How to beat the 1:5 conversion rate between miles and points...
 

Just a thought.

50K miles = 100K HHonors Points
100K Points = 15K miles ( 20K for AA )

With the gaming chips reward...
110K Points = $400 ( The conversion sucks as HHW is worth much more than $400)

Now, if you really want miles for points, $400 can get you a lot more than 15-20K miles if you plan your mileage run properly.

The best part is that you can pick miles on any airline you want. ( Partner or not )



[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 05-28-2001).]

Let me try to understand your logic. Are you suggesting turning in 50,000 miles for 100,000 Hilton points. Turning that into $400. Then somehow go on a mileage run with the $400 to get back 15,000-20,000 miles? Sounds like a lot of worth, and you lose well over half the amount that you started with.

Let me explain.

You have 50K Delta miles that you hate. Wish you had them in CO.

The only way to do it now is to convert 50K Delta miles to 100K HHonors points. And then reconvert those 100K points to CO using two RXCO3 award ( 50K HHonors -- > 10K CO )

In the end, 50K Delta show up as 20K CO. That is a 60% loss.

Then again, if you encashed those 100K converted points, you could do better than 20K.

Tips for getting more than 15-20K miles off $400.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004588.html

It sounds like this logic requires a trip to a Hilton casino? Or am I missing something here?

Taking this example one step further: Turn the 110K into $400 in chips, find a white-hot dice table, turn $400 into $5000, use the $5000 to buy a whole buncha plane tickets. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Seriously though, I tend to look at double point conversions as a last-resort thing. And when I do a point conversion, I keep it as small as possible - just enough to liberate the orphaned points in question. Don't know why anyone would hate 50,000 Skymiles...if you hate DL, there are certainly lots of other awards to pick that will offer better value. Heck, if you are dying to get out of Skymiles, just stop after the HHonors transfer and go spend a free week in a Hawaiian Hilton.

RMC-- LOL I have an unbeatable system for Blackjack... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Interesting thread. Can you buy fflyer points from every airline. I think that most programs have a limit on the miles you can buy in one calendar year. This should be considered in the entire exercise.

And also, the Hilton Casino question is also a great point. What are the participating properties for cashing out for chips?

"Where else but Vegas, babe"

I have not done the conversion ever. Let me get HH Cust service to mail me back a list of them.

Would keep ya updated.

The LUCK4 Award is now 110,000 points, the same as a $400 Tiffany & Co gift certificate. This leads me to a better idea for free travel:

1) Redeem your miles for HHonors points.
2) Redeem your HHonors points for a Tiffany gift certificate.
3) Use it to buy jewelery.
4) Give it to a potential significant other who is well off.
5) Go on lots of "free" trips with his/her money.

One creative idea begets another. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

------------------
He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.

Bourne-- yes, I had guessed it was Vegas, but, which Vegas hotels are Hilton Hotels...?

Based on the input from fellow Ft'ers on the Hilton board, LVH redeems the award for cash at the cage.

While I wait on the response from Hilton regarding gaming locations, let me clear off a few points. I started off on a wrong foot here.

100K points is a lot worth than $400. By a conservative estimate, the 6 Night HHV award itself is worth over $2000.

Most of us convert points for miles for the following probable reasons...

Topping off an account.
Liberating orphan miles.
Getting a transaction counted for promotions.

With a lot of posts on FT regarding transfering miles from one airline to another, I tried to dig up methods for moving miles around. Using the current known methods, there is a loss of 60% of the miles IF someone does it.

Encashing the Gaming chip reward and then using it for a well thought out mileage run can bring down the loss, if not eliminate it.

Converting points into miles is not the best proposition. If someone is inclined to do it, considering the above option might save some miles.

Disclaimer : I personally would never do it. Six days at HHV works fine with me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

This is of course not true if the miles could be converted to DC points and then to the airline. The standard rate is a 50% loss there, though occassionally they have a 2 for 1 promotion.

Other Hilton casinos are in Reno, Laughlin. New Orleans, and Atlantic City.

Las Vegas
Reno Resort
Atlantic City
New Orleans ( Not on Property )
Laughlin
Cannes.

Thanks JerryFF,

Seems like you had all of them under the belt except Cannes.

Which casino in New Orleans? Harrahs or one of the boats?