Which airline mile is depreciating the fastest?
Oct 16, 2011, 10:02 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,994
USAirways miles have essentially lost 30-50% of their value in the last year or two. "Low" mileage, which used to be the norm, is now only available to fly to Fresno in February on a Tuesday, or other similarly in-demand flights. To get anywhere you really want to go it will cost you 60-100% more than it used to.
And that's if you can get them - 20% availability rates are the norm based on recent published articles comparing award availability.
I guess they wouldn't be considered depreciating the fastest now - they're already at the bottom.
And that's if you can get them - 20% availability rates are the norm based on recent published articles comparing award availability.
I guess they wouldn't be considered depreciating the fastest now - they're already at the bottom.
Oct 16, 2011, 10:05 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
The new UA. Unless you'll be flying 100K+ EQMs per year, you're no longer earning a 100% elite bonus starting at 50K per year. For example, right now, if you fly 50K per year, you'll end up with 100K RDMs in your bank. Next year, it will only net you 75K RDMs. That's a devaluation to me.
Oct 16, 2011, 10:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: PDX/AUS
Programs: AA-UA-AS IHG-SPG-Carlson
Posts: 4,562
I was able to redeem a US F award
in low tier wiith no problem recently.
DL was impossible, UA/CO/AA possible.
So I would say DELTA, except they
depreciated quite a while ago, of course....
in low tier wiith no problem recently.
DL was impossible, UA/CO/AA possible.
So I would say DELTA, except they
depreciated quite a while ago, of course....
Oct 16, 2011, 10:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: UA 2P, HY Diamond
Posts: 232
The new UA. Unless you'll be flying 100K+ EQMs per year, you're no longer earning a 100% elite bonus starting at 50K per year. For example, right now, if you fly 50K per year, you'll end up with 100K RDMs in your bank. Next year, it will only net you 75K RDMs. That's a devaluation to me.
Oct 16, 2011, 10:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
The new UA. Unless you'll be flying 100K+ EQMs per year, you're no longer earning a 100% elite bonus starting at 50K per year. For example, right now, if you fly 50K per year, you'll end up with 100K RDMs in your bank. Next year, it will only net you 75K RDMs. That's a devaluation to me.
The reduction of bonus miles means less miles chasing awards and upgrade seats, and less pressure for UA to devalue their award chart.
So while it may have been a devaulation of status holders, I would say that it is a potentially good development for UA mileage holders.
Oct 16, 2011, 10:48 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 668
I don't know how anyone can answer anything other than Delta (for US airlines). Do we need to drag out the 670,000 business class redemption to Rome?
It does seem US has devalued some for domestic flights, and there are worrying signs as well for other airlines. In general though I still think UA/AA miles are the best, followed by US (for star alliance partner awards internationally). Of course it depends on the person. But the one real advantage to Delta miles was better availability for elites and the last-minute changes from business redemptions to economy using a guaranteed elite upgrade. That's gone now.
It does seem US has devalued some for domestic flights, and there are worrying signs as well for other airlines. In general though I still think UA/AA miles are the best, followed by US (for star alliance partner awards internationally). Of course it depends on the person. But the one real advantage to Delta miles was better availability for elites and the last-minute changes from business redemptions to economy using a guaranteed elite upgrade. That's gone now.
Oct 16, 2011, 11:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 568
Actually, I would say the opposite: Because UA is now reducing the bonus miles given to elite members, there will be less miles out there, thereby making UA miles potentially worth more.
The reduction of bonus miles means less miles chasing awards and upgrade seats, and less pressure for UA to devalue their award chart.
So while it may have been a devaulation of status holders, I would say that it is a potentially good development for UA mileage holders.
The reduction of bonus miles means less miles chasing awards and upgrade seats, and less pressure for UA to devalue their award chart.
So while it may have been a devaulation of status holders, I would say that it is a potentially good development for UA mileage holders.
Oct 16, 2011, 11:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 187
Oct 17, 2011, 12:04 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
Problem is all the credit card offers. If want to bulk up on miles and not 1k then churn the cards. Seems like the airlines are pushing the lower tiers to be credit card churners rather than flyers. Who needs status when you can flip a couple of cards and fly business to Europe?
Also, unlike the Citi AA cards, with UA/Chase, you can't "flip a couple of cards" as easily, given Chase's limit on churning bonus. This past year has been an exception, due to the merger of UA/CO and their card products, but in general, churning is less of an issue with UA/Chase.
Further, one must remember that FT is a small part of the overall membership - a few thousand churners do not have too big of an impact within the millions of card member base.
Oct 17, 2011, 8:42 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: nwa spg aa ua
Posts: 133
Oct 17, 2011, 8:58 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: KU via KOA
Programs: UA, AA, BA, DL, AS, Good food in distant places
Posts: 78
. I agree. The only good thing about redeeming miles on the triangle is the biscoffs...
