Planning a honeymoon on points - is this the most efficient use of points?
Jul 19, 2015 | 12:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Planning a honeymoon on points - is this the most efficient use of points?
So I'm new to the points/Miles game, but decided to be very ambitious and try to develop a one-month Multi-country Asia honeymoon itinerary using points/miles. My question is, am I putting my miles to best use with this itinerary? Are there other mileage programs that offer better rate of return given the countries visited and itinerary?
NOTE: I currently do not have all the points listed, but will, eventually, though credit card spend (a wedding is expensive yet ripe for accumulating points) and buying miles during promotion (hopefully more the former than the latter). Also note listed miles is for two people (me and my lovely bride-to-be)
LAX - DPS one way on SQ metal in J for 136k KrisFlyer miles + $640 in YQ (points to be transferred to KrisFlyer from spend/bonus on Citi ThankYou and AMEX MR accounts), with stopovers purchased at:
NRT ($100pp - 4 day stopover)
SIN ($100pp - 2 day stopover)
(If I can figure out how to get an additional 47k KF points, I would bump this to SQ Suites/First Class for 183K points)
After a 6 day stay in Bali, I would do another one way ticket, DPS - HKG in J for 55k KrisFlyer Miles on a *A award with the following stopovers purchased:
DPS-SIN-HKT on SQ metal ($100pp - 6 day stopover)
HKT-BKK on TG Metal ($100pp - 2 day stopover)
BKK-MNL on TG Metal ($100pp - 8 day stopover)
MNL-TPE-HKG on BR metal (looking for long layover in TPE to do quick tour, then 3 days in HKG)
With HKG as the last stop on the honeymoon, it's back to LAX on the following ticket:
HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles (transferred from existing U.S. Airways miles converted to AA, and spend/bonus from Citi AA card)
Ideally I would like to get some Alaska miles so I could rework the itinerary so DPS-MNL would only cost 40k KrisFlyer and I would get a free stopover in HKG on a MNL-LAX ticket but I doubt I'll be in a position to get 100k AS miles by then
Any feedback is help. I know, long post! Sorry :/
NOTE: I currently do not have all the points listed, but will, eventually, though credit card spend (a wedding is expensive yet ripe for accumulating points) and buying miles during promotion (hopefully more the former than the latter). Also note listed miles is for two people (me and my lovely bride-to-be)
LAX - DPS one way on SQ metal in J for 136k KrisFlyer miles + $640 in YQ (points to be transferred to KrisFlyer from spend/bonus on Citi ThankYou and AMEX MR accounts), with stopovers purchased at:
NRT ($100pp - 4 day stopover)
SIN ($100pp - 2 day stopover)
(If I can figure out how to get an additional 47k KF points, I would bump this to SQ Suites/First Class for 183K points)
After a 6 day stay in Bali, I would do another one way ticket, DPS - HKG in J for 55k KrisFlyer Miles on a *A award with the following stopovers purchased:
DPS-SIN-HKT on SQ metal ($100pp - 6 day stopover)
HKT-BKK on TG Metal ($100pp - 2 day stopover)
BKK-MNL on TG Metal ($100pp - 8 day stopover)
MNL-TPE-HKG on BR metal (looking for long layover in TPE to do quick tour, then 3 days in HKG)
With HKG as the last stop on the honeymoon, it's back to LAX on the following ticket:
HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles (transferred from existing U.S. Airways miles converted to AA, and spend/bonus from Citi AA card)
Ideally I would like to get some Alaska miles so I could rework the itinerary so DPS-MNL would only cost 40k KrisFlyer and I would get a free stopover in HKG on a MNL-LAX ticket but I doubt I'll be in a position to get 100k AS miles by then
Any feedback is help. I know, long post! Sorry :/
Jul 19, 2015 | 1:29 pm
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,029
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles"
HKG-LAX in J for two costs 110K, not 100K AA miles. If you will not have redeemed any AA miles for air travel in the year you make this redemption, then you will receive a 10K rebate of miles, as long as you have a qualifying AA credit card open and in good standing. But initially, you will have to redeem 110K miles.
I think the biggest problem with your plan is your assumption that you will be able to find two premium-cabin seats on the same flights for your exact dates of travel. It's possible that you will, but it's far from certain.
I am not very familiar with SQ's program, but does SQ have routing rules in connection with its stopover awards? If so, do your planned itineraries comply with those rules?
"HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles"
HKG-LAX in J for two costs 110K, not 100K AA miles. If you will not have redeemed any AA miles for air travel in the year you make this redemption, then you will receive a 10K rebate of miles, as long as you have a qualifying AA credit card open and in good standing. But initially, you will have to redeem 110K miles.
