Use Points or Pay?
Mar 27, 2012 | 5:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA-1K; Marriott Platinum; National Emerald Exec Elite; Avis President's Club (whoopdidoo)
Posts: 199
We stayed at County Hall last summer on points for 4 nights. Great location, very nice room....very good tea. We rushed to check out and get to the airport for our flight to Dublin. Later when I was home reviewing the bill, I realized we paid for a ~35 euro bottle of wine we never consumed. Put a slight damper on the memories but I would stay there again.
Mar 27, 2012 | 7:59 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,010
About the travel packages, I used to take those (and last november was told they weren't available by one Platinum rep only to be told later by another one that they were!), but with the devaluations of FFP all over, it's doubtful I would want to use valuable Marriott points for YQ co-pay awards.
It's sort of a weird twist: as airlines are keeping supply tight and fares high, I'm finding that FF miles are harder to use when I need them for a precise purpose but more valuable than ever when I have a general need and some flexibility.
For example, just today I redeemed 35k UA for an $800 R/T Central America trip in peak season. High fare but relatively short length where the EQM and the inability to upgrade aren't a huge concern. No YQ and only about $25 in government taxes. I had a window of a month to look for options and I found several to pick from.
Since I never get $0.02 per point on a straight hotel redemption, I still opt for the Travel Packages whenever I can.