NW vs HH
 

I plan to buy some eletronic gizmos soon. I can buy via Northwest or myPoints. Same # of miles/points.
For 5-10,000 miles/points, would you go NW or HH?

Consensus on this board is that a mile in an airline loyalty program represents a higher value than a HiltonHonors point.
So if your choice is either X miles or X points then you would get a better value chosing the miles.

Also several airlines will allow you to transfer miles to HHonors earning you 2 HHpoints per mile transferred. I'm not sure if NW allows these transfers, but eg. AA and UA do. So if you would earn X miles with your purchase, they can later be transfered to 2X HHonors points.
There are some limitations like not every airline program allowing this transfer and the fact that transfers usually can only be done in multiples of 5K miles.

Personally I always try to earn miles instead of points.

Edited to add: forget about transferring from UA, see here.

[This message has been edited by ql2112 (edited 03-20-2003).]

I'd generally concur, as long as you will be able to use the miles. HH points can be redeemed at hotels starting with 6,000 points per night. And also, the HH points could put you over the top for a needed award. If you readily accrue NW miles, though, then that would probably be a better deal.

NW does not, and, as noted, neither does UA as of midnight tonight. That leaves AA, CO, HA, and YX as the only domestic airlines that exchange. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

There are a number of other good shopping opprotunities. Try Gary Steiger's website for a comprehensive overview (google him).

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 03-20-2003).]

I have always considered 1 mile about equal to 2 Hhonors points. Some things to consider:

**Miles can be tough to use (capacity controls), I have found HHonors points easier to use.

**You do not earn miles or especially status using airline miles, this is an issue if you are generally close to a status level like me. Hilton is now giving stay credit for award stays. This is not an issue if you typically use miles for upgrades.

Hope this helps