How Many Miles Is Too Much Risk?
Jul 30, 2002 | 2:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: All over 4.2MM AA EXP, UA 1MM, DL PLT, MARR LIFE PLT
Posts: 247
How Many Miles Is Too Much Risk?
Having flown extensively for years I have amassed over 1 million miles with 700,000 on one airline CO. The balance is United, where I will lose Prem Exec and AA where I am just starting but have 100K and Platinum. I have a ton more with Amex.
I keep earning the miles faster than I can use them with Elite bonuses, class of service bonuses and my credit cards.
I like flying CO & AA but if I use free tix I won't qualify for Platinum. Is 700K at CO too much exposure?
I keep earning the miles faster than I can use them with Elite bonuses, class of service bonuses and my credit cards.
I like flying CO & AA but if I use free tix I won't qualify for Platinum. Is 700K at CO too much exposure?
Jul 30, 2002 | 3:53 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Escondido CA USA
Programs: AS, UA, HY, Hil, Merr
Posts: 3,332
Which risk are you worried about?
Program cancellation
Point devaluation
Using points at a time when you have no stauts with that line
Change in tax code making their use taxable
Continued charges added to tickets, even ff tickets
Lost opportunity to do some really good deeds
Protecting value in case of death
Protecting ownership in case of divorse
Future fear of flying
Future travel making flying obsolete
Your employer confiscating them
World war making use too dangerous or unavailable
Computer fraud resulting in there theft
Poor health make use questionable
Something else not mentioned here???????????
Point use now are points enjoyed and not subject to loss. Utilized while you have status and health.
Programs exist to protect miles from some threats.
Points gifted to a charity are NEVER a loss in value.
Points can often be exchanged for other than flights
Finally, points use for first class tickets to Australia are a blessing you will remember forever and will use up all your point quickly. See the "tolerance museum" in Kings Cross, Sydney...the War Memorial in Canberra...the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns...the Great Ocean Road in Western Australia, the zoo in Adelaide as well as some fine wineries, dine first class in Melbourne, enjoy the nothingness of Alice Springs and the holy rock at Uluru. Visit Tazmania for the "holocaust" site of Australia, and let me know what you saw in Brisbane (have not been there yet)
Program cancellation
Point devaluation
Using points at a time when you have no stauts with that line
Change in tax code making their use taxable
Continued charges added to tickets, even ff tickets
Lost opportunity to do some really good deeds
Protecting value in case of death
Protecting ownership in case of divorse
Future fear of flying
Future travel making flying obsolete
Your employer confiscating them
World war making use too dangerous or unavailable
Computer fraud resulting in there theft
Poor health make use questionable
Something else not mentioned here???????????
Point use now are points enjoyed and not subject to loss. Utilized while you have status and health.
Programs exist to protect miles from some threats.
Points gifted to a charity are NEVER a loss in value.
Points can often be exchanged for other than flights
Finally, points use for first class tickets to Australia are a blessing you will remember forever and will use up all your point quickly. See the "tolerance museum" in Kings Cross, Sydney...the War Memorial in Canberra...the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns...the Great Ocean Road in Western Australia, the zoo in Adelaide as well as some fine wineries, dine first class in Melbourne, enjoy the nothingness of Alice Springs and the holy rock at Uluru. Visit Tazmania for the "holocaust" site of Australia, and let me know what you saw in Brisbane (have not been there yet)
Jul 30, 2002 | 6:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: PAR
Programs: AA 1MM, AF Plat, VS Gold, Hyatt Glob, Sixt Diamond, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,170
fyi
I worked at a travel agency for 3 years and we had a client in a similar "bind." We actually spoke with our Continental rep who reaffirmed that there are no exp dates or problems with accumulating 100ks.
One thing to remember (although you probably already know) is that your CO miles can be used on KLM, Emirates, AAEagle (for all those caribbean destinations) and even A3 (although I am a bit hesitant to mention a train award on FT).
Any student FTer like myself would be in heaven with that kind of accumulation.
Happy redemptions.
I worked at a travel agency for 3 years and we had a client in a similar "bind." We actually spoke with our Continental rep who reaffirmed that there are no exp dates or problems with accumulating 100ks.
One thing to remember (although you probably already know) is that your CO miles can be used on KLM, Emirates, AAEagle (for all those caribbean destinations) and even A3 (although I am a bit hesitant to mention a train award on FT).
Any student FTer like myself would be in heaven with that kind of accumulation.
Happy redemptions.
Jul 30, 2002 | 6:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: pgh pa usa
Posts: 35
You can also transfer them into a Hilton HHonors account and utilize them for purchases, cruises, etc. I stay at Hilton properties most of the time, and with the bonus programs that they have, from time to time, I have been able to accumulate a high number of points in their program, which then translates to quite a bit of stuff that I would have had to buy, or do without, otherwise. While the calculated dollar value might be greater when you use them for CO award tickets, you state that you accumulate them faster than you can use them. I have a similar "problem", using USAir, almost exclusively. As I am from PGH, there are not a lot of other choices for times/connections that I need to travel. With the new UA alliance, it looks like I will be able to have my flights on USAir posted to my UA account, and also be able to transfer them, as opposed to just watching them build up.