I think the biggest problem with your plan is your assumption that you will be able to find two premium-cabin seats on the same flights for your exact dates of travel. It's possible that you will, but it's far from certain.
I am not very familiar with SQ's program, but does SQ have routing rules in connection with its stopover awards? If so, do your planned itineraries comply with those rules?
Jul 19, 2015 | 2:01 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PLAT,PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Gld,Hyatt Disc,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 11,030
Welcome to FT and congratulations!
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
Jul 19, 2015 | 2:21 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles"
HKG-LAX in J for two costs 110K, not 100K AA miles. If you will not have redeemed any AA miles for air travel in the year you make this redemption, then you will receive a 10K rebate of miles, as long as you have a qualifying AA credit card open and in good standing. But initially, you will have to redeem 110K miles.
I think the biggest problem with your plan is your assumption that you will be able to find two premium-cabin seats on the same flights for your exact dates of travel. It's possible that you will, but it's far from certain.
I am not very familiar with SQ's program, but does SQ have routing rules in connection with its stopover awards? If so, do your planned itineraries comply with those rules?
"HKG-LAX on CX metal in J for 100k AAdvantage miles"
HKG-LAX in J for two costs 110K, not 100K AA miles. If you will not have redeemed any AA miles for air travel in the year you make this redemption, then you will receive a 10K rebate of miles, as long as you have a qualifying AA credit card open and in good standing. But initially, you will have to redeem 110K miles.
I think the biggest problem with your plan is your assumption that you will be able to find two premium-cabin seats on the same flights for your exact dates of travel. It's possible that you will, but it's far from certain.
I am not very familiar with SQ's program, but does SQ have routing rules in connection with its stopover awards? If so, do your planned itineraries comply with those rules?
I plan this trip for early 2017. I'm trying to accumulate all the points by early 2016 so I can book the flights as soon as they become available 11 months out.
The flights on SQ metal work because I've tested them out on the website. As for the star alliance award through SE Asia, my only question is the DPS-SIN-HKT leg, as I'm not sure If it constitutes backtracking. The other legs should work (the MNL to HKG leg should work as you are traversing another region SE Asia 2 to North Asia 1)
And thank you for correcting me on the AA award. It is 100k net, but I do need 110k first
Jul 19, 2015 | 2:31 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Welcome to FT and congratulations!
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
Yes I am planning This honeymoon for jan/feb 2017 so I'm trying to gather points by early 2016 so I don't face too many issues booking the tickets. My priorities in order are the 1) lax-dps flights, then 2) hkg-lax flight, then lastly 3) intra-Asia. Flying through Bali, Thailand, and Philippines in J would be nice, but if necessary we can do short economy flights as most of those flights will be less than 2 hours each leg.
RE: Chase, I applied for CSP last week and got rejected (too many accounts opened last two years) so I turned around and applied for Citi Premier. I'll have to rethink when I can get the CSP (if it's even possible)
RE; Singapore suites, my parents and brother and I share an AMEX Rewards Plus account with 180k miles in there. I could always buy 50k miles from my mother @ $500 to do the upgrade on Singapore. But if I could help it, I would rather not buy it from her and let her use it for a trip for herself and my father (or something)
Jul 19, 2015 | 2:56 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Welcome to FT and congratulations!
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
One suggestion:
Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You and Amex Membership Rewards points can all be converted into SQ miles on a one to one basis. In my limited experience, the conversion takes one or two days. All the cards that offer these points have sign-up or initial spending bonuses, though be especially careful re Chase in that they've put some recent restrictions on obtaining their cards. While SQ J is fantastic, SQ F suites are really a special experience worth trying to bag for your honeymoon.
And a question:
For when are you planning this trip? Trying to get all of the flights might work best if you have the points/miles a year in advance, though for the shorter hauls you could compromise with some reasonably priced economy flights on mainline or budget carriers.
Another factor re the timing is that the climate will vary a lot even within SE and East Asia. The best time to visit Thailand and the Philippines in terms of weather, for instance, is January and February. But that's the rainy season in Bali.
Anyway, if you let folks here know the approximate dates, they might be able to give you some good advice for the reasons I mention above.
I'm planning for this trip in jan/feb 2017 so I'm trying to accumulate as many points by jan 2016 to make this happen.
re SQ suites, my family (bro, dad, mom) have a shared AMEX Rewards Plus account with 180k points. I could always "buy" 50k points from my mother to upgrade from J to F but I would rather not if I could help it. I'd rather they use the points for their own trips.
Re: Chase - yeah I applied for a CSP last week but got rejected for having too many cards lol. turned around and got the Citi Premier instead.
