bookingbuddy.com 18 US miles/$ (Deal no longer valid)
Feb 28, 2011, 4:38 am
#46
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, DL GM, AA Plat
Posts: 729
If you have a Citi Thank You account you can buy tickets at roughly a 24-25% discount over what most airline / OTA sites charge for a given ticket. For me, at least, it is a better deal than 18 DM / $ on US Airways since I am not a frequent flyer. The trick is using their cash + points option and paying mostly with cash.
If you don't have a Thank You account and want to save some money, send me a PM.
If you don't have a Thank You account and want to save some money, send me a PM.
Feb 28, 2011, 7:19 am
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
The possibilities are endless......
We have a cruise booked thru AMEX for June, 2012 on Silversea - cruising from St Petersburg to Copenhagen. Getting a $500 shipboard credit from AMEX, free dinner at a specialty restaurant and a $100 credit for specialty wine at the restaurant. Very nice.
BUT....
If I cancel and rebook thru the BookingBuddy portal, I imagine I get no benefits but I should get 315,000 US Air miles!!!!! I would certainly feel better if my miles for my Phoenix flights had posted but this is potentially amazing.
We have a cruise booked thru AMEX for June, 2012 on Silversea - cruising from St Petersburg to Copenhagen. Getting a $500 shipboard credit from AMEX, free dinner at a specialty restaurant and a $100 credit for specialty wine at the restaurant. Very nice.
BUT....
If I cancel and rebook thru the BookingBuddy portal, I imagine I get no benefits but I should get 315,000 US Air miles!!!!! I would certainly feel better if my miles for my Phoenix flights had posted but this is potentially amazing.
Feb 28, 2011, 8:09 am
#48
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
The more I think about it -
this just makes no sense at all. I mean, none. Someone has to pay for these miles and it seems that no matter how little they can get them for, there is no economic model that makes any sense.
I mean, if I really did get 315,000 miles for a $9900 booking - that's two First Class tickets top Europe or Asia and 65-75,000 miles left over. Or three Business Class and less left over. That's worth more than the cruise!
My sense is that when it all hits the fan, this thread will get longer and longer
this just makes no sense at all. I mean, none. Someone has to pay for these miles and it seems that no matter how little they can get them for, there is no economic model that makes any sense.
I mean, if I really did get 315,000 miles for a $9900 booking - that's two First Class tickets top Europe or Asia and 65-75,000 miles left over. Or three Business Class and less left over. That's worth more than the cruise!
My sense is that when it all hits the fan, this thread will get longer and longer
Feb 28, 2011, 8:26 am
#49
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, DL GM, AA Plat
Posts: 729
That's what I said when the expedia.ca $300 off promotion first came to light. I was like "no way this is going to be honored" but to my surprise, it was. Many people tried to spin it by saying Expedia would break even (money from tourism authorities, selling seats on empty flights, etc.)...all BS. I'm sure Expedia lost millions on that offer.
Feb 28, 2011, 8:43 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,437
That's what I said when the expedia.ca $300 off promotion first came to light. I was like "no way this is going to be honored" but to my surprise, it was. Many people tried to spin it by saying Expedia would break even (money from tourism authorities, selling seats on empty flights, etc.)...all BS. I'm sure Expedia lost millions on that offer.
We all have screenshots and we are entitled to the 18 miles per $.
A lot of companies get those error offers honored and if not they will get a lot of bad PR, and believe me if they did not issue me 18k, I would have taken them to small claims and ultimately won because all the odds are in my favor.
Its your choice man...
Feb 28, 2011, 8:44 am
#51
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 477
Points + Cash = 124300 points + $0 cash
Cash = $1653
Now I changed points down to only 1000 and the cash column went up to $1233. However, cash only row remained at $1653.
Bottomline, as long as some points are being used you get a 24% discounted price.
Feb 28, 2011, 8:54 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, DL GM, AA Plat
Posts: 729
Not sure why your account is not showing the discount. When I pull price of any flight on TY travel center site the value in points is roughly 25% below expedia.com. e.g. a flight i recently booked was priced at $1653 on expedia and on continental.com but when priced through TY travel center it came out to 124300 points. Then when i went into payment options it showed 2 choices:
Points + Cash = 124300 points + $0 cash
Cash = $1653
Now I changed points down to only 1000 and the cash column went up to $1233. However, cash only row remained at $1653.
Bottomline, as long as some points are being used you get a 24% discounted price.
Points + Cash = 124300 points + $0 cash
Cash = $1653
Now I changed points down to only 1000 and the cash column went up to $1233. However, cash only row remained at $1653.
Bottomline, as long as some points are being used you get a 24% discounted price.
Feb 28, 2011, 10:19 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 477
I just now tried it with 100 points and it seems to work fine though I did not complete the purchase as I don't have a need to buy a ticket but the process is identical to the ticket I purchased so I don't see why it would not work.
Feb 28, 2011, 6:24 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
US often sells miles for less than the retail value of the award tickets booked with those miles. For example, I bought 90,000 US miles from US in 2010 for about $.009/mile (just over $800). I could use those miles to book a biz class ticket to North Asia from the United States, although we know the retail value of that ticket is many multiples of $800.
Feb 28, 2011, 7:36 pm
#57
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
Boy, do I hope you're right!
I think that's a bad comparison. A reasonable comparison would use the amount that US would have to pay the *A partners for those award tickets, not the retail value of those tickets.
US often sells miles for less than the retail value of the award tickets booked with those miles. For example, I bought 90,000 US miles from US in 2010 for about $.009/mile (just over $800). I could use those miles to book a biz class ticket to North Asia from the United States, although we know the retail value of that ticket is many multiples of $800.
US often sells miles for less than the retail value of the award tickets booked with those miles. For example, I bought 90,000 US miles from US in 2010 for about $.009/mile (just over $800). I could use those miles to book a biz class ticket to North Asia from the United States, although we know the retail value of that ticket is many multiples of $800.
Mar 1, 2011, 7:36 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: BOS
Posts: 102
This is somewhat OT, but what if you did do this, managed to get your US miles quickly, then used all of them up in a booking before Booking Buddy could get a hold of you? I realize with something like Amex MR points, the credit card company could ding you for the points, but could an airline send you a bill for refunded miles?
Mar 1, 2011, 8:10 am
#59
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
The US Air terms and conditions are very specific that points are forfeited when anything is returned.
*** Website said Elites get bonuses on these purchases - 75% for me as a Platinum. It still says the bonus expiration is 2/28/11. Anyone check in to seeing if this is extended?
*** Website said Elites get bonuses on these purchases - 75% for me as a Platinum. It still says the bonus expiration is 2/28/11. Anyone check in to seeing if this is extended?
Mar 1, 2011, 8:41 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: BOS
Posts: 102
The US Air terms and conditions are very specific that points are forfeited when anything is returned.
*** Website said Elites get bonuses on these purchases - 75% for me as a Platinum. It still says the bonus expiration is 2/28/11. Anyone check in to seeing if this is extended?
*** Website said Elites get bonuses on these purchases - 75% for me as a Platinum. It still says the bonus expiration is 2/28/11. Anyone check in to seeing if this is extended?