How do you use your airline miles?
Jul 12, 2002 | 12:58 pm
#46
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Monroe, LA
Programs: CO Plat; Delta Plat; Marriott Plat; SPG Gold; HHonors Gold
Posts: 112
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yorock:
Was it hard to find a flight with four open seats? I've been thinking of taking my girl to Hawaii In the next year or so.</font>
Was it hard to find a flight with four open seats? I've been thinking of taking my girl to Hawaii In the next year or so.</font>
Jul 20, 2002 | 1:56 pm
#47
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
Posts: 63
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RustyC:
I'll also comb the fine-print rules on stopovers and open jaws, research the routings on the Net and milk that for the most destinations possible (within a tight budget).
For example, I took AMS as a 5-day stopover on an ATL-BKK routing via the Atlantic, and also got a non-stopover stopover (i.e. less than 24 hours) in Singapore..
.</font>
I'll also comb the fine-print rules on stopovers and open jaws, research the routings on the Net and milk that for the most destinations possible (within a tight budget).
For example, I took AMS as a 5-day stopover on an ATL-BKK routing via the Atlantic, and also got a non-stopover stopover (i.e. less than 24 hours) in Singapore..
.</font>
I spend mostly on international coach trips with Mrs. South to Europe and South America. We did an open jaw into LIS and out of LHR, and another into GIG and out of SCL. Next time, I want to try a LanChile ticket with a stopover in SCL.
Jul 21, 2002 | 6:45 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: UA 2P, AA LT Gold, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,177
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yorock:
What do you mean decrease? </font>
What do you mean decrease? </font>
20 years ago I used to pay $200 RT Northeast to Florida. Today $125 routinely. Deflation in nominal fares = deflation of your miles' value.
Jul 21, 2002 | 8:17 am
#50
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Radcliff, KY
Programs: HH-Gold, MR Platinum
Posts: 316
I use my miles for domestic R/T based upon the price of the trip. With the exception of Southwest, the cost of the R/T must exceed $300.
Due to timing, I have sometimes ponied up with the max miles just in order to get the flights. Like last summer I got a R/T to COS for my "friend" for 40K United miles, rather than a $1,500 last minute fare. A good use of miles in my opinion.
Due to timing, I have sometimes ponied up with the max miles just in order to get the flights. Like last summer I got a R/T to COS for my "friend" for 40K United miles, rather than a $1,500 last minute fare. A good use of miles in my opinion.
Jul 25, 2002 | 5:56 am
#53
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,589
I saved my miles for 2 years for a Concorde return. So great I plan to save again for my dad. Otherwise I keep 50-100 thousands for emergency travel (burials ...) because this is great value for money, and spend the rest on coach unless there is a great promotion. I would not keep a high balance : I believe airlines will soon increase the required miles for a flight, or go bankrupt ...
Jul 25, 2002 | 6:56 am
#54
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,291
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by peteropny:
I usually use my miles for Premium Class International trips. And always maintain a reserve for "emergency" domestic trips.</font>
I usually use my miles for Premium Class International trips. And always maintain a reserve for "emergency" domestic trips.</font>
That's exactly what I do as well. I have had to use "emergency miles" twice and found it to save me thousands of dollars over last minute travel costs. I also focus on accumulating and using hotel points as well in order to reduce to overall cost of a trip.
------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop --- "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa (1940-93)
Jul 27, 2002 | 10:55 pm
#56
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Programs: AA 2MM Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,350
As with many of the other replies, I too use miles for trips which otherwise are cost prohibitive. Long haul FC is definitely one of the best redemptions. But also, it truly feels like I'm "rewarding" myself. I never redeem miles for a coach reward as it's more of a punishment than anything.
Another favorite award of mine is flying in Premium First Class on three class transcon flights, especially on AA in their Flagship Suites!!
Another favorite award of mine is flying in Premium First Class on three class transcon flights, especially on AA in their Flagship Suites!!
Jul 28, 2002 | 9:42 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,467
I've spent 415k AA miles (only 185k of that was for me, rest was for family/friends). One was a waste, 60k miles for a ticket from Europe to US that I only ended up using half of. I recently spent 250k BA miles on my honeymoon, two FC tickets to South Africa.
98 60k europe lhr-aus-lhr (only used lhr-aus)
99 60k australia aus-mel-aus
01 25k upgrade mxp-aus
01 25k upgrade aus-tpe
01 15k new york
01 25k g/f upgrade
01 15k g/f new york
01 40k g/f san francisco
00 50k mom+sis
02 50k wedding guests (joint US/AA)
02 50k wedding guests
98 60k europe lhr-aus-lhr (only used lhr-aus)
99 60k australia aus-mel-aus
01 25k upgrade mxp-aus
01 25k upgrade aus-tpe
01 15k new york
01 25k g/f upgrade
01 15k g/f new york
01 40k g/f san francisco
00 50k mom+sis
02 50k wedding guests (joint US/AA)
02 50k wedding guests
Jul 28, 2002 | 10:23 am
#58
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Portland
Programs: UA 1K, AK Gold 75K, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,660
Free rountrips for leisure travel and upgrades for business travel. I am not doing a good job of using enough points, because as a 1K, I get almost every flight upgraded using the free certificates that United supplies.
I am planning to take my wife first class to Europe or Asia. I am hoping that I can get saver awards, but considering that my time is not extremely flexible, I may have to use standard awards.
I am planning to take my wife first class to Europe or Asia. I am hoping that I can get saver awards, but considering that my time is not extremely flexible, I may have to use standard awards.
Jul 28, 2002 | 4:05 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Sweden
Posts: 5,645
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dgordon:
Never if there is a cheap ticket. It is my 401K for retirement - or for Mexico where the fare is usually overpriced for the miles you get. This also allows for a stopover in Dallas.
</font>
Never if there is a cheap ticket. It is my 401K for retirement - or for Mexico where the fare is usually overpriced for the miles you get. This also allows for a stopover in Dallas.
</font>
Jul 28, 2002 | 4:57 pm
#60
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA Premier Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 264
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bigbroinca:
I just booked my first reward's on Delta for my family (Wife & 2 kids) to Hawaii. 120k Skymiles + 50k Skymiles converted to Hilton for 6 free nights(ALON Cert).
</font>
I just booked my first reward's on Delta for my family (Wife & 2 kids) to Hawaii. 120k Skymiles + 50k Skymiles converted to Hilton for 6 free nights(ALON Cert).
</font>