It is obvious that the value of FF miles has decreased, and will likely continue to do so. But even so we are a far way from #3 assertion that " a mile is only a penny." In a prior post here someone cited a first class UAL trip to Spain and Rome, for 100,000 miles. At a penny a mile, that would be worth $1,000. Try nearly ten cents a mile. Or, using NW miles one can travel on Malaysian Air (one of the finest) first class to Asia... for 120,000 miles. Could one purchase a first class rt to Asia for $1,200... with miles worth a penny each ? On what airline ?

My point is that while we all would like to see former values return, there are plenty of values still there... and they are worth spending some time to achieve. Even if more of the time is spent on the phone trying to nail the award down!

You greatly under-valued that trip at $1900. To borrow a phrase from MasterCard, I'd say it was priceless.

Well, it doesn't surprise me. If you listen to the media, Southwest is the answer to all the airline industry's problems. I mean, it's not the bad economy, the terrorist attacks, and so on. Nope, they just need to be Southwest.

Of course, this is the same media that was talking about UAL's contract with its pilots a couple of years ago as a great way to preserve labor peace for many years to come.

If you want to lose your shirt, do what the media tells you.

[This message has been edited by mdtony (edited 01-26-2003).]

After reading the article, all I can say is that it doesn't match my personal experience. This fellow is welcome to do what he wants to and rationalize his reasons any way he chooses to, but I really don't understand the need to try to evangelize others to his way of thinking. I guess he had a column to fill.

[This message has been edited by Standby4321 (edited 01-27-2003).]

The value of loyalty to a FF program? I was just able to get an award ticket for the wife of a dear friend who's undergoing cancer treatment in Seattle - between my miles and those of other friends we've gotten her tickets for every weekend of his anticipated 12 week stay. Cost me 25,000 miles which I'll never miss, you can bet.

My boyfriend sent me this article probably asking me to think twice about getting mileage earning credit cards and taking multi-segment trips.

But...I'll probably be redeeming a free ticket for him (though on a different airline) so he can accompany me on my very first mileage run ($126 LGA-LAX).
Non-flyertalkers may complain but wouldn't mind having us as good friends when vacation time comes!

WOW! How can I do that?



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