bladerunner6

A more accurate statement would be loyalty programs are meant to be designed to be profitable for the company.

Generally they are successful in making them work for their advantage but sometimes they aren’t.

As for benefits disappearing because they are discussed online that doesn’t necessarily happen.

We have been very successful IHG point whores for at least six years now. I will admit it was better for us in the early days but we still really good at milking the system well.

And we are late to the party-people have been talking about point sales and such for at least a decade.

Buying IHG points - good idea or not?


And their had been at least one thread on this website about it for over three years.

Buying IHG Rewards Club Points Promotions and Discussions

People give business too much credit for understanding things. Most businesses fail and within businesses that last they make bad decisions a significant portion of the time.

Synapseturquoise

My husband and I use them mainly to pay for upgrades. We both have the Delta Amex platinum.

RealHJ

Refrain from using DL miles for DL flights. That is almost always the worst value. Book SkyTeam flights from gateways like AMS, NRT and ICN to destination (use other FFP points to get to there). Some destinations have good values, both for short haul flights and long haul. Any flights originating in or going to the US or Canada will overcharge you at least a few fold over.

Foe DL flights VS miles used to be the best value. Now it’s less so after the latest rounds of VS devaluations.

bladerunner6

I can see that strategy. Thanks, we will
keep that in mind.

xooz

I use mine on US Domestic coach flights for family and friends. You get occasional cheap redemptions, and since it's not me, coach is not a problem!!

bladerunner6

Interesting information. But I should have probably mentioned we will overwhelmingly be flying domestically in the US.

Any tips for that?

Thanks.

RealHJ

In that case, redemption value will be slightly more than 1 cent pretty consistently, without real "sweet spots". As others have said, there may be a 'sale' that gives better values occasionally for specific routes/dates. Other than that, best use of SkyMiles is for trips that you are not sure you can make, or where you are not sure of the dates, since SM reservations you can cancel and redeposit at no fee. So let's say in six months you want to go to XXX, but are not sure will you make the trip. You could book a cash fare, then if you have to cancel pay the change fee and have to use up the ticket value within a year, or wait until time comes closer and you know you'll go and then likely pay considerably more then in cash fare. Or you can book the flight to XXX with your SM and if you are going - great!, you likely got a significantly better than 1 cpm value compared to the cash price when your trip was confirmed (while around 1 cpm when it was booked), and if you are not going, just click on cancel and get your miles and $ back.

For domestic flights, in short, IMO best use of SM is when you need flexibility to change/cancel.

sydneyracquelle

And if you book far enough out you know there will very likely be a schedule change of at least one minute which online allows you to then switch into any flight within 2 days before/after for free.

Statman

I save them for the SkyMiles award fare sales that come around every so often.

Booked RT in Y from LAX-HND for only 39k SkyMiles (after 15% discount from holding the Delta Gold Amex). I got 2.4 per point based on the cash fare.

KDCAflyer

Such good "deals" 🙄

mridley2

This is not always the case. Back in April, I booked an award flight JFK-LHR roundtrip on PEAK Summer travel dates for 80K miles. Cash price was $1,400-1600. to me 80k miles was a great bargain. Yes I had to pay ~$200 in taxes/fees but still better than $1600 cash all in.

mridley2

HAHAHA. I clicked on that link. I guess it is tied to my home airport NYC, but the only "deal" that Delta offered was EWR-SLC in First Class...uhh. i'm good thx.

realworld

I thought the change had to be multiple hours? We had three separate flight changes and we had to get a supervisor to rebook us.

GrayAnderson

I'd say that you should shoot for something like 1.4 cents/point if you can. Domestically, landing in the ballpark of 1.3-1.4 cents/point is reasonably reliable with a CC discount (15%) on miles. As a note, about 1.5 cents/point is what you get if redeeming for drinks in the SkyClub (which I do with some regularity).

realworld

I remember Delta used to have flash sales on points. We got a summer trip to Munich on 35k a few years ago. I don't recall seeing any of those emails in ages though.