Jul 19, 2015 | 3:56 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
SIN-DPS is a short flight: buy with cash if needed.
You will need to study the award rules of the ffp's you plan to use very carefully. With some ffp's award routes are limited.
Jul 19, 2015 | 4:01 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PLAT,PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Gld,Hyatt Disc,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 11,030
Thanks for responding!
I plan this trip for early 2017. I'm trying to accumulate all the points by early 2016 so I can book the flights as soon as they become available 11 months out.
The flights on SQ metal work because I've tested them out on the website. As for the star alliance award through SE Asia, my only question is the DPS-SIN-HKT leg, as I'm not sure If it constitutes backtracking. The other legs should work (the MNL to HKG leg should work as you are traversing another region SE Asia 2 to North Asia 1)
And thank you for correcting me on the AA award. It is 100k net, but I do need 110k first
I plan this trip for early 2017. I'm trying to accumulate all the points by early 2016 so I can book the flights as soon as they become available 11 months out.
The flights on SQ metal work because I've tested them out on the website. As for the star alliance award through SE Asia, my only question is the DPS-SIN-HKT leg, as I'm not sure If it constitutes backtracking. The other legs should work (the MNL to HKG leg should work as you are traversing another region SE Asia 2 to North Asia 1)
And thank you for correcting me on the AA award. It is 100k net, but I do need 110k first
Jul 19, 2015 | 4:10 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
[QUOTE=Mwenenzi;25141424]Award availability will be a major issue. Awards are far from guaranteed.
SIN-DPS is a short flight: buy with cash if needed.
You will need to study the award rules of the ffp's you plan to use very carefully. With some ffp's award routes are limited.[/QUOTE
Adding a SIN-DPS flight doesn't require any more miles than if I terminate the ticket at SIN. It'll probably cost $80 more in YQ tho If that leg becomes an issue I can ask SQ reps to give me a mixed ticket with the SIN-DPS leg in Economy as a last resort
SIN-DPS is a short flight: buy with cash if needed.
You will need to study the award rules of the ffp's you plan to use very carefully. With some ffp's award routes are limited.[/QUOTE
Adding a SIN-DPS flight doesn't require any more miles than if I terminate the ticket at SIN. It'll probably cost $80 more in YQ tho If that leg becomes an issue I can ask SQ reps to give me a mixed ticket with the SIN-DPS leg in Economy as a last resort
Jul 19, 2015 | 11:50 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Are there any other FF programs (accessible via credit card spend) that have generous stopover rules? The reason I like SQ is because they allow you to purchase up to 4 stopovers on saver awards at $100 each, even on one-ways, and even on star alliance awards on other Partner airlines.
American doesn't allow stopovers, Alaska only allows a stopover at hub cities and with only one other airline at a time, United requires more miles than SQ and is an inferior product. I hear ANA and JAL allow multiple stopovers, but points for either aren't as accessible as SQ which transfers from all 4 major flexible credit card currencies.
I also forgot to mention that I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017 aka Honeymoon #2, or two RT tickets to Hawaii)
American doesn't allow stopovers, Alaska only allows a stopover at hub cities and with only one other airline at a time, United requires more miles than SQ and is an inferior product. I hear ANA and JAL allow multiple stopovers, but points for either aren't as accessible as SQ which transfers from all 4 major flexible credit card currencies.
I also forgot to mention that I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017 aka Honeymoon #2, or two RT tickets to Hawaii)
Jul 19, 2015 | 11:59 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,029
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017"
Since the recent BAEC devaluation, two one-way J tickets on EI BOS-DUB/SNN now cost 75K Avios; the pre-devaluation cost was 50K Avios.
"I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017"
Since the recent BAEC devaluation, two one-way J tickets on EI BOS-DUB/SNN now cost 75K Avios; the pre-devaluation cost was 50K Avios.
Jul 20, 2015 | 12:03 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 83
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
"I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017"
Since the recent BAEC devaluation, two one-way J tickets on EI BOS-DUB/SNN now cost 75K Avios; the pre-devaluation cost was 50K Avios.
"I have about 55k British avios as my disposal for short intra-Asia flights on OneWorld metal, if necessary (but I'm looking to save them and top them off for one way J tickets BOS-DUB to start my European trip later in 2017"
Since the recent BAEC devaluation, two one-way J tickets on EI BOS-DUB/SNN now cost 75K Avios; the pre-devaluation cost was 50K Avios.
Jul 20, 2015 | 12:17 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 1,782
I think I would concentrate on fewer places and stay longer. Not much of a honeymoon when you're packing and unpacking. Also, look at purchasing flights on LCC for shorter flights instead of doing stopovers. That might save you some money.
Congrats!
Congrats!