The Most Valuable Mile
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,831
The Most Valuable Mile
What airline/hotel mile do you consider to be most valuable?
1. One bmi diamond club mile
USA to Europe, First Class, any *Alliance airline, 50,000 miles plus @$700
Worth $3500 to me, or $0.056 per mile
2. One SPG point
USA to London, Upper Class, Virgin Atlantic, 65,000 SPG points = 80,000 VS FlyingClub miles
Worth $2500 to me, or $0.038 per mile
3. One AsiaMile
USA to Europe, First Class, any OneWorld airline, 90,000 miles
Worth $3000 to me, or $0.033
(worth less due to max. one-way distance of 5000 miles)
4. One United MileagePlus mile
USA to Australia, First Class, United Airlines, 120,000 miles
Worth $3500 to me, or $0.029 per mile
To make this fair, you need to pick a "point currency" that is roughly equivalent to one mile of flying or one mile per credit card dollar spend. You should also not judge value based upon "full retail price" and instead consider value to be the savings based upon what you would be willing to spend in cash for the same trip. For example, heavily restricted first class roundtrip to Europe is worth $3500 to me, not $14,000 for the unrestricted, full-fare first class.
1. One bmi diamond club mile
USA to Europe, First Class, any *Alliance airline, 50,000 miles plus @$700
Worth $3500 to me, or $0.056 per mile
2. One SPG point
USA to London, Upper Class, Virgin Atlantic, 65,000 SPG points = 80,000 VS FlyingClub miles
Worth $2500 to me, or $0.038 per mile
3. One AsiaMile
USA to Europe, First Class, any OneWorld airline, 90,000 miles
Worth $3000 to me, or $0.033
(worth less due to max. one-way distance of 5000 miles)
4. One United MileagePlus mile
USA to Australia, First Class, United Airlines, 120,000 miles
Worth $3500 to me, or $0.029 per mile
To make this fair, you need to pick a "point currency" that is roughly equivalent to one mile of flying or one mile per credit card dollar spend. You should also not judge value based upon "full retail price" and instead consider value to be the savings based upon what you would be willing to spend in cash for the same trip. For example, heavily restricted first class roundtrip to Europe is worth $3500 to me, not $14,000 for the unrestricted, full-fare first class.
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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1 SPG - 3,000pts to get a room that I'd pay about $100 for, so a little over 3 cents a point.
1 FF mile - 50k to get a last-minute domestic award that I'd have to pay about a grand for - 2 cents. (It's hard to find a market where there is no decent last-minute alternative for over a grand. WN is pushing this towards $650 or so in many major markets.)
Alternatives: 80k to get a J seat that I'd maybe pay $1500 for...again, 2 cents.
1 FF mile - 50k to get a last-minute domestic award that I'd have to pay about a grand for - 2 cents. (It's hard to find a market where there is no decent last-minute alternative for over a grand. WN is pushing this towards $650 or so in many major markets.)
Alternatives: 80k to get a J seat that I'd maybe pay $1500 for...again, 2 cents.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
One Asia Mile
USA to Europe, BA Business Class roundtrip upgrade, 22.5K miles + $600 WT+ ticket
Worth $1200 to me, or $0.0375 cents per mile
(worth less due to max. one-way distance of 5000 miles;
but value per miles should be higher to others who would pay more than $1200 for a restricted BA business class roundtrip)
Ofcourse, SPG are transferable to AsiaMiles so they have an even higher value (transfer bonus).
And 25K BA miles can do the same upgrade...so they are also a good value for BA transatlantic.
USA to Europe, BA Business Class roundtrip upgrade, 22.5K miles + $600 WT+ ticket
Worth $1200 to me, or $0.0375 cents per mile
(worth less due to max. one-way distance of 5000 miles;
but value per miles should be higher to others who would pay more than $1200 for a restricted BA business class roundtrip)
Ofcourse, SPG are transferable to AsiaMiles so they have an even higher value (transfer bonus).
And 25K BA miles can do the same upgrade...so they are also a good value for BA transatlantic.
Last edited by wanaflyforless; Dec 3, 2005 at 2:34 pm
#6
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Posts: 53,010
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
The last mile needed for an award with/to see that special someone - priceless.
#7




Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: GOT, LAX, CDG, NRT, ICN
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Posts: 792
What airline/hotel mile do you consider to be most valuable?
NRT-BKK (or other inter-Asia) First/Business Class, NW or MH 30,000 miles
Worth $1500-2500 (off-peak-peak) to me, or $0.05-0.083 per mile
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
Originally Posted by pinniped
1 SPG - 3,000pts to get a room that I'd pay about $100 for, so a little over 3 cents a point.




