Finally hit by RR devaluation
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,956
@ursine1, how is it- I guess I'm being dense today- that some of those DEN-LAX are $121 or 7111 points and some of those are $113 or 7161 points if the redemption values are fixed?
#17
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
@ursine1, how is it- I guess I'm being dense today- that some of those DEN-LAX are $121 or 7111 points and some of those are $113 or 7161 points if the redemption values are fixed?
On a cash booking, you pay base fare plus taxes and fees. And those fees change if, for example, your flight has a connection (you pay 2x the Flight Segment Tax vs a non-stop).
On a points booking, many of those fees aren't charged.
Picking three random dates all with a different cash price, you can see below that in each case the points cost is 78/$1 of base fare.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 50
Thus is does look to me like for whatever reason SW delayed its devaluation in my case by about 10 months. But it is a wake-up that earning 1RR/$ is no longer a good use of my credit card spending.
EDIT: I looked at my records: it looks like I indeed got lucky and booked many $49 flights in 2018 for ~2500 miles, which is why I assumed I was still getting 2 cents per RR point.
Last edited by humesd; Mar 8, 2019 at 6:11 pm Reason: more info
#20
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
#21
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,855
That factor actually makes it difficult for me to decide which flights to use points on - the points are worth more on short flights, of which we take many, but those are the same flights I'd prefer to pay cash for to earn segments for A-List. Decisions, decisions...
#22
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,589
That factor actually makes it difficult for me to decide which flights to use points on - the points are worth more on short flights, of which we take many, but those are the same flights I'd prefer to pay cash for to earn segments for A-List. Decisions, decisions...
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,164
That factor actually makes it difficult for me to decide which flights to use points on - the points are worth more on short flights, of which we take many, but those are the same flights I'd prefer to pay cash for to earn segments for A-List. Decisions, decisions...
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,960
I just applied for the RR credit card in anticipation of a big non-travel expense ($5000). So, I will get the 40K sign up bonus. However, I am now having second thoughts on where to charge the expense (merchant can't split the charges to multiple cards) as the valuation is not so great, it seems.
- Citi Costco Card gets me $50 back
- AMEX MR gets me 5000 MR points (I have no time to get a new card or force the 20% bonus with 20 charges on my Everyday card)
- RR card gets me 5000 points + the sign up bonus although I can achieve the sign up bonus through other means since $1000 for 3 months is not terribly hard to do.
I don't have the immediate need to use the miles / points.
Thoughts? If we determine I have applied the card prematurely, would I be able to call Chase and close it (as if I have never applied so I can get the bonus some other time)?
Thanks.
- Citi Costco Card gets me $50 back
- AMEX MR gets me 5000 MR points (I have no time to get a new card or force the 20% bonus with 20 charges on my Everyday card)
- RR card gets me 5000 points + the sign up bonus although I can achieve the sign up bonus through other means since $1000 for 3 months is not terribly hard to do.
I don't have the immediate need to use the miles / points.
Thoughts? If we determine I have applied the card prematurely, would I be able to call Chase and close it (as if I have never applied so I can get the bonus some other time)?
Thanks.
Last edited by username; Aug 18, 2019 at 2:57 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,066
I just applied for the RR credit card in anticipation of a big non-travel expense ($5000). ....Thoughts? If we determine I have applied the card prematurely, would I be able to call Chase and close it (as if I have never applied so I can get the bonus some other time)?....
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,066
Y'all talk about the .78 number. I actually look at it another way.
Every point is worth $1.57 when booking a flight. (varies a bit based on base fare, taxes, etc)
Using an earlier example, a flight that costs $113 cash, only costs me 7,161 points. Said another way, each point is worth $1.57 in fare.
Anytime I get over $1 per 100 points is a good deal these days.
Every point is worth $1.57 when booking a flight. (varies a bit based on base fare, taxes, etc)
Using an earlier example, a flight that costs $113 cash, only costs me 7,161 points. Said another way, each point is worth $1.57 in fare.
Anytime I get over $1 per 100 points is a good deal these days.
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,066
#30
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,898
You should always get better than 1 cent per RR point. The refundability of points reservations also raises the value of points above the straight math in my mind.