Help with miles or cash?

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Jun 18, 2003, 7:47 am

tasnam

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 1999

Location: Portland, Maine

Programs: UA 1K, SPG PLAT, HYATT PLAT, HH GOLD, AA GOLD, MR GOLD

Posts: 1,179

Help with miles or cash?

Which option would you pick?

I need get two tickets for my in-laws from PVD to GRU then to IGU.

I can go ALL THE WAY on AA for 60k each.

OR

(CO is 35k miles)
I can go on CO from PVD to GRU then purchase for $300 each 2 tickets to go GRU-IGU this will save me 50k miles but cost $600.

What’s the better option? I have no other miles available on other airlines.

AA all the way for 60k or CO 35k but pay $600?

Thanks for your advice.

[This message has been edited by tasnam (edited 06-18-2003).]

Jun 18, 2003, 8:02 am

sergio

Join Date: Nov 1999

Location: New York, NY

Posts: 717

I would approach it this way: can I get 25,000 miles for less than 600 dollars. If not, pay the six hundred.

Jun 18, 2003, 8:05 am

Superd1

Join Date: Nov 2002

Location: Port Angeles, WA, USA Unwanted by AS, Hilton-Diamond, Starwood Platnum

Posts: 758

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tasnam:
I can go ALL THE WAY on AA for 60k each.
OR
(CO is 35k miles)
I can go on CO from PVD to GRU then purchase for $300 each 2 tickets to go GRU-IGU this will save me 30k miles but cost $600.
What’s the better option? I have no other miles available on other airlines.
AA all the way for 60k or CO 35k but pay $600?
Thanks for your advice.</font>

Maybe I'm missing something but it looks to me like the saving is 50,000 miles not 30,000. At 30,000 it would be a no brainer use the miles. 50,000 is another matter. I think I would lean slightly to the spend the cash and save the miles. I think many would agree that it is not unreasonable to value the miles at 1.5 cents each. Debates have raged over the value of miles as they can be spent and have a value as little as .5 cents and as much as 8 cents. Most the airlines sell miles for 2.5 cents so I think 1.5 cents is reasonable.

------------------
"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

Jun 18, 2003, 8:33 am

tasnam

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 1999

Location: Portland, Maine

Programs: UA 1K, SPG PLAT, HYATT PLAT, HH GOLD, AA GOLD, MR GOLD

Posts: 1,179

SuperD1,

You were correct! I updated my post to reflect 50K miles.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Jun 18, 2003, 4:24 pm

fsexman

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: SFO

Posts: 206

Go to the VASP site:

http://www.vasp.com.br/en/ingles_airpass.php

Foreigners can take advantage of the VASP air pass. You can fly GRU-IGU for $142 during peak season or $112 during the low season.

You may also want to try TAM (www.tam.com.br), they have some cheap fares too.

Jun 18, 2003, 4:32 pm

fsexman

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: SFO

Posts: 206

Also, consider flying out of Sao Paulo's other airport, CGH and into the Argentinian side of the falls (IGR). Expedia shows a $162 fare from GRU or CGH to IGR.

[This message has been edited by fsexman (edited 06-18-2003).]

Jun 21, 2003, 3:48 pm

tasnam

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 1999

Location: Portland, Maine

Programs: UA 1K, SPG PLAT, HYATT PLAT, HH GOLD, AA GOLD, MR GOLD

Posts: 1,179

Thanks fsexman!

Good to find a price as low as $162.00

And did you check out their selection of aircraft?

Their website does not seem to have a flight schdule, or did I miss it?