Best FFP for redemption to India
Feb 23, 2013 | 11:13 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,089
1. Using miles to redeem for travel to India is generally a poor redemption of miles. Flights from the US to India are generally just slightly more expensive than US to Europe flights. There is a ton of competition to India. You've got AI and UA flying USA to India nonstops, then AF/KL/LH/LX/BA/AY/TK competing with stops in Europe and EY/EK/QR competing with stops in the Middle East. If you're on the West Coast, you can fly CX/JL/etc. via NRT/HKG and if you feel adventurous, even transit via PEK or PVG.
2. If you don't have other places you want to go with your miles and want to use them for India... it's a no brainer. United is the best. Here's why:
a) AA: See my thread - it's 90,000 miles roundtrip and a pain to avoid routing via LHR so you can avoid BA's awful surchrages: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...no-answer.html - it can be done but it takes time and effort
b) Delta: Forget about it - it's nearly impossible to get a reasonable routing for any reasonable number of miles. Trust me, you do not want to fly Saudia and AF/KL are nothing special besides the fact that it'll be a miracle to find low-level availability in the first place.
c) US Airways: Much more painful than United and soon joining American so will remain painful, only roundtrips allowed, $25 booking fee, yuck.
d) United: Tons of availability on *A partners - most often on LH through MUC or FRA but you can get TPAC availability as well and if you're lucky you can get the EWR - BOM/DEL nonstop or fly the usually delightful TK through IST. This will cost you 80,000 miles in Economy + ~$80 in taxes (mostly due to the Indian fees). The online booking engine is great and you can get a free stop over on roundtrips - go see Vienna or Istanbul or Munich!
The reason most of us on this board do not find miles a good value for Economy class redemptions to India is that even in Economy, miles should be worth at least $0.015/mile, if not $0.02/mile for United miles, so it's just not that compelling usually. I've done it before when r/t fares have been in the $1,400 - $1,600 range and gotten decent value there. Miles are also useful when your dates may change.
Good luck!
2. If you don't have other places you want to go with your miles and want to use them for India... it's a no brainer. United is the best. Here's why:
a) AA: See my thread - it's 90,000 miles roundtrip and a pain to avoid routing via LHR so you can avoid BA's awful surchrages: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...no-answer.html - it can be done but it takes time and effort
b) Delta: Forget about it - it's nearly impossible to get a reasonable routing for any reasonable number of miles. Trust me, you do not want to fly Saudia and AF/KL are nothing special besides the fact that it'll be a miracle to find low-level availability in the first place.
c) US Airways: Much more painful than United and soon joining American so will remain painful, only roundtrips allowed, $25 booking fee, yuck.
d) United: Tons of availability on *A partners - most often on LH through MUC or FRA but you can get TPAC availability as well and if you're lucky you can get the EWR - BOM/DEL nonstop or fly the usually delightful TK through IST. This will cost you 80,000 miles in Economy + ~$80 in taxes (mostly due to the Indian fees). The online booking engine is great and you can get a free stop over on roundtrips - go see Vienna or Istanbul or Munich!
The reason most of us on this board do not find miles a good value for Economy class redemptions to India is that even in Economy, miles should be worth at least $0.015/mile, if not $0.02/mile for United miles, so it's just not that compelling usually. I've done it before when r/t fares have been in the $1,400 - $1,600 range and gotten decent value there. Miles are also useful when your dates may change.
Good luck!
Feb 23, 2013 | 12:09 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 221
Looks like availability is tough but Etihad using AA miles is a possibility http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etiha...a-miles-5.html
Feb 23, 2013 | 1:03 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 90
I fly to India once a year in Business using United miles. UAL and Star are the best options as others here have mentioned.
Ideally, I prefer flying one of United's partners because of their superior product. Last year, I was able to find availability on Jet for the LHR-BOM sector. This winter, I will be on Asiana trans-pacific and Singapore from ICN onwards. I booked these tickets over the phone since not all partners are available online. The $25 phone booking fee is well worth it.
Ideally, I prefer flying one of United's partners because of their superior product. Last year, I was able to find availability on Jet for the LHR-BOM sector. This winter, I will be on Asiana trans-pacific and Singapore from ICN onwards. I booked these tickets over the phone since not all partners are available online. The $25 phone booking fee is well worth it.
Feb 23, 2013 | 1:58 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 9
Hey ..I have 150k amex and 55k united rewards..I have to book to hyd from boston RT in apr last week for 2 + 1 kid (2+yrs).
Seems like United is best way to book using my rewards...how canwe transfer amex to united and make use of my entire rewards to useful.
Or suggest me abest option.
By the way I cannot go thru europe because of my extn.
Seems like United is best way to book using my rewards...how canwe transfer amex to united and make use of my entire rewards to useful.
Or suggest me abest option.
By the way I cannot go thru europe because of my extn.
Feb 23, 2013 | 2:36 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,906
+1 From west coast you can find good availability on Singapore coach and ANA business through united. However revenue tickets are quite competitive ($1200 -1500 in coach) and you can collect ~20k EQM for the trip. I found it much more worthwhile to redeem miles for other destinations. As always YMMV and do what works for you
I've gotten pretty much close to a status level just with my India trips in coach, and got *G just with 1 RT at $1350.
