Drowning in Miles and Points
Jun 3, 2007 | 6:23 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,223
Jun 3, 2007 | 7:08 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Jun 3, 2007 | 7:10 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP; 1 Million; HH Gold; HGVC
Posts: 153
I am a very frequent traveler which is mostly on the road internationally and have amassed millions of miles and points, only air and hotel.
I simply do not have the time to use these miles and have read around regarding Coupon Connection. Although I would like to stay within the boundaries of the program rules associated within each scheme I am trying to figure out what to do with my all these miles / points. My main problem is time, I cant fiddle with dates I NEED TO TRAVEL ON THE DATES I NEED TO, and that goes for vacation as well given that it is on my dime vs. company dime...
Traveling 300,000-500,000 miles per year (YTD approx 185,000) for the past three years have really incresead my balances tremendously accross several programs. Spending half of the year in hotels accross the world has had a major impact to my SPG account (well in excess of MM). I have always stayed current with promo's especially before 2003 when I only traveled 100,000-150,000 miles per year and 50-100 nights in hotels per year.
I had an account with US with 118,000 miles that was dormant (i.e. had no idea I had it as I had forgotten about it) and got in the mail a piece a letter from US letting me know that there were about to expire. Kindly of them or else I would have not even known, regardless I donated them to a worthy cause, which told me it was their largest miles donation from a single user... It got me thinking...
Apologies for the rant but have to figure out something to do with these rewards and if someone is in the same situation as mine would be keen to hear them out.
Regards from the CRC @ LAX
I simply do not have the time to use these miles and have read around regarding Coupon Connection. Although I would like to stay within the boundaries of the program rules associated within each scheme I am trying to figure out what to do with my all these miles / points. My main problem is time, I cant fiddle with dates I NEED TO TRAVEL ON THE DATES I NEED TO, and that goes for vacation as well given that it is on my dime vs. company dime...
Traveling 300,000-500,000 miles per year (YTD approx 185,000) for the past three years have really incresead my balances tremendously accross several programs. Spending half of the year in hotels accross the world has had a major impact to my SPG account (well in excess of MM). I have always stayed current with promo's especially before 2003 when I only traveled 100,000-150,000 miles per year and 50-100 nights in hotels per year.
I had an account with US with 118,000 miles that was dormant (i.e. had no idea I had it as I had forgotten about it) and got in the mail a piece a letter from US letting me know that there were about to expire. Kindly of them or else I would have not even known, regardless I donated them to a worthy cause, which told me it was their largest miles donation from a single user... It got me thinking...
Apologies for the rant but have to figure out something to do with these rewards and if someone is in the same situation as mine would be keen to hear them out.
Regards from the CRC @ LAX
I do have a friend who had accumulated several million miles on mostly Delta and some on AA. Because he was accustomed to flying J and F - he always booked F award tickets and as a result used up most of his miles in less than 5 years flying only a few times each year (usually traveling w/ his wife - so double the miles)
Two anytme F award tickets at 180,000 miles is only five tickets per 900,000 miles.
Anyway, best of luck - you are blessed. Thanks for thinking of charity as well.
Jun 3, 2007 | 7:11 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
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Jun 3, 2007 | 7:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SFO, SJC, OAK, LVK AA Lifetime Plat 2MM, LUV A-List, Hyatt Gold, SPG Lifetime Gold, Commercial Pilot (not employed by airlines)
Posts: 1,531
Just keep them and make sure they don't expire. The day will likely come when you find you have a lot more free time on your hands than you do now and you will be able to start burning through them by taking some really nice trips. I sure wouldn't mind having a few million points and miles waiting for me when I retire.
What is it you do for a living that has you travelling so much?
What is it you do for a living that has you travelling so much?
Jun 3, 2007 | 7:20 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: AEROPLAN
Posts: 820
wow. is it that hard to burn miles in the USA that you have to give them to a charity?
in Canada, the two major programs(Aeroplan and Airmiles) both allow you to buy useful things such as electronics, toys, household appliances, and ordinary gasoline.
in Canada, the two major programs(Aeroplan and Airmiles) both allow you to buy useful things such as electronics, toys, household appliances, and ordinary gasoline.
Jun 4, 2007 | 11:57 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11
If you really just want to burn miles and don't really care about the redemption value...
just get a Diners club card and convert all of your points into club rewards, then you can cash that out for money. Of course, this would be a terrible waste of your miles, and would devalue them to be about .2 cents, but...hey..it can use them all up.
just get a Diners club card and convert all of your points into club rewards, then you can cash that out for money. Of course, this would be a terrible waste of your miles, and would devalue them to be about .2 cents, but...hey..it can use them all up.
