Just wondering how the vacation miles received from mypoints works. Are we allowed all the different awards that are mentioned on the Vacation Miles web site, or are we restricted to the offers mentioned on the mypoints website?

I ask because I'm at 19,500. Should hit that magic 20,000 points soon.

Go to the Vacation Miles website at www.vacationmiles.com

They have the entire rewards catalog online for what you can redeem points for.

yesngo ~ MyPoints will send you a certificate that you then redeem with VacationMiles for the various awards.

NOTE: You can only redeem VacationMiles received from MyPoints for awards listed on the MyPoints site, not all of the awards listed on the VacationMiles site.

Yesngo,

From my experience with Vacation Miles from MYPOINTS, it's easy. You get the certificate and fax/mail it to the redemption number listed. If you want miles, you can get them on AMERICAN. 20,000 points will get you 25,000 miles. You fill out the back of the form, send it in, and the miles will be in your account in about 2 weeks. Be patient when you redeem with MYPOINTS. Unbelievably, in this day and age of "fast everything", it will take 4-6 weeks from the time you redeem for your award to get to you. MYPOINTS will take about 2 weeks to process your request. Then, they call the Pony Express and have your certificate WALKED to your house. That's the only way I can explain how long it takes. Again, from experience, it's worth the wait.

Here is another question about Vacation Miles: Is it possible to combine four separate 5000-mile coupons to get the 25000 AA bonus deal, or do you need a 20000-mile coupon in order to make the exchange work? I get so nervous keeping Mypoints in my account (who knows how long they'll be in business...) that I always cash out at 5000.

The exchange comes from MyPoints. You need to accumulate 20,000 mypoints and then redeem them for 25,000 VacationMiles, which you can then redeem into 25,000 AA Miles. So, if you've already redeemed Mypoints for vacationmiles in 5,000 increments, you're probably out of luck on the 20,000/25,000 bonus.

As far as them being in business--They went public a few months ago, opening at around $15 per share, I believe. The stock later skyrocketed to $97/share and is now around $43, after losing $5 per share today. (symbol MYPT).
As long as their stock stays above $15-20, I can't see them going out of business real soon. Personally, I'm just checking their stock every once in awhile and in the meantime holding on, hoping to reach the 20,000 point level again.

Right now I'm more concerned that the banks might shut TWA down than I am about Mypoints.

I just cashed in my second 20,000 points for 25,000 vacation miles. I used the first 25,000 miles to buy ten $50 Marriot discounts and I really think I got a bargain. I need to decide whether to buy Marriott again or to buy Hyatt this time. Personally I think the ten $50 certificates is the best deal.

You do need to cash in all 20,000 points at once to get the 25,000 vacation miles. You are also restricted to the vacation mile awards listed on the Mypoints web site.

Also note: You are limited to a maximum of 25,000 AA miles per calendar year from Vacation Miles/MyPoints. I got burned by some late postings last year so didn't reach the 20K MyPoints level until early January. Hopefully, they'll still be around in a year so I can get another 25K miles.

Cheers,

'toad

TravelLover, can you combine those $50 Marriott certificates during a single stay? If so, I agree this may be the best use of the Vacation Miles.

That's a good question ..

I just thought that I would cash my points for that certificates and use 'em for the hotel in Hawaii

Could I do that ?

delphi, in order to get the certificates you are required to book your reservation through the travel company (HMI, Inc.) so they can partially offset the cost through their commission. HMI mails you one certificate for each night that you reserve. Yes, you can combine the $50 certificates but you only get one per hotel night stay. I've been getting discounted certificates through all of those giftcertificates.com and giftpoint.com offers so I use the discounted ones to supplement the $50 ones that come from HMI.