Use Starpoints for flights -- SPG Flights
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
For example, I just recently booked a flight from the East Coast to Seattle for $250 all-in. Had I booked this using the new SPG Flights option, the ticket would have required 20,000 Starpoints, but after flying I would have earned back an additional 9,000 frequent flyer miles. See the Mileage Run forum for excellent ways to maximize your value.
#62
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Largo, FL
Posts: 1,268
I am concerned that this could be a prelude to ditching the airline mileage transfer program. Also, flight ticket cost structure resembles a sub-par program I don't care for: Capital One No Hassle Miles Card.
#64
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS
Posts: 6,823
well it could be good. it seems like flights are around 30k spg pts. i could get the same for 20k spg transferred, but would get to accumulate miles. may work better for last min bookings? just did a quick weekend look for bos this weekend, 80k spg. dont know about that. time will tell if this is something i wanna use
#65
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SFO/SJC, CA
Posts: 630
Looks like points for hotel night is still much better.
#66
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: europe
Programs: EX-*wood platinum, EX-hyatt diamond, sixt platinum, hilton silver, leaders club, esselunga verde...
Posts: 2,048
Nothing for me! I have checked right now a flight in Europe on Lufthansa.com.
There are non-stop flights available. The new spg shows only 1 stop returns...
and the shown alternatives are sometimes crazy
There are non-stop flights available. The new spg shows only 1 stop returns...
and the shown alternatives are sometimes crazy
#67
In memoriam
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: Kimpton IC, Hyatt Diamond, Gold Marriott, Lifetime Platinum Starwood
Posts: 8,665
Another example of no matter what Starwood would have proposed or offered people on this board would complain about it. . .
#68
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
I equate a 10K room night with a $180-$200 room rate.
#70
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA 1K, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LT Plt, Mets fan
Posts: 5,073
Just did a dummy booking for LHR-IAD, Business Class
295,000 points required for both BA, all in (fees, surcharges etc)
However, if using points transferred to BA, only 80,000 points required (= 100K miles with the SPG transfer bonus). However, you still have to pay the full whack for fees and surcharges on BA redemption bookings, say 300.
Also, i'm not sure what fare buckets the SPG flights are booked in. If they are booked in a paid-fare bucket then it may be worthwhile to part with the 295k points on flights where award redemption availability is zero - otherwise I really don't see the point
295,000 points required for both BA, all in (fees, surcharges etc)
However, if using points transferred to BA, only 80,000 points required (= 100K miles with the SPG transfer bonus). However, you still have to pay the full whack for fees and surcharges on BA redemption bookings, say 300.
Also, i'm not sure what fare buckets the SPG flights are booked in. If they are booked in a paid-fare bucket then it may be worthwhile to part with the 295k points on flights where award redemption availability is zero - otherwise I really don't see the point
That makes a truckload of assumptions, including that you'd be able to easily find seats on the days you'd like in C/J for 80K on BA. Not the easiest task, is it?
As has been said clearly, this is not a perfect program for one and all. It's a solid addition to the current SPG program. Like you, I'd probably not opt to use 300K points for one ticket from LHR, but I'd be happy to use 30,000 points to get home for a family funeral at the last minute and not be dinged with $125 booking fees from an airline for "late redemption" charges. Additionally, for that 30K ticket, I'm eligible for my standard upgrades to F (since the ticket is purchased) and I earn miles on the airline.
That's not the worst thing to come down the pike.
As has been said clearly, this is not a perfect program for one and all. It's a solid addition to the current SPG program. Like you, I'd probably not opt to use 300K points for one ticket from LHR, but I'd be happy to use 30,000 points to get home for a family funeral at the last minute and not be dinged with $125 booking fees from an airline for "late redemption" charges. Additionally, for that 30K ticket, I'm eligible for my standard upgrades to F (since the ticket is purchased) and I earn miles on the airline.
That's not the worst thing to come down the pike.
And, if it doesn't work for you, don't use it -- it's not as if SPG took something else away and replaced it with this.
My sense is that it will be better for Y tix than for F/J tix -- and that doesn't fit with my mileage/point spend habits (I wouldn't use $$ for most of the premium pricing for premium cabins, but would willingly "spend" points for them).
#71
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SBP
Programs: SPG-Platinum
Posts: 120
I applaud SPG for offering more options to members.
Unfortunately, this offer will not benefit me.
So, in summary, thanks but no thanks.
Unfortunately, this offer will not benefit me.
So, in summary, thanks but no thanks.
#72
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: DL, SPG (Gold)
Posts: 2,039
If an airline ticket received via points redemptions through this program is considered by the airline to be the same as a paid ticket.....then I would also agree that this COULD very likely be an extremely positive benefit for some people (i.e. those who hold elite status on an airline and travel primarily within the US).......like myself.
