Should I buy points or flights?
Jul 11, 2002 | 7:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SAN
Posts: 887
Should I buy points or flights?
Well I have to go to Geneva in a few weeks. Should I pay $1100 for the San Diego-Geneva economy fare or should I somehow buy points and use those?
Help.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-11-2002).]
Help.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-11-2002).]
Jul 11, 2002 | 9:42 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2000
Location: VA USA IAD\DCA
Programs: United Airlines, Marriot Bonvoy
Posts: 573
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Well I have to go to Geneva in a few weeks. Should I pay $1100 for the San Diego-Geneva economy fare or should I somehow buy points and use those?
Help.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-11-2002).]</font>
Well I have to go to Geneva in a few weeks. Should I pay $1100 for the San Diego-Geneva economy fare or should I somehow buy points and use those?
Help.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-11-2002).]</font>
AndrewM
Jul 11, 2002 | 10:01 pm
#5
Founder of FlyerTalk
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 6,540
Let's back up here a second. Could you share with us what miles you do have in which aircounts and then we'll look at the value of "topping off" as well as some special international awards lurking around right now.
Jul 11, 2002 | 11:33 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2000
Location: VA USA IAD\DCA
Programs: United Airlines, Marriot Bonvoy
Posts: 573
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Suuure.
Delta: 55,000
AC: 25,000
Starwood: 40,000
Northwest: 30,000
That kind of thing.</font>
Suuure.
Delta: 55,000
AC: 25,000
Starwood: 40,000
Northwest: 30,000
That kind of thing.</font>
2. 40,000 Starwood will translate into 100,000 Qantas miles. Free award ticket on BA to Europe. or
3. 40,000 starwood + 30,000 NWA = Free restricted Business class on NWA\KLM.
The problem is you don't have enough time to complete the transaction.
Jul 11, 2002 | 11:40 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ORF & AUS; I have an ex-wife and and an ex-house in both cities.
Programs: AA Gold, DL GM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 891
Maybe I am missing something here, but you can get a SkySaver award on Delta from the US to Europe for 50,000 miles. It looks to me that, since you have 55,000 miles on Delta, you wouldn't need to buy a ticket or buy miles.
Jul 12, 2002 | 5:51 am
#14
Join Date: May 2000
Location: VA USA IAD\DCA
Programs: United Airlines, Marriot Bonvoy
Posts: 573
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Damian's idea is interesting... unless AndrewM's accounting is more accurate. I don't actually want to use the Delta points for this.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-12-2002).]</font>
Damian's idea is interesting... unless AndrewM's accounting is more accurate. I don't actually want to use the Delta points for this.
[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 07-12-2002).]</font>
You need 80,000 miles for economy from SAN.
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/...ables#qf_ba_aa
AndrewM
Jul 12, 2002 | 7:19 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,037
I don't have time to research your cities and dates right now, but in half a dozen similar situations over the past few months the best deal for paid tickets has been (by several hundred dollars) a flight to London followed by a partner ticket onward. With AA or BA you ask for a Visit Europe Pass ticket. *A has a similar program. You have to get these in North America in conjunction with a trans-Atlantic flight on an alliance member.
The usual online booking places don't have these fares. You have to call the airline and ask about them.
The reason this works is that competition to the UK keeps those fares low, and the intra-European fares in these programs are designed to compete with European bargain airlines.
The usual online booking places don't have these fares. You have to call the airline and ask about them.
The reason this works is that competition to the UK keeps those fares low, and the intra-European fares in these programs are designed to compete with European bargain airlines.