If I transfer into Hilton, is it possible to transfer to someone else's account?

TheWaitress, you da bomb. Now that's what I call adding value to the discussion.

Would it be possible to post a list sorted by cents/pt?

I agree there are strictly better values than HHonors, but there are few redemption options reported to work so quickly. People have posted recently waiting months for gift certificates.

The reason I transferred to HHonors is because I know they will post on Thursday night and because I know the HHonors program intimately, so I am confident I can maximize the value per point.

I had been hoping to redeem a UA certificate, perhaps in conjunction with a UA HHonors companion certificate, but I'm not betting on UA at the moment.

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 03-27-2003).]

Self-help answer below.

I'd like to hear people's redemption experience with the high value awards, specifically how long does it take for them to arrive?

Also, isn't it odd that the higher net value UA awards have a lower per point value?TheWaitress, could you please send me an e-mail (from the link in my post header)? Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 03-27-2003).]

Hilton isn't retail but if you like HHonors points, they come out pretty well using this formula (at least, if you would otherwise be buying points). Using their $12.50/1000 purchase points offer, it works out to 1.25 cents/point.

I agree with ABQJon. I did an evaluation long ago as to the best location to apply MyPoints points. Since I value my HHonors points at a minimum 1 cent/pt, the only awards that fall above this line is Omaha Steaks and United. However, for United, you can only apply one certificate per ticket and it doesn't make much of a dent in the price. For Omaha Steaks, the voucher is not good on sales items. Since non-sale items are grossly overpriced, I don't feel this isn't a good use.

Since I frequently acquire HHonors points from other sources and redeem frequently (usually at least 2 weeks of vacations per year), I get value from them. For those who don't accumulate HHonors points quickly, I would suggest staying with Macy's/B-Dalton or one of the restaurant redemptions

Rut Dog -

Your chart is very interesting. It might be interesting to add some of the VacationMiles awards to the mix. They aren't nearly as good as they used to be (several times I cashed in 20k points for ten $50 discounts at Marriott/Hyatt). Also isn't the giftcertifcates.ca award in Canadian dollars?

ABQ Jon -

I used to value Hilton points at .67 per point but that was before this year's devaluation, especially of the elite awards. I think the "use value" of the points (rather than the purchase price) is now between .50 and .60 per point.

Also, I sometimes cash in points for Marriott Rewards points. Even though the trade value is lousy (1750 MyPoints for 1000 Marriott Rewards points), MR points are generally hard to get and the upper-level rewards are pretty good.

What Hilton awards do you redeem for that would give you a value of 1c/point? I have redeemend 85k points for an AA domestic ticket and 20k points for a room that would cost $100, but neither of these comes close to 1c/point.

The reason I personally value HH points @ 1c/point is because I value airlines (CO, AA) FF points @ 2c / point, and 1 FF = 2 HH.

If you check biddingfortravel.com, the lowest HWV can be had is around $130 / night. ALON @ 6 nights would equate a value of about $780 (Before taxes and Priceline fees), this would value the 100K HH points it takes to redeem at 0.78c / point.

...But that same ALON can also be used at fancier hotels that charge more. The answer to value is highly dependent on exactly what kind of award you redeem points for and at what hotel. We recently used 21000 points for 4 days at a Scandic hotel. They wanted the US equivalent of about $150 for the room. Perhaps I could have gotten it for less via some kind of deal, but how much less, I don't know. Even at $75/night my value for 21000 points is still 1.42c/point.

On our trip we used 87000 points for 13 room nights (the above rate was so good we took two rooms for four nights!). That's a lot less than our initial thought of 100000 using GLON awards for 6 of the 9 nights plus additional awards for the additional three nights.

Is there any limitation to the Macy's gift certificate, such as having to use it on regularly-price merchandise?

Circuit City did when I used one recently. They also tend to have rebate items. I bought a $19 item with a $15 mail-in rebate and got the $4+ change from my $25 card in cash. Roughly, that's $4 for product, over $1 in tax and almost $20 in cash.

Unfortunately, most of the "high" value items aren't, to me. Yes, I could go for Marriott. ... And use them to pay for, say, a meal that costs $50 but is only worth $30 at an equivalent restaurant. Similar with Macy's, etc, where it's not good value to get a $50 voucher than will only buy $40 worth of merchandise somewhere else.

No limitations. You get a plastic debit card that you use just like cash at the register. I bought some new shoes that just happened to be on sale also with my last one.

The card also says it can be used online at macys.com

[This message has been edited by TheWaitress (edited 03-27-2003).]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm leaning towards Macy, even though Hilton is a good value. I need some new clothes.

I got my Macy card in less than a week. I called the 800 number and ask about the card's expiration date. It seems to go by states. For my state, there was no expiration.

[deleted because of figuring out my own question]



[This message has been edited by lynowens (edited Dec 04, 2003).]