What happens when you run out of miles/points?
Jan 8, 2017, 9:37 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
I pay. The advantages are I can go anywhere on any airline and can stay at any hotel. I am not limited to staying at a choice of only 2 hotels in a city, neither of with might be in a good location.
Jan 9, 2017, 4:34 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Jan 9, 2017, 4:36 am
#5
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
It can be immensely liberating. You actually realise that, hmm, that LCC isn't so bad (you can pay for half the perks anyway) and oh look, it goes direct from your local airport and saves you several hours by flying direct.
For long haul, just look for the latest QR biz deals in the MR forum
For long haul, just look for the latest QR biz deals in the MR forum
Jan 9, 2017, 5:50 am
#6
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I won't run out for quite some time to say the least. But in any case I fly in back most of the time anyway, reserving premium for trips where it's worth it. And I sometimes pay for flights with cash already if the price is right, redemptions aren't a good value, or what I need is not available. Of course for work I have to fly economy regardless.
Jan 9, 2017, 6:06 am
#7
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 91
i am willing to pay to be in J for special trips and long haul. otherwise will be content to fly W, Y, or even LCC and stay within my area. lots to see and do in south east asia.
the truth is it is not easy to accumulate significant amount of miles in my country, unless one spends around upwards of USD 20,000.00 a month or so and since most suppliers for businesses wont take cards mile accumulation is much more difficult.
the truth is it is not easy to accumulate significant amount of miles in my country, unless one spends around upwards of USD 20,000.00 a month or so and since most suppliers for businesses wont take cards mile accumulation is much more difficult.
Jan 9, 2017, 7:48 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
I often fly coach already, either because I'm flying a LCC like WN or because business class is too expensive, even on points. Airlines are stingy with saver award inventory nowadays.
People are talking in this thread about being liberated to fly any airline. That's an answer to a different question IMO. That's what happens when you stop traveling enough to maintain elite status. Until that happens I'll keep flying the airlines where I've earned nontrivial benefits and earning more points/miles on them.
People are talking in this thread about being liberated to fly any airline. That's an answer to a different question IMO. That's what happens when you stop traveling enough to maintain elite status. Until that happens I'll keep flying the airlines where I've earned nontrivial benefits and earning more points/miles on them.
Jan 9, 2017, 7:53 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,829
Sometimes you fly coach, sometimes you pay more. Most of time unfortunately you decide the trip is not worth it. For me, where I used to fly a couple of trips a month, I am lucky if I get 4 trips a year in now. Those little weekend jaunts across the country are just too costly in F or C, while being too painful in Y.
Jan 9, 2017, 8:44 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,987
I think I've redeemed F/J once. With a family of 4, eating hundreds of thousands of miles for every trip, even a large balance can go away fairly quickly. I was at 1.4M at one point, down to 400K with this summer's Machu Picchu trip. If we had flown J, I would have been out before last summer's trip down under. We can put up with hours in MRTC/E+ to keep the option of future trips.
Yes, lie-flats on an Emirates A380 was nice - when I wasn't paying for it. Not an incremental $4K nice though.
When I run out, I'm sure I'll just purchase Y.
Yes, lie-flats on an Emirates A380 was nice - when I wasn't paying for it. Not an incremental $4K nice though.
When I run out, I'm sure I'll just purchase Y.
