Originally Posted by pbd456

i am in a slightly different situation as you.
i am on my own dime and the building block of my elite status is my 2 round-trips per year on HKG-east coast.
to be loyal to DL, it means i have to cough up for the expensive pricing.
fortunately, i manage to book a ticket on UA/KE this time for december/jan.

*A seem to have more rational pricing to hk. it may not be the cheapest all the time, but it is only slightly above the lowest. but DL is just giving a random price which i find very frustrating.
middle tier doesnt have lounge access (since i fly mostly on international route, so this is a big difference on DL vs *A). my airport is served by US/UA/CO/DL only. i have two choices when i go to hkg, and i am near where AC serves as well.

i have got okay value on redeeming my miles. booked 2 pvg-btv tickets for my friends. 4 hkg-nrt-gum ticket, and 4 hkg-nrt round trip. all on perksaver level. however, it is really frustrating to find those.

for now, i will switch my business to CO after i use up all my ECVs (let's hope i will earn more so that i can stay!)

i love NW, but i hate DL.

Originally Posted by fti

I prefer to play their game. $656 RT LAX-SYD, less $300 bump voucher I had reducing the cost to $356. Then used 25K miles and $10 tax to get from central MN to LAX. I will earn 45K to 55K miles depending on which bonuses they post.

So for $366 I get a trip to SYD and 20K-30K net miles. It is a deal I couldn't pass up.

Originally Posted by mnredfox

Brilliant, I just need to snag some more VDB ECV's. I've struck out all year (got 3 last year)...

Originally Posted by N751PR

I feel for you there. One of the major reasons I love NW was their MNL flights, especially after UA left in the late 90s. Now that I'm back with UA, I have to either a) fly OZ, SQ, or TG or b) fly UA to TPE or HKG and connect with PR or 5J from there. I miss flying to MNL all the way on NW metal, but sadly the changes to WP has made it difficult for me to stay for this reason alone.

Originally Posted by pbd456

to be unfair, DL miles do worth something. (as much as i want jumping ship now, i still have 3 ECVs worth 1100 USD.)
the pay with miles can get close to 1c per mile (probably 0.9c per mile).
it is true that u need amex credit card to use it.

Originally Posted by GrizShel

Actually, with the complete loss of mileage credit and upgradeability on the entire itinerary when you use PWM, for most trips the Pay with Miles option has a NEGATIVE value.