when to use miles
 

1st time poster and visitor so be kind as I'm sure this has been around the block many times.Recently read that the old 1 mile equals 2 cents is no longer a good measurement.How do you determine when to redeem miles or purchase ticket? My interest would be from central Florida to Europe during spring and fall.I have most miles with Delta. Thanks, Gary Mc..

Every person has a different answer to this. You appear to have a goal of a trip to Europe. If you have enough miles, most people would tell you to go business or first. I use my miles for long haul international first class trips that I would never be able to afford without the help of miles. Last summer I flew CX first class to Australia for 140,000 miles. Best use of miles I've ever seen. I also once used TWA miles for a next day STL-BOS ticket to see Pedro vs Clemens at Fenway in the playoffs. The ticket would have cost $1500, but it was mine for 25,000 miles (and no expedite fee). I love the Red Sox, but I'm not going to spend $1500 to see them. Both of these uses of miles were great deals to me. The bottom line is, if you are happy with the end result, and you feel like you got a good deal, then you probably did. I would never use 25,000 miles for a $350 ticket, nor would I use 40,000 miles for a $500 ticket to Europe. But if that's what would make you happy, then go for it.

ignoring the cost per mile, I base it on what the ticket would cost. If I could fly from New York to London for $300 then I'll use Mondy, not miles to get there. If it's considerably higher then that, I'll use miles.

I look at the dollar amount and think what fraction of a free trip I'm getting with the miles and bonus miles, so if $300 or so is getting me half a free trip then I'll pay for it. If, however, I'm flying to Denver and that cost is $700 or $900, then it's miles to the rescue.

I find it so hard to fly on anything but an award ticket. The flexibility is invaluable. I change my itinerary more often than anyone I know. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't change my itinerary at will, and not make a couple of stopovers on international flights ... It makes me anxious to think of it.

I use the 300.00 limit. More, I use miles less I buy.

I have used domestic award (or a free RT bump cert) to places that are usually somewhat expensive and/or last minute such as a funeral. For intl, I will usually use it for someplace that is expensive in coach in season (Australia comes to mind). Recently, I have spent the extra miles to go in Business or First. Best use of miles IMHO.

I have Business class booked on QF using my 95K US Airways miles. Since I got lots of bonuses last fall going to Europe on US, my cost of flying was very low.

Using your miles to upgrade an inexpensive ticket on a flight to Europe gets you a very high return. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

mikey, does that $300 limit include international flights? For international, I like to use my miles for upgrading to B/E and will pay the price of an upgradable ticket on DL.

The other major consideration that I have is where I stand for requalifying for elite status. As a GM on DL who never comes close to hitting PM, I tend to buy my tickets until I reach the 50k needed for GM. After that, I like to redeem my miles.

Another consideration is the financial health of your airline. If it goes bankrupt, your miles will likely be worthless.

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Middle_Seat

I use miles pretty freely myself. I usually have under 100K in my account at any point in time, and use them to travel internationally.

Sometimes I wonder what all these people saving their miles are saving them for. You have to spend them eventually, or else their worth is zero. Sometimes it makes sense to spend the miles on some $250 ticket if that's the most expensive ticket you're ever inclined to need or want, IMO.

I would never fly coach International....So yes I use miles

And, for anything over 2 hours needs to be PM upgradable (no LUser fares)or I use miles

Another factor: maintaining status on your airline(s) of choice. I have booked one International Business award for June (to China on UA) and am planning an autumn vacation to Europe as well. But it's very possible I won't fly enough on business this year to keep even my "lowly 2P" status on UA.
So I have a number of possibilities to work out....

Kathy

I pay for every flight I possibly can, so I can 1) maintain my status, and 2) keep earning miles to pay for intl upgrades and last minute unavoidable flights. I also use miles to fly family and employees who don't care about earning their own miles or status.

macatak44

I just read the whole thread and noticed that no one welcomed you to Fylertalk.

Where are our manners?