|
I got into the miles/points game in the past 2-3 years and only seriously in the last 12 months as work travel increased. I jumped on the Amex Biz Gold for 75K points a month or two back but am having trouble figuring out how best to use the MR points. Not easy as AS and UA are my primary airlines AND vacation travel will decrease with another kid on the way. We were just at Home Depot this weekend looking at a refrigerator for the garage. If I was going to spend $500-$750 in cash on a frigde, why not use the MR points that I got for free? While not a business class ticket to another continent, it is still a free $750.
|
Originally Posted by PDXWest
(Post 20364878)
I got into the miles/points game in the past 2-3 years and only seriously in the last 12 months as work travel increased. I jumped on the Amex Biz Gold for 75K points a month or two back but am having trouble figuring out how best to use the MR points. Not easy as AS and UA are my primary airlines AND vacation travel will decrease with another kid on the way. We were just at Home Depot this weekend looking at a refrigerator for the garage. If I was going to spend $500-$750 in cash on a frigde, why not use the MR points that I got for free? While not a business class ticket to another continent, it is still a free $750.
It also depends on whether you plant to keep accumulating points and miles. The bottom line is that 75,000 Amex isn't, standing alone, worth all that much. You need more, or to combine them with other points, to start getting higher values. If you had another 25,000, then you start to be in the neighborhood of premium class international round trip travel or coach travel for two. Just don't get caught in the switches. If $750 is what you want to use a sign up bonus for, that's great. But the math gets way different if you're using points you accumulated on credit card spending that way. Unless you're getting bonus categories, it might be better just to get a good cash back card. |
Originally Posted by lkar
(Post 20365020)
They are your points. $750 is a good haul for one hard pull and a little bit of spend, assuming your annual fee was waived for the first year. If it wasn't, then your real haul is closer to $600. If there were an efficient marketplace for points and it were within the terms, you'd do better because many of us feel we can get better than 1 cent per point and thus would pay that, at least, for Amex points. But, in the absence of such, you really have to do what's right for you.
It also depends on whether you plant to keep accumulating points and miles. The bottom line is that 75,000 Amex isn't, standing alone, worth all that much. You need more, or to combine them with other points, to start getting higher values. If you had another 25,000, then you start to be in the neighborhood of premium class international round trip travel or coach travel for two. Just don't get caught in the switches. If $750 is what you want to use a sign up bonus for, that's great. But the math gets way different if you're using points you accumulated on credit card spending that way. Unless you're getting bonus categories, it might be better just to get a good cash back card. And as you said, ~100K is necessary for ONE(1) premium class int'l ticket but vacation travel will decrease for us in the near term. With life as hectic as it is, I'm on the fence about how much time and work to put into finding the reward flights and transferring points between several programs for that aspirational award (my miles/point bank has grown but is not overflowing). It is far easier to redeem within programs (HH points for hotel stay) or in this case, for a gift card. While a better value can be had than a 1 point / 1 cent and I still have a quite a bit to learn, it is still free $$$. Additionally, with the overall devaluation of loyalty programs, both air and hotel, I'm leaning toward 'take the money and run,' i.e. burn miles and points for travel now and those I can't, merchandise. Thank you for your insight! |
Originally Posted by samonyc
(Post 20358307)
I'm not one to hoard points, but I do have one regret. About six years ago, before I'd even heard of FlyerTalk, I blew a bunch of Membership Rewards on a Tumi messenger bag. Really sturdy bag, but still.
In 2011 I used about 14,000 SkyMiles to get a Bodum coffee grinder, and put about 70,000 more toward gift cards, before the redemption price of those skyrocketed. A friend used his SkyMiles on a vacuum cleaner and a mixer. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...oining-ft.html |
Originally Posted by lkar
(Post 20365020)
They are your points. $750 is a good haul for one hard pull and a little bit of spend, assuming your annual fee was waived for the first year. If it wasn't, then your real haul is closer to $600. If there were an efficient marketplace for points and it were within the terms, you'd do better because many of us feel we can get better than 1 cent per point and thus would pay that, at least, for Amex points. But, in the absence of such, you really have to do what's right for you.
It also depends on whether you plant to keep accumulating points and miles. The bottom line is that 75,000 Amex isn't, standing alone, worth all that much. You need more, or to combine them with other points, to start getting higher values. If you had another 25,000, then you start to be in the neighborhood of premium class international round trip travel or coach travel for two. Just don't get caught in the switches. If $750 is what you want to use a sign up bonus for, that's great. But the math gets way different if you're using points you accumulated on credit card spending that way. Unless you're getting bonus categories, it might be better just to get a good cash back card.
Originally Posted by UA Fan
(Post 20365725)
Ouch! ;) |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:53 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.