Save Money or Spend More for the points??
Dec 25, 2008 | 10:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 24
Save Money or Spend More for the points??
I am buying a ticket to Asia soon. I fly often Air Canada which is affiliated with StarAlliance and manage to collect some aeroplan points and I've already redeemed 3 domestic flights. It will save me $175 less to fly with Northwest (w/ Sky Alliance) where I don't have an account with. However I do have some airmiles when shopping at Safeway and taking the odd flight on WestJet. Save money or Spend more for the points??
Dec 25, 2008 | 1:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: Delta GM, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Priority Plat, Avis Prez
Posts: 105
Do you have status that will get you extra bonus points? Even without status, it seems like the extra 15-20k miles are worth about the $175 in cash you would spend, so you might as well go with your AC trip.
Bottom line is if you get those miles in another program (Skyteam in this case) which you don't plan to fly with again later on, the miles are sort of pointless, but if you get them in your own program and use them wisely, there value is at or greater than $175.
Bottom line is if you get those miles in another program (Skyteam in this case) which you don't plan to fly with again later on, the miles are sort of pointless, but if you get them in your own program and use them wisely, there value is at or greater than $175.
Dec 26, 2008 | 5:20 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,732
So see what you can get for that extra $175. On NW you only need 12,500 miles to get a one-way ticket if you purchase the other half. However, you'll likely have to do that in 2009 because of the Delta/NW merger and not sure if that program will continue.
In general, I go with the cheapest unless what I get (miles or better seat or free upgrades) is worth the extra price or inconvienence. I'm firmly a believer that points and miles are more and more worthless and I'd save your cash...
In general, I go with the cheapest unless what I get (miles or better seat or free upgrades) is worth the extra price or inconvienence. I'm firmly a believer that points and miles are more and more worthless and I'd save your cash...
Dec 26, 2008 | 5:34 pm
#4
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My line of resistance is 100$ in order for me to collect with my preferred programm.
Should another acceptable carrier be cheaper than that, my choice is clear.
2009 I will be very flexible anyways. I have Status with all 3 Alliances in which I get 100% or more bonus.
so I strongly assume whoever has the best price will issue the ticket.
Should another acceptable carrier be cheaper than that, my choice is clear.
2009 I will be very flexible anyways. I have Status with all 3 Alliances in which I get 100% or more bonus.
so I strongly assume whoever has the best price will issue the ticket.
Dec 26, 2008 | 8:18 pm
#5
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Dec 26, 2008 | 9:08 pm
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Yes and no. If one has multiple alliances then the discretionary number can decrease to meet one of those options. For the sake of the miles associated with a YYZ-NRT r/t ticket I'd probably spend the extra $175 for my carrier of choice, especially knowing that I had no vested interest in the alternative. In my personal situation, where either ST or *A are valid earning avenues, however, I wouldn't spend a penny extra, as the *A miles are just as valuable (if not more) than the ST miles to me personally.
Dec 26, 2008 | 10:33 pm
#7
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Yes and no. If one has multiple alliances then the discretionary number can decrease to meet one of those options. For the sake of the miles associated with a YYZ-NRT r/t ticket I'd probably spend the extra $175 for my carrier of choice, especially knowing that I had no vested interest in the alternative. In my personal situation, where either ST or *A are valid earning avenues, however, I wouldn't spend a penny extra, as the *A miles are just as valuable (if not more) than the ST miles to me personally.
So I can't put an absolute dollar amount on the value. It is directly proportional, for me, to the number of miles in question.
Dec 28, 2008 | 5:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,825
If CO offers lower ($100+ diff) fare than UA, then I'll fly CO.
Even for NYC-HNL or NYC-ANC.
Internationally, it's a little different as I'll get to upgrade more often on UA, but I think OP's not really looking to upgrade.
Even for NYC-HNL or NYC-ANC.
Internationally, it's a little different as I'll get to upgrade more often on UA, but I think OP's not really looking to upgrade.
Dec 28, 2008 | 5:23 pm
#9
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Absolutely. I never meant to imply that the $175 number was absolute for any trip. I meant specifically for YYZ-NRT and the trip the OP was considering.