Vacation Miles?
 

Does anyone have any experiences, good or bad, with Vacation Miles?

My mypoints balance is getting high enough that i am going to start cashing in, and i want to make sure there aren't a lot of restrictions/delays/hassle converting from Vacation Miles to "regular" miles.

Also, has anyone booked a ticket using only Vacation Miles? how'd that go?

Charles

I'm almost ready to cash in too. I'd also love to hear any tips that anyone might have.

Charles and Miles Nut,

the hassle and delays w/VacationMiles start even before the conversion stage. When I cashed in my first 5000 Mypoints, a window popped up stating that I should receive the VacationMiles certificate within 1 to 2 weeks.

Ha! that was the end of October, and yesterday, after a couple of inquiries about the whereabouts of my certs, I got Mypoints' replay: it takes 4 to 6 weeks for the certs to be mailed (I don't know if it's 4 to 6 weeks in addition to the time I've already waited...). Other people on this board have complained of having to call several times and wait two months before receiving the certs. Also, from other people's reports, once you have the certificates, it may take 2-3 weeks for VacationMiles to be posted to your AAdvantage account.

Good luck to all of us, I guess...

Great....
This is about what i expected. I have also signed up for nextcard, which gives Vacation Miles as well...

Oh well, guess I'm not in a hurry.

Charles

Dupe. Ignore.

-30-

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 12-01-1999).]

I had no delay receiving my certificate for 1,500 Mypoints. It arrived about 12 days after requesting it. Just mailed it today to be deposited into my AA account. You can also fax it in. Will keep you posted on when its credited.

I've had mixed results.

My husband and son received their certificates within two weeks of requesting them. I faxed in their certificate # and FF #s and miles were posted within another two weeks.

I've requested two certificates. One arrived within about five days and the other I'm still waiting for - more than four weeks later.

I have been waiting more that 9 weeks just to recieve my 5000 mile cert. I have emailed MyPoints several times, and they are not very helpful.

I have never had any trouble getting the restaraunt gift certificates, however, so I may just use MyPoints for those.

Based on previous comments made on this board, I decided to continue my habit of cashing in MyPoints for Hilton HHonor points instead of Vacation Miles even thought they are a slightly better exchange rate at the higher point levels.

The Hilton points always end up being transferred from MyPoints within a day or two. No hassle, nothing to resubmit, no certificates waiting to arrive in the US mail, etc.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

Mileageaddict, what is the exchange rate for Hilton points into Aadvantage miles. I always thought it was not one for one. Am I wrong?

Travlemore

Anyone have any thoughts/experience cashing in mypoints (about 5k pts) for the $25. Hyatt certs?

The first 5,000 Vacation Miles I claimed (on 9/30) arrived in todays mail....not as fast as claiming Hilton Honors points but a better value for the Mypoints dollar.

travelmore,

I keep them as Hilton points as it isnt worth it to convert them to miles.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

The first time cashing in MyPoints for VacationMiles (the cert for AA miles), it took two weeks to receive the cert in the mail.

The second time I cashed in MyPoints for VacationMiles (for the AA miles) on 11/11 and just today 12/4 I received the cert in the mail. I plan on calling the redemption in on the phone, I didn't have to fax or mail the form to them the last time.

dot

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 12-05-1999).]

Can anyone give me the redemption phone number for the vacation miles?

I'm still waiting for MyPoints to credit my account with earned points. When they do I'll have my 20K & can cash in for miles. I hope I make this year.

MilesNut:

M-F 9AM-5PM EST
To claim Travel Awards: 800-241-6400
To claim AA miles: Call Ann Marie at 800-343-4034 x214
Fax number: 781-440-0635

Travelmore, The ratio of AAdvantage to HHonors is one to one ONLY if you are turning AAdvantage points into HHonors points. That is a terrible ratio (UA, DL, CO, and TWA all give 2 to 1) BUT the other way is worse for all of them. I would never pull points out of Hilton and transfer them to an airline. And HHonors points are generally worth more $$ for a hotel award than an airline award, esp if you can get a point stretcher award.

Thank You Burkey

MilesNut-- guess what?? I called today to do my over the phone like before, but they need to have it faxed or mailed in, no more over the phone.

The Vacation Miles reward certificate offers many options. What looks like one of the best values to me is the $50 award for Hyatt or for Marriott at 2,500 miles. I called and asked if this was a rack rate discount and they told me that it can be used on any rate I can find as long as the reservation is made through them. This would be a $400 value for 20,000 miles. The rules say that only one $50 award per room, per night. It does require a 14 day advance reservation.
What do people think about this and other options?
$50 toward any airfare of $199 or more American Airlines 2,000 miles;
Delta 2,500 miles;
Airline of choice 3,000 miles.
$75 award for $249 airfare or more
American 3,000 miles
Delta 3,500 miles
Airline of choice 4,000. Rules say Airline of choice award can be used for a ticket anywhere in the world. 21 day advance purchase and Saturday night stay required.

Burkey.....They wouldn't take your order by phone this time? Will they take it by fax? I'm trying to redeem my 25K vacation miles by the end of the year. I cashed out with MyPoints Tuesday 12/07/99 & I'm waiting for my vacation miles. I know I'm really cutting it close.

MileNut -- yes, they accept it by fax. So long as they process it by Dec 31 you should be ok. Hopefully you'll get in in the mail from MyPoints in time, so that you can earn 25k next year as well. If you look under the "Dec EyeSpy" thread in the Buzz, there is the phone number for MyPoints, if you explaing this to them, maybe they'll be willing to help out in some way?? ie: giving you the number on the cert, then calling VacationMiles and pleding you case with them?? Good luck!

Great idea Burkey. I appreciate the input. Is that The Buzz/EyeSpy for the month of December? Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I can't find anything with that name.

hi all

This topic raises an important question for me. How does the redemption of Mypoints for Vacationmiles go if you live somewhere other than North America. Will mypoints mail the Vactaionmiles certificate to a non-USA address (has anyone done this?) and will vacation miles convert their miles to AA miles if you reside out of the USA?

Anybody have any experience with this problem?

cheers Peter

MilesNut, sorry about that, I thought the MyPoints customer svc phone number was in that thread, but it is actually something else. Sorry about that. Their phone number may be on their website.

Burkey.....Thanks anyway. I have not been able to find any phone numbers for MyPoints anywhere. I've checked their web sight several times. I also checked the local phone book, as it seems that there based in my area (Chicago suburbs) but I haven't been able to find a phone number for them anywhere. Has anyone else been able to find a phone number for MyPoints???

The Mypoints phone numers for Mypoints:

1-888-262-4528
1-888-333-6260

WOW.....Thanks Student. Where in the world did you find them?