbitz. It's no different than booking travel through American Express, Chase or Citi. They all have sites where points can be redeemed for travel, and they are all outsourced to someone. The availability and pricing are not necessarily identical to the operator's own branded site.
Dec 16, 2016 | 3:30 pm
#516
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,329
to maximize, you need to get a ticket that is close to $500 but yet, it must be a price for a single ticket. the only kind of ticket that approach this threshold is tix to hawaii or europe, i think.
Dec 17, 2016 | 10:33 am
#517
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 594
Can you call and book through an agent and ask them to book you in a higher economy fare category than the lowest? The reason I ask is I'd like to book using the points & then call AA and up-fare to a discounted first class. So an example:
ORD-MCO r/t lowest discount economy (booking code O): $107
ORD-MCO r/t economy (booking code K) $475
ORD-MCO r/t lowest discounted FIRST (booking code I) $515
So my plan would be to use 25,000 points to book the coach ticket in K class at $475 then call AA directly and pay the $40 out of pocket to up-fare to FIRST. Anyone tried this or had any luck doing this?
ORD-MCO r/t lowest discount economy (booking code O): $107
ORD-MCO r/t economy (booking code K) $475
ORD-MCO r/t lowest discounted FIRST (booking code I) $515
So my plan would be to use 25,000 points to book the coach ticket in K class at $475 then call AA directly and pay the $40 out of pocket to up-fare to FIRST. Anyone tried this or had any luck doing this?
Dec 25, 2016 | 4:16 pm
#520
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
I want to buy ~$650 air ticket. I have 50k+ points.
I want to use only 25k points for this purchase and pay the rest with cash. (This is not how engine works. It takes 25k points for $500 credit and then 15k more points to cover remaining $150.)
Anyone think of way to temporarily move away 25k points (by buying refundable? ticket/hotel/whatever, transferring to family member/different card/etc.)?
This is to remain only $25k in the account and apply only these points to the purchase.
I want to use only 25k points for this purchase and pay the rest with cash. (This is not how engine works. It takes 25k points for $500 credit and then 15k more points to cover remaining $150.)
Anyone think of way to temporarily move away 25k points (by buying refundable? ticket/hotel/whatever, transferring to family member/different card/etc.)?
This is to remain only $25k in the account and apply only these points to the purchase.
Last edited by pier11; Dec 25, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Dec 26, 2016 | 7:24 pm
#522
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: LAX, LGB, SNA
Programs: AA EXP OWE, DL DM ST+, AS MVPG, UA, BA, WN CP, Hyatt E, Ritz Plat, HH GM
Posts: 3,185
Dec 27, 2016 | 9:37 am
#523
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, DL PM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,979
I may be wrong, but I believe it also has primary rental car insurance.
Dec 28, 2016 | 2:10 pm
#524
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Stuck in the office, FOR NOW...
Programs: WN, UA Silver, Marriott/SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 22
Reading back in the thread I see that two tickets can't be combined for the $500, which was my first question.
Has anyone tried to redeem for a one-way?
Has anyone tried to redeem for a one-way?
Dec 30, 2016 | 3:55 pm
#525
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 188