Well, this sure didn't give me a warm fuzzy, but then I really don't have much activity on mypoints.com

This information from a recent Associated Press article may cause some of you to consider cashing in your points to something more tangible, like a ticket, or Alaska Airline miles, before the company goes bankrupt:

MyPointscom Inc said it is cutting 120 jobs, about 29 percent of its workforce, to save $8 million a year because companies are spending less to market products online. MyPoints.com of San Francisco said it expects a third quarter loss of $14 million to $16 million. It lost $8.3 million last year earlier.

If you want to follow this company's fortunes or misfortunes on your own, its stock symbol is MYPT.

I have already taken out all of my balance and transferred to HHonors points. I also don't let greenpoints sit over 2500 either.

I have about the same number of points with Marriott & Hilton and I see that I can xfer MyPoints into those programs. 1000 MyPoints = 1000 HHonors or 1500 MyPoints = 1000 Marriot Rewards. Any suggestions which is better (other than the obvious fact HHonors costs less MyPoints)?

It depends on the airline that you are transferring the points into miles. I am AA PLT so here is the chart I use below:

MYPOINTS TO MILES CONVERSION CHARTS

MARRIOTT
1500 MyPoints = 1000 Mariott Rewards Points = 200 - 333 Miles*

*Exchange 10000 Points for 2000 Miles
*Exchange 20000 Points for 5000 Miles
*Exchange 30000 Points for 10000 Miles

AVERAGE EXCHANGE
Each point = .2 of an airmile (appx 20% of a mile)
BEST EXCHANGE
1.5 mypoints = 1 reward point = .33 mile if redeeming 30000 Reward points

HILTON
1000 MyPoints = 1000 Hilton Hhonor Points = 200 Miles*

*Exchange 10000 Points for 2000 Miles (AA)
*Exchange 20000 Points for 4000 Miles (AA)
*Exchange 50000 Points for 12000 miles (AA)

AVERAGE EXCHANGE
Each point = .20 of an airmile (appx 20% of a mile)
BEST EXCHANGE
Each Reward point = .24 mile

The exchange rate is worse for non-AA miles.
10,000 HHonor Points = 1,500 Miles
20,000 HHonor Points = 3,500 Miles
50,000 HHonor Points = 10,000 Miles

[This message has been edited by lasertag (edited 10-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by lasertag (edited 10-23-2000).]

If, using LaserTag's math, each MyPoint = 0.20 of a mile, and each mile is valued at $.02/mile, then 1 MyPoint = $0.004.

If you take a look at the MyPoints reward charts, many of the $50 Gift Certs (like to Home Depot, Hyatt, Spiegel, and others) for 5,250 MyPoints.

So, using the math above, 5,250 MyPoints * $0.004 = $21.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, you are better off going for a gift certificate rather than the miles..... (oppps, did I really just suggest that???)

My own ranking is:

1) Free airline ticket if you can reach 20,000 points.
2) Alaska airline miles (if you have existing Alaska miles)
3) Gift certificates
4) Hotel points

Thanks all - I'll probably go GC, especially with the holidays coming up.