Personal example:
On Delta.....it would cost me a minimum of 25,000 miles + fuel surcharge and fees for a domestic Saver transcon coach award ticket......and I would be stuck in coach for the flight (unlike NW, Delta doesn't currently offer the possibility of getting upgraded on a domestic award ticket)......or have to redeem 45K miles for a Saver first/business award.............more fees and miles if itinerary includes a segment on a partner airline.
For approx 30K Starpoints....I could get a ticket on the same flight and earn about 10K Skymiles/5K MQMs (useful for elite qualification) and most importantly.....am very likely to get upgraded due to my Platinum Medallion status!
The only trade-off is not being able to take advantage of the free stopover that is offered on Delta award tickets.
As far as getting the best value for my Starpoints......
Given an average redemption rate of 10K Starpoints per night for a Cat4 hotel that usually goes for $200-400 per night............30K would translate into $600-1200 worth of value.
Compare that to very likely getting a first/business class seat on a transcon flight (at least...I've never missed being upgraded on any transcon flights out of JFK on Delta), 10K Skymiles and 5K MQMs......and it's a no-brainer as to which use of Starpoints could be considered more valuable......to me anyway.
Heck....an even better use of points would have been during the recent fare sale to Hawaii.........as 35K Starpoints for a $470 ticket would have gotten me 20K Skymiles and 10K MQMs and likely upgrades on all of the domestic segments (NYC-CA and back)!
If only Starwood had announced this program a month ago.......
My only concern is if we are misunderstanding something about this program that would preclude the airlines from having to offer elite benefits and mileage accrual for these tickets.......as without them (especially mileage accrual and complimentary elite upgrades), I would have to say that using points for hotel stays might be more valuable..........and precisely why I previously said only SOME people would likely benefit the most from this new program.
As with all new programs, I think only time will tell if this new redemption option works as assumed based on the info that has been released so far.
Now....who among us is willing to be the first 'guinea pig' to test it?
A.J.
Personal example:
On Delta.....it would cost me a minimum of 25,000 miles + fuel surcharge and fees for a domestic Saver transcon coach award ticket......and I would be stuck in coach for the flight (unlike NW, Delta doesn't currently offer the possibility of getting upgraded on a domestic award ticket)......or have to redeem 45K miles for a Saver first/business award.............more fees and miles if itinerary includes a segment on a partner airline.
For approx 30K Starpoints....I could get a ticket on the same flight and earn about 10K Skymiles/5K MQMs (useful for elite qualification) and most importantly.....am very likely to get upgraded due to my Platinum Medallion status!
The only trade-off is not being able to take advantage of the free stopover that is offered on Delta award tickets.
As far as getting the best value for my Starpoints......
Given an average redemption rate of 10K Starpoints per night for a Cat4 hotel that usually goes for $200-400 per night............30K would translate into $600-1200 worth of value.
Compare that to very likely getting a first/business class seat on a transcon flight (at least...I've never missed being upgraded on any transcon flights out of JFK on Delta), 10K Skymiles and 5K MQMs......and it's a no-brainer as to which use of Starpoints could be considered more valuable......to me anyway.
Heck....an even better use of points would have been during the recent fare sale to Hawaii.........as 35K Starpoints for a $470 ticket would have gotten me 20K Skymiles and 10K MQMs and likely upgrades on all of the domestic segments (NYC-CA and back)!
If only Starwood had announced this program a month ago.......
My only concern is if we are misunderstanding something about this program that would preclude the airlines from having to offer elite benefits and mileage accrual for these tickets.......as without them (especially mileage accrual and complimentary elite upgrades), I would have to say that using points for hotel stays might be more valuable..........and precisely why I previously said only SOME people would likely benefit the most from this new program.
As with all new programs, I think only time will tell if this new redemption option works as assumed based on the info that has been released so far.
Now....who among us is willing to be the first 'guinea pig' to test it?
A.J.
#73
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 841
- if unsold, their products (rooms or flights) lose their entire value overnight
- for many if not most FTers, the perceived value of, say, a suite upgrade is much higher than the hotel's actual cost of giving away an otherwise unsold suite night
When valuing a $2000 suite for 20000 points at $0.10 per point, or $16000 6-sector flight in F for 240000 miles at $0.07 per point, an FTer like myself will base his/her expectations for a long-awaited Big Announcement accordingly. Let us hope the Sep 16 announcement will be more appealing.
#74
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,540
This seems like just another in the long list of "opportunities" for credit card/loyalty programs to create options to redeem/burn points at high redemption rates. Maybe some people will use this, but I can't see why it's preferable to converting into the airline miles and redeeming directly, although on domestic tickets you might come out OK if you need to redeem double mileage Anytime Awards. Anyway, it's not worth any major fanfare and is nothing to get excited about.
#75
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MKE
Programs: AA Exec Platinum, SPG Platinum / Ambassador / Lifetime Gold, Avis FIRST
Posts: 3,293
This also makes SPG points more akin to regular AMEX award points.
Is the redemption chart similar to the "book with points" option that regular membership awards points are eligible for?
Is the redemption chart similar to the "book with points" option that regular membership awards points are eligible for?