Which *A FF prog is cheapest for redemption?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 3, 2011 | 8:58 am

cattwl

Original Poster

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: USA

Programs: Marriott Gold, Marriott Vacation Club

Posts: 111

Which *A FF prog is cheapest for redemption?

Was comparing UA and SQ redemption and found redemption using KF miles a lot more expensive than using UA miles. In addition SQ fees are way much higher too.

pls enlighten me..

Oct 3, 2011 | 8:37 pm

ckpeter

Join Date: Sep 2005

Posts: 2,739

It not unexpected that each FF programs have their own redemption rates, which may be better or worse than other programs.

What routes are you looking at?

Oct 3, 2011 | 10:02 pm

cattwl

Original Poster

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: USA

Programs: Marriott Gold, Marriott Vacation Club

Posts: 111

Around asia and between US and Asia.

Thanks !

Oct 10, 2011 | 12:16 pm

chutchins

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: San Francisco, CA

Programs: UA 1P, AA Plat, SW AL/CP

Posts: 260

Quote:

Originally Posted by cattwl

Around asia and between US and Asia.

Thanks !

For short routes, ANA is always a good bet because their awards are mileage based.

Oct 10, 2011 | 12:55 pm

sbm12

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: PSM

Posts: 69,232

There is a comparison amongst a number of programs here:
http://www.wandr.me/Tools/Frequent_F...n_Options.aspx

Oct 11, 2011 | 2:08 pm

ClaesJ

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: New York

Programs: SK EBD, AA PLT, SPG Gold

Posts: 95

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbm12

There is a comparison amongst a number of programs here:
http://www.wandr.me/Tools/Frequent_F...n_Options.aspx

Thanks for the resource, I was looking for something like that.

It does ignore, though, the wildly varying policies on fuel surcharges. I just looked at redemption JFK-CPT and for the same flight (SA via JNB) LH and SK both want USD 450 per person. However, UA only charges USD 120 (and 20,000 fewer miles to boot!).

Although what perhaps upsets me most about this is how phone reps consistently call these "taxes" when they have nothing do with government in any way...

Oct 11, 2011 | 2:36 pm

sbm12

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: PSM

Posts: 69,232

I hear ya on the YQ stuff but I'm having trouble justifying compiling that data when it changes so often. That would be an enormous amount of upkeep work, I think. I'm open to suggestions on ways to maybe make it useful and not an obscene data collection effort if you (or anyone else) has one.

Oct 12, 2011 | 9:13 am

ClaesJ

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: New York

Programs: SK EBD, AA PLT, SPG Gold

Posts: 95

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbm12

Totally agree it seems like an overwhelming task to compile full YQ info. But perhaps between FlyerTalk members there is the knowledge on the general policy to come up with a rough idea? In my example above it seems like LH and SK charged tax + full YQ, whereas UA charged taxes only. Unless there are many other options, maybe it would be possible to add YQ yes/no as a column, to be filled in by the 'hive mind'?

Oct 14, 2011 | 7:16 am

schley

Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Programs: UA-1mm, 1/31/26 last day as 1k since 2009, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle

Posts: 6,367

Your in luck. This:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...es-awards.html

Combined with the redemption engine:

http://www.wandr.me/Tools/Frequent_F...n_Options.aspx

Should give you a way to search for the cheapest # of miles. However a key point is how difficult is it to actually accrue miles. UA and the US based airlines are the easiest, which should factor in.