My philosophy, which is not unlike that of many others, has always been to use my miles for service I could not (or would not) pay for on my own. That stance has meant using miles for upgrades to Business Class on several international flights as well as one or two free domestic tickets that would have been cost prohibitive for one reason or another (very short notice, inability to meet minimum stay requirements, etc.). Otherwise, I do not redeem miles for any trip - be it domestic or international - that is within my budget and that would earn me additional miles, especially when trying to maintain an "elite" membership level in a mileage program.

Since I fly AA almost exclusively and typically buy "web specials" or "NetSAAver" fares, my opportunities to upgrade internationally are virtually nil (AA no longer permits "web" fares to be upgraded with miles) and, frankly, the last few times I upgraded to International Business Class on AA I was very disappointed. For domestic flights on AA, I can use my electronic "segment" upgrades but I will probably see if I can exchange them for miles. Therefore, I am hoarding my AAdvantage miles for the express purpose of taking a few intercontinental trips in First Class on CX. I can hardly wait to experience that level of comfort and service - both in flight and in "The Wing" at HKG!

I also have a number of miles with DL, NW, UA and US (not to mention Starwood and Amex points to transfer into applicable airline programs) and, most likely, I will use those miles for free international trips - in Business or First Class - on one of the respective airlines' partners. No offense meant to anyone's sensibilities...but the level of service, even in international Business or First, on U.S.-based carriers is not worth my miles. I would rather experience the extraordinary service of CX, SQ, BA, SR, NZ, etc.

I prefer to use my miles exclusively for inernational first class travel. My family appreciates it and it is something they deserve for being left behind so often when I travel.

We traveled to the Bahamas and to Europe. Will return to Europe next year.

Most of my miles are earned on business. I get plenty of segment upgrades. When the company sends me overseas, it is business class overwater and first on the domestic segment.

we use miles primarily for over the water and south america upgrades , but will use for last minute domestic tickets for kids & relatives. last year we gave bus class tickets to australia to brother in law & wife

I use them for presents;
F ticket for my starving artist sister to New York

F Tickets to CUN for my wife on her Bday (Y tickets for accompanying friends)

When I decide to use miles for a free ticket, I will consider the price of the ticket first. If it's not too expensive, then I won't use miles. Also we should calculate miles that we'll get if we buy a ticket instead of using miles. For example, if I fly from SFO-BOS, I will have to use 25,000 miles or pay 350$ for a discounted ticket. If I pay, I will earn about 5000 base miles plus 5000 elite bonus. Then I have to compare between 10000+25000 = 35000 miles and 350$. Some miles should be reserved for some unexpected travel that might occur. Otherwise I'll have to buy an unbelieveably expensive ticket. I haven't found any good deal about redeeming miles for hotels, car rentals or vacation packages.

Generally speaking, I use miles to upgrade to FC. In short, it seems best to slap all business and personal miles on that one can. I need all possible in order to maintain platinum status.

Hence, with platinum I generally get comped to FC. In addition, a 125% bonus too! Best way to keep racking up those miles.

using miles to upgrade from economy to biz on
transoceanic flights, or last minute economy US flights where fares are out of sight.

My nephews have also voted my "uncle of the year" many times due to free flights given to them by me.

My most enjoyable personal experience was a free week at Hilton's Hawaiian Village with 100k HH points. With airline miles I've beeen more frugal since I'm only a leisure traveler, and have only used them on economy tickets for the family. When I have enough miles, I would like to splurge on a F class ticket around the world just for once.


[This message has been edited by ChaseTheMiles (edited 05-03-2001).]

I especially agree with bbinchi's philosophy of using miles for service I could not (or would not) pay for on my own. And, I also agree with others here that it's fun to gift tickets to friends and relatives who otherwise could not (or would not) afford "the flight of a lifetime."

Until recently, I've used my miles for intl. upgrades, domestic upgrades being free on CO. However, with CO's recent avalanche of bonus miles, new opportunities have opened. So, my newfound cache of bonus miles will be spent as follows:

• For my future in-laws...an intl. FC flight on QF SYD-LAX to visit us. For people used to Economy travel, I think the sleeper seats, the super service, and the gourmet food would really give them something to remember!
• For my fiancee and myself, once we're settled here, an AF reward trip on the Concorde (once it's flying again) to Paris, and then on to Moscow in FC. I can't afford a 20 million dollar Dennis Tito or James Cameron type flight to Mir, or even a $90,000 suborbital flight. But a flight on the Concorde, I can afford...at least with miles.

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In Economy...no one can hear you scream!

[[*] For my future in-laws...an intl. FC flight on QF SYD-LAX to visit us. For people used to Economy travel, I think the sleeper seats, the super service, and the gourmet food would really give them something to remember! [*] For my fiancee and myself, once we're settled here, an AF reward trip on the Concorde (once it's flying again) to Paris, and then on to Moscow in FC[/list]
[/B][/QUOTE]

What a super son-in-law you'll be, not to mention a considerate and generous husband-to-be!
My husband and I are cashing in some miles to fly Envoy class to and from Paris for our 5th anniversary.

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lennon

I also only use miles for international awards. The only time when i would use them in the US would be for an emergency. Otherwise, transatlantic upgrades and biz an FC award flights. I also upgrade my mother/father or girlfriend once in a while...

When my angel at CO can't upgrade me and I am flying transcon I use miles to upgrade. I usually travel with my wife and two children (4 and 1) and it is not worth upgrading on the 2 or 3 hour flight. However, transcons or flights like EWR-LAS are long enough to use miles to upgrade and the service on those flights is usally pretty good.

I am saving my UA miles for a long international first suite trip for my wife and I to celebrate an anniversary or something when the kids are older and can stay with relatives. By then the economy will hopefully be better and UA will have restored all the goodies they have taken away.

What a super son-in-law you'll be, not to mention a considerate and generous husband-to-be!


lennon,

I don't think I'm quite as generous as you might believe. I actually like my future in-laws. They're really great people!

OTOH, I wouldn't have bought stand-by coach tix to Fresno on the United Sh*ttle for my former in-laws, who were real ......s (but then, so was their daughter).

As for being a "considerate and generous husband-to-be," what else could I do? I don't want to travel alone, and if I took the trip without her, I'm afraid I'd hit a bigger iceberg than the Titanic when I got home.

When my angel at CO can't upgrade me and I am flying transcon I use miles to upgrade. I usually travel with my wife and two children (4 and 1) and it is not worth upgrading on the 2 or 3 hour flight. However, transcons or flights like EWR-LAS are long enough to use miles to upgrade and the service on those flights is usally pretty good.

amazing nj,

Ah hah! So you're the reason I can never get an elite upgrade on a CO transcon!

Seriously, I believe