Feb 23, 2013 | 2:41 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
Hey ..I have 150k amex and 55k united rewards..I have to book to hyd from boston RT in apr last week for 2 + 1 kid (2+yrs).
Seems like United is best way to book using my rewards...how canwe transfer amex to united and make use of my entire rewards to useful.
Or suggest me abest option.
By the way I cannot go thru europe because of my extn.
Seems like United is best way to book using my rewards...how canwe transfer amex to united and make use of my entire rewards to useful.
Or suggest me abest option.
By the way I cannot go thru europe because of my extn.
You cannot transfer AMEX MR to UA Mileage Plus. You can transfer to a *A partner like SQ (Singapore) or AC (Air Canada). Right now, you also don't have enough United Miles for more than a one way between BOS and HYD.
Also, by saying you cannot go through Europe, you are wiping out the option of transferring your AMEX MR to BA because you could have done BOS - DUB - LHR - HYD and cut down on YQ [fuel surcharges] (would still be high).
Overall, I just think given your current mileage situation and your inability to transit in Europe, you should just buy tickets. If you really have to use miles, transfer your AMEX MR to AC / SQ and use that for one R/T ticket, and buy the other two tickets.
Alternatively, you can go to www.creditcards.com and see if you are eligible for the AMEX Platinum 100,000 points offer ($475 annual fee, but $200 in airline credits) or the AMEX Gold 50,000 points offer (first year annual fee waived, $175 after that - most people are reporting this is dead). You do not need to enter your SS# on this site to see offers.
You could also get the United MileagePlus Explorer Card for 55K miles and then have enough to do all your tickets on miles. Finding 3 award economy seats on the same flights will not be easy though.
Go back to the main MilesBuzz! forum screen and look for further information on how to obtain these offers if you need more guidance.
Again, FWIW IME, just buy the tickets. Use your miles to go to Europe or Latin America.
Feb 23, 2013 | 8:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 316
You might have to be a bit flexible - either with 2 connections in Europe (e.g. DTW-FRA-IST-BOM) or flying into another city (e.g. DEL or MAA) and connecting to BOM from there. I have found that OS and TK (and sometimes LX) usually have good availability in J to BOM and DEL.
Feb 24, 2013 | 8:59 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 90
I am looking at ANY dates in Oct, Nov, Dec (don't know how more flexible I can be), and no business class availability from FRA-BOM on Lufthansa at united.com!! Not many other partner airline availability either. Do they not release business class awards seats on LH on that route??
Feb 24, 2013 | 11:49 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AA Plat,PC Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 904
Actually the cheapest miles to get to India in Y would be Japan Airlines miles on Emirates. But, apart from SPG->JAL, I don't know of an easier way to earn JAL miles. If you know how, please PM me.
Feb 24, 2013 | 12:16 pm
#26
formerly sahiljain22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS;NYC;YVR;YYZ;DEL;BOM
Programs: Amex Plat; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Hyatt Diamond; United 1K; National EE; HSBC Premier
Posts: 532
BOS-HYD is going to be $1400 +/- 10% on United but will yield ~15000 UA miles from the flight + 3000 miles from the card. If you price the miles at approx 2cpm, that's $300-$400 back.
So if you use miles, its more expensive than paying $ for economy unless you value your miles very lowly.
PM if you have questions, fellow Boston guy.
Feb 25, 2013 | 8:27 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 731
In my limited experience, it's pretty bad. I do not use DL but relatives (with status on DL) do and trying to help them book award travel to India is a nightmare.
The online booking engine is a complete nightmare and often can't even price itineraries properly.
That being said, DL phone reps are extremely professional and well trained. If you have status, you might get a rep who can help you very quickly. People have reported success flying SV via JED. Availability on AF/KL via CDG/AMS is pretty poor.
The online booking engine is a complete nightmare and often can't even price itineraries properly.
That being said, DL phone reps are extremely professional and well trained. If you have status, you might get a rep who can help you very quickly. People have reported success flying SV via JED. Availability on AF/KL via CDG/AMS is pretty poor.
Feb 25, 2013 | 10:17 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MSN
Posts: 8,051
Fabulous if willing to fly through RUH or JED on SV, although getting to JFK or IAD to catch the SV flight can be a pain. Outside of SV, India on SkyMiles is tough. But SV has phenomenal award space, as in seven seats in business on many flights, even just a couple months out.
Feb 25, 2013 | 11:09 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 9
+1
BOS-HYD is going to be $1400 +/- 10% on United but will yield ~15000 UA miles from the flight + 3000 miles from the card. If you price the miles at approx 2cpm, that's $300-$400 back.
So if you use miles, its more expensive than paying $ for economy unless you value your miles very lowly.
PM if you have questions, fellow Boston guy.
BOS-HYD is going to be $1400 +/- 10% on United but will yield ~15000 UA miles from the flight + 3000 miles from the card. If you price the miles at approx 2cpm, that's $300-$400 back.
So if you use miles, its more expensive than paying $ for economy unless you value your miles very lowly.
PM if you have questions, fellow Boston guy.
It is Double miles for tickets purchased through United. (1400 * 3tickets)*2=~9k
I am looking for the option of not using miles.
Seeing for Qatar airways from chicago and hyd..its coming around 3025 for 3
And domestic from bos to ord. Cmg around 600..
Total for 3700 for 3.