27 Jan : New points devaluation ?
Jan 27, 2025 | 5:32 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
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When I look at the Maldives, I see cash rates that make points worth far more than 1-2 cents per point. If the Ritz is 4K USD per night, 198K doesn’t sound like a bad valuation (if the Maldives is something you find desirable). I see plenty of Maldives properties that aren’t the Ritz for 100K or less.
I would be curious to hear of examples that aren’t the Maldives along with the comparison to the average cash rates at these properties.
Edit to Add: I pulled up Tokyo in March, and the points amounts seem about the same, if not less, than what I was seeing last month at top properties.
I would be curious to hear of examples that aren’t the Maldives along with the comparison to the average cash rates at these properties.
Edit to Add: I pulled up Tokyo in March, and the points amounts seem about the same, if not less, than what I was seeing last month at top properties.
Jan 27, 2025 | 6:13 pm
#32
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Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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I have bookings for LA and Phoenix coming up. No price increases in the points required. Perhaps this means I should burn, baby, burn before I run into things...
Jan 27, 2025 | 6:51 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Seattle
Programs: Marriott Platinum; Hyatt Globalist; Alaska Titanium
Posts: 807
Several redemptions I've been considering are actually cheaper today than a few days ago. So it's not across the board. Seems like from the above, it's mostly high end properties that had outsized value and perhaps inflation adjusted for others. I think it's expected that redemption costs would gradually increase over time along with standard inflation in hotel prices. That said, it sucks if you've been waiting to pull the trigger and the price jumps.
Jan 27, 2025 | 7:13 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2019
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Several redemptions I've been considering are actually cheaper today than a few days ago. So it's not across the board. Seems like from the above, it's mostly high end properties that had outsized value and perhaps inflation adjusted for others. I think it's expected that redemption costs would gradually increase over time along with standard inflation in hotel prices. That said, it sucks if you've been waiting to pull the trigger and the price jumps.
Seriously - every aspirational place I've got booked, have been looking at, and/or have booked in the last few years has gone up.
The St Regis in Florence, the Gritti Palacein Venice, the Ritz in Tokyo, all much higher.
I'd consider my Helsinki booking a bit more out there, not an aspirational property for most people.
Last edited by Happy Traveling Consultant; Jan 27, 2025 at 7:22 pm
Jan 27, 2025 | 7:55 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
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Jan 27, 2025 | 11:47 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Seattle
Programs: Marriott Platinum; Hyatt Globalist; Alaska Titanium
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I'm curious. Where are prices cheaper?
Seriously - every aspirational place I've got booked, have been looking at, and/or have booked in the last few years has gone up.
The St Regis in Florence, the Gritti Palacein Venice, the Ritz in Tokyo, all much higher.
I'd consider my Helsinki booking a bit more out there, not an aspirational property for most people.
Seriously - every aspirational place I've got booked, have been looking at, and/or have booked in the last few years has gone up.
The St Regis in Florence, the Gritti Palacein Venice, the Ritz in Tokyo, all much higher.
I'd consider my Helsinki booking a bit more out there, not an aspirational property for most people.
I double checked redemption rates in Helsinki, as I'll be there in May. The points price has increased a little, although I don't think by more than a thousand or so points per night. That could be related to this, or it's small enough that it's just typical ebb and flow.
Jan 28, 2025 | 1:28 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
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It seems to be an increase in the category maximum. The rest is likely fluctuation due to dynamic pricing.
Jan 28, 2025 | 7:39 am
#38
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: CGK/SGN
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This was for the JW Marriott in Guadalajara - not really an aspirational property but it is a very solid redemption rate.
I double checked redemption rates in Helsinki, as I'll be there in May. The points price has increased a little, although I don't think by more than a thousand or so points per night. That could be related to this, or it's small enough that it's just typical ebb and flow.
I double checked redemption rates in Helsinki, as I'll be there in May. The points price has increased a little, although I don't think by more than a thousand or so points per night. That could be related to this, or it's small enough that it's just typical ebb and flow.
Ok, someone mentioned RC Tokyo, that does seem to have inched up across the board. Tant pis. I'd rather try Mesm next time I'm in Tokyo anyway.
Trying to deduce a system-wide trend here seems an exercise in guesswork and speculation so property-specific, it seems the threads of those hotels that have shot up drastically would be more appropriate avenues for such a discussion.
Last edited by 80proofGalleyCart; Jan 28, 2025 at 7:59 am
Jan 28, 2025 | 8:05 am
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Phoenix in March gives you very nice CPP in the lower/middle brands but it's nothing like redeeming for Maldives.
Jan 28, 2025 | 8:20 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
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Posts: 9,811
Bonvoy is becoming more like SkyMiles. With SkyMiles, international J is mostly out of reach, but it's really convenient to redeem for domestic flights, especially in Y.
Jan 28, 2025 | 10:09 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 5,395
No those are just as prone to devaluations, If you have less than a million points its not worth worrying about the lost value, if you have more just make a booking and spend them.
Jan 28, 2025 | 10:10 am
#43
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: CGK/SGN
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Based on what evidence provided in this thread of any meaningful devaluation to award nights that you should care about -- when you've already noted hotels in your scope haven't budged?
Jan 28, 2025 | 10:33 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,320
Well I don't just stay at my local hotels. For my planned overseas trips this year, I have noticed devaluations and generally poor points redemptions.
Jan 28, 2025 | 10:45 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: CGK/SGN
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So many factors come into play that one couldn't possibly speculate without knowing when/where. Did these points redemptions dramatically increase on the 27th?