To buy or not to buy---
 

Perhaps some of you experts out there can advise. Does it make sense to purchase a roundtrip ticket, Boston to London for $456. or use miles for this itinerary? I'm not familiar with the equation.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Pat

FWIW, any transatl for under $600 is usually worth buying. I am sure you can find some of the $ per mile calculations on this board, but that's my rule of thumb (especially if it's during the high season). UAL and some others have good specials right now.

Id buy, but it depends on how many miles you have, how much spare cash, etc.

And while you're in London, why not pick up a First Class ticket to Bangkok? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets

Personally, I'd buy the ticket, but nobody can tell you what you "should" do. Your answer depends on what you use (or expect to use) miles for and how much they're worth to you for that purpose.

If the award would cost 50,000 miles, you're giving up 56,530 because you'd also forego the miles you'd earn. In other words, you'd pay almost exactly 0.8¢/mile if you "buy" those miles for a $456 ticket. Most uses of miles are worth more than that.

As side benefits, a purchased ticket also earns you credit toward elite status (which may or may not matter to you) and is potentially upgradeable (ditto).

Morningstar, it also depends on when you are flying, and, as the previous poster basically said, whether or not you are married to a particular airline.

Is your travel for this summer? A $456 fare to LON is a pretty good for the summer.

Are you married to a particular airline? If not, have you considered Northwest? At NWA.com you might be able to snag a fare to Gatwick for about $320, for travel June, July, and possibly beyond.

[This message has been edited by notsosmart (edited 04-23-2003).]

Many thanks for all the replies.

This would be using Delta miles (50,000) on Virgin Atlantic departing in May but it appears to be a wise decicion to purchase a ticket on Virgin for $456.

This is in coach, had we been able to use miles for premium economy it would have been better use of miles but not available.

Pat

it depends on when you are going (for winter, no that is a very high price, for summer it a very good price), and if you have the money or not.

If you have seven million miles and no money, then no, use the miles. If you have seven million dollars and only a few thousand miles, then buy the ticket.

I think it would be most useful to you to read the Value of Miles section of my web site below.

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Free Frequent Flyer Miles

Another possible benefit to buying, depending on purchase/travel dates: some airlines are using relaxed rules on restricted tickets due to the world situation. Those special travel policies may give you more peace-of-mind, especially if you think you may need to change dates.

Most airlines are playing absolute hardball on FF award rules - no exceptions for any reason.