Seeking Advice: What to do with 420,000 Marriott Points
Jul 10, 2018, 11:59 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 648
Seeking advice on using 360,000 Marriott Points
Would like to get some advice on using 360,000 Marriott Points for Marriott TP packages to Europe? Which Hotels and Which Airlines from gateways like ATL or ORD to use to get to European countries like Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy? Been to Rome already but none of the other countries mentioned if TP are worth using there on SPG or Marriott properties
Last edited by SimpleManToo; Jul 10, 2018 at 12:03 pm Reason: Correct title
Jul 10, 2018, 12:41 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Land of 10,000 Upgrades
Posts: 9,465
How many times are you going to ask some variant of this question?
120,000 miles to transfer but to Whom
120,000 miles to transfer but to Whom
Jul 10, 2018, 1:08 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
[QUOTE=PumpkinSmasher;29958769]Wow, awesome post![/QUOTE ]
Thank you.
I too use Airbnb for longer stays. In fact, I have a 6 night stay at an Airbnb in Maui coming up at the end of the month. I enjoy cooking so it is nice to have a kitchen to prepare some meals. Eating out continuously gets boring not to mention the expense.
As part of our Mileage Run (25K miles on AS partners) we will be in the Seychelles for 16 hours. Arrive at 8 am in a lie-flat and depart at midnight in a lie-flat. We will have all day to explore and probably will hire a driver for a tour. I am looking forward to that.
Our Itinerary is SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC-SCL-MAD-LHR-SEZ-DXB-NRT. It will generate 32K AS EQM and 84K RDM as an MVPG75K.
James
Thank you.
I too use Airbnb for longer stays. In fact, I have a 6 night stay at an Airbnb in Maui coming up at the end of the month. I enjoy cooking so it is nice to have a kitchen to prepare some meals. Eating out continuously gets boring not to mention the expense.
As part of our Mileage Run (25K miles on AS partners) we will be in the Seychelles for 16 hours. Arrive at 8 am in a lie-flat and depart at midnight in a lie-flat. We will have all day to explore and probably will hire a driver for a tour. I am looking forward to that.
Our Itinerary is SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC-SCL-MAD-LHR-SEZ-DXB-NRT. It will generate 32K AS EQM and 84K RDM as an MVPG75K.
James
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Jul 10, 2018 at 1:27 pm
Jul 10, 2018, 1:08 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: United Silver, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 988
@SimpleManToo You won't get very far here if you rely on spoonfeeding and can't make up your own mind, even after multiple threads of suggestions
Last edited by chongl; Jul 10, 2018 at 4:11 pm
Jul 10, 2018, 1:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,318
Really? Have you tried a lot of different airlines in biz or do you focus on particular ones? I had success on JAL (first) last year from Sydney to Tokyo and Tokyo to JFK. There also seems to be lots of Emirates availability in business. Not cheap, but with the stopover in Dubai, it doesn't seem as bad. Two packages should be enough round trip. I've heard that Korean Air is a good route to go as well to/from Australia, although I haven't looked too closely there (they had good availability when I considered it last go around to Australia). Same goes for Cathay Pacific.
The one option I haven't completed ruled out is United. I found availability pretty last minute to Australia in Business last year on United. They are not my favorite airline by any means, especially for such a long flight, but it wasn't bad at all. There is the added bonus with United of having lots of flexibility with flights to/from Europe on other partners in business as well. Do you like United miles as a better option for getting to Australia over Alaska?
The one option I haven't completed ruled out is United. I found availability pretty last minute to Australia in Business last year on United. They are not my favorite airline by any means, especially for such a long flight, but it wasn't bad at all. There is the added bonus with United of having lots of flexibility with flights to/from Europe on other partners in business as well. Do you like United miles as a better option for getting to Australia over Alaska?
Last year was last year. Since then , Air France is gone as well as Delta. Have you checked availability or just going on memory.
Jul 10, 2018, 2:55 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 308
CX availability post Asia Miles change is grim or worse using AM let alone using AS miles. JAL still looks reasonable haven’t checked Emirates, it’s too far out of the way for Europe or Southeast Asia for me. AA is nonexistent in J. BA kills you on surcharges.
Last year was last year. Since then , Air France is gone as well as Delta. Have you checked availability or just going on memory.
Jul 10, 2018, 5:08 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
AF/KLM severed ties with AS, not the other way around. Delta's influence there.
James
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Jul 10, 2018 at 5:17 pm
Jul 10, 2018, 5:26 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,318
Since you mentioned premium awards, I'll point out to those who might not know is that is referring to awards made to CX's Asia Miles members at higher redemption levels - AS will never see those award seats.
Jul 11, 2018, 4:25 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Jul 11, 2018, 8:03 am
#25
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: 52,577
To the OP: I'm still in the camp of redeeming max Travel Packages now, dropping my MR balance as close to zero as I can, and starting new with the higher earnings post August 1.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
Jul 11, 2018, 8:46 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 308
To the OP: I'm still in the camp of redeeming max Travel Packages now, dropping my MR balance as close to zero as I can, and starting new with the higher earnings post August 1.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
Jul 13, 2018, 1:17 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
To the OP: I'm still in the camp of redeeming max Travel Packages now, dropping my MR balance as close to zero as I can, and starting new with the higher earnings post August 1.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
I'm prepared to lock in bookings in late July for early 2019, but I'd prefer to hold on my certs to redeem at Starwoods in the future. I'll be watching for a statement on what happens to the "floater" certificates and will decide then.
James
Jul 18, 2018, 10:18 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 308
Just to put a close to this...ended up buying the needed SPG points to get to 540K Marriott points and nabbing two Marriott Cat 1-5 / 120K Alaska miles packages. Had a lot of discussions with my SO and did a lot of research, but I do think AS ultimately does offer the most options with good redemption rates overall (Emirates aside).
Still don't know on the certificates, but I think I will wait until August. I don't think there's a huge reason to rush with 1-5 given that SPG properties are going to open up and I don't have specific places in mind.
Still don't know on the certificates, but I think I will wait until August. I don't think there's a huge reason to rush with 1-5 given that SPG properties are going to open up and I don't have specific places in mind.
Jul 19, 2018, 1:51 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Just to put a close to this...ended up buying the needed SPG points to get to 540K Marriott points and nabbing two Marriott Cat 1-5 / 120K Alaska miles packages. Had a lot of discussions with my SO and did a lot of research, but I do think AS ultimately does offer the most options with good redemption rates overall (Emirates aside).
Still don't know on the certificates, but I think I will wait until August. I don't think there's a huge reason to rush with 1-5 given that SPG properties are going to open up and I don't have specific places in mind.
Still don't know on the certificates, but I think I will wait until August. I don't think there's a huge reason to rush with 1-5 given that SPG properties are going to open up and I don't have specific places in mind.
Congratulations. I am not your usual flyer having 37 flights booked around the world between late August and early November, 19 more in February & March. Call me crazy! I am, but Flying For Fun.
James