Do you avoid using miles for yourself?
Jul 22, 2009 | 3:09 pm
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, Hertz PC, Marriott Lifetime Plat, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 44,292
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Mostly I hoard all mine... It used to be I would just eek out MVPG on AS... But I'm at 65KEQM on AS... Already
I really need to look @ burning a couple awards... internationally (where I haven't been yet
)
Mostly I hoard all mine... It used to be I would just eek out MVPG on AS... But I'm at 65KEQM on AS... Already
I really need to look @ burning a couple awards... internationally (where I haven't been yet
)
Jul 23, 2009 | 3:12 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,943
I have no problem using miles for myself. A flight from central MN to FAI costs almost $900 round trip. Even if I drove to MSP and flew from there, about $800 round trip - in economy. If I paid for that ticket, I would earn about 12,000 miles. But I use 25K miles for the flight to FAI and I can use that $900 to go to Europe - just about twice in the winter, earning me far more miles and value than paying for a ticket to Alaska just to "earn miles."
Jul 23, 2009 | 3:21 pm
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,010
I typically redeem for wife or family and buy myself.
I'm eventually going to cycle out of United status - meaning I'll then need to book C/F awards for myself if I want to fly *A.
As long as I have some elite status, I don't mind flying Y in a pinch. Of course I prefer the C/F awards when I can get 'em...don't we all?
I will never book any kind of important trip in coach on an airline on which I have no status. That's far too risky for my tastes. (I'm talking about a serious trip...simple short nonstops within a country or region, no biggie. I'll fly Ryanair, Southwest, Frontier, easyJet, etc. when it makes sense.)
I'm eventually going to cycle out of United status - meaning I'll then need to book C/F awards for myself if I want to fly *A.
As long as I have some elite status, I don't mind flying Y in a pinch. Of course I prefer the C/F awards when I can get 'em...don't we all?
I will never book any kind of important trip in coach on an airline on which I have no status. That's far too risky for my tastes. (I'm talking about a serious trip...simple short nonstops within a country or region, no biggie. I'll fly Ryanair, Southwest, Frontier, easyJet, etc. when it makes sense.)
Jul 23, 2009 | 8:44 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: UA 1P
Posts: 314
Miss out on collecting miles and bonuses? But at what cost?
I have no problem using miles for myself. A flight from central MN to FAI costs almost $900 round trip. Even if I drove to MSP and flew from there, about $800 round trip - in economy. If I paid for that ticket, I would earn about 12,000 miles. But I use 25K miles for the flight to FAI and I can use that $900 to go to Europe - just about twice in the winter, earning me far more miles and value than paying for a ticket to Alaska just to "earn miles."
I have no problem using miles for myself. A flight from central MN to FAI costs almost $900 round trip. Even if I drove to MSP and flew from there, about $800 round trip - in economy. If I paid for that ticket, I would earn about 12,000 miles. But I use 25K miles for the flight to FAI and I can use that $900 to go to Europe - just about twice in the winter, earning me far more miles and value than paying for a ticket to Alaska just to "earn miles."