Jun 5, 2007 | 12:52 am
#23
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Not from my point of view. I've booked 4 award tickets this year for friends and family members, and in March did a One World award to Asia/Australia using Cathy and Qantas segments. Maybe AA/OW availability is better than other airlines/partnerships this year?
Jun 5, 2007 | 11:51 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: OneWorld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus, StarAlliance Gold
Posts: 26
Thanks for the smart advices.. a lot of work but I have to get this in. I tried the AA flight ORD-BOM and there was no availability... It sucks bcs I am trying to conquer something that given lack of true time dedication seems nearly impossible. I checked availability on that flight for my dates and its wide open so Im guessing at some stage they will release some award seats... Guessing is the key.
Currently in Kiev, so apologize for belated reply. The people asking what I do for a living I rather abstain from divulging, hope this is understandable. (Got numerous PMs about what I do for a living...).
Ill keep you posted, but ST seems not an option as we really would like to arrange that flight to BOM as it would suit us perfectly. If not, I reckon we might have to purchase full fare J and accumulate more miles...
Currently in Kiev, so apologize for belated reply. The people asking what I do for a living I rather abstain from divulging, hope this is understandable. (Got numerous PMs about what I do for a living...).
Ill keep you posted, but ST seems not an option as we really would like to arrange that flight to BOM as it would suit us perfectly. If not, I reckon we might have to purchase full fare J and accumulate more miles...
Jun 6, 2007 | 6:46 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PIT, CPH
Programs: NWA Silver, UA Premier
Posts: 13
If you do decide to donate miles, consider http://lbeh.org/
They take donations of cash and miles to fly active duty troops home to see their loved ones during the holidays. The folks doing the work are volunteers so all the money actually goes to the troops.
Better still it's even tax deductible. If you donate miles, they make an estimate of what that ticket would cost using cash and send you a receipt for your tax return.
I've supported them since their inception in 2001.
They take donations of cash and miles to fly active duty troops home to see their loved ones during the holidays. The folks doing the work are volunteers so all the money actually goes to the troops.
Better still it's even tax deductible. If you donate miles, they make an estimate of what that ticket would cost using cash and send you a receipt for your tax return.
I've supported them since their inception in 2001.
Jun 6, 2007 | 8:58 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost....1&postcount=41
the RT awards (regular not saver) for SQ's new J/F and the routes currently available. of coure you could also do their regular awards for any route (1.5X i believe for others intead of 2X for new products) but those new products are really nice.
the RT awards (regular not saver) for SQ's new J/F and the routes currently available. of coure you could also do their regular awards for any route (1.5X i believe for others intead of 2X for new products) but those new products are really nice.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jun 6, 2007 at 9:05 am
Jun 6, 2007 | 9:36 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SORT OF HOMELESS
Programs: 14 years AA exp, but no more; & 1MM+, QR-PLT (ow EMD) MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 8,104
Just keep them and make sure they don't expire. The day will likely come when you find you have a lot more free time on your hands than you do now and you will be able to start burning through them by taking some really nice trips. I sure wouldn't mind having a few million points and miles waiting for me when I retire.........
Also gift to relatives by flying them to places for family re-union.
Jun 7, 2007 | 3:27 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: AA, DL, US, UA, Starwood
Posts: 69
There was a thread about this subject a few months back but I can't seem to find it...
Jun 8, 2007 | 2:13 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
skyteam - CO (nonsaver awards on all skyteam partners, and some other partners)
star alliance - SQ (nonsaver awards on SQ, including new F/J)
oneworld - AA (nonsaver awards on AA)
VS options >
~100K/night for ulusaba in africa
-2MM (earned by flying VS, so only works if you do) for space flight
-1MM for necker island celebration week (scheduled very few times a year, so probably doesnt work unfortunately)
you could also use up SPG by upgrading to specialty suites, at properties which allow you to do so. it sounds like you do plenty of business with them, so maybe theyd even let you combine plat status with a large amount of points to get a suite not normally available as an award.
EY also has nonsaver awards but im not sure how they work.
star alliance - SQ (nonsaver awards on SQ, including new F/J)
oneworld - AA (nonsaver awards on AA)
VS options >
~100K/night for ulusaba in africa
-2MM (earned by flying VS, so only works if you do) for space flight
-1MM for necker island celebration week (scheduled very few times a year, so probably doesnt work unfortunately)
you could also use up SPG by upgrading to specialty suites, at properties which allow you to do so. it sounds like you do plenty of business with them, so maybe theyd even let you combine plat status with a large amount of points to get a suite not normally available as an award.
EY also has nonsaver awards but im not sure how they work.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jun 8, 2007 at 3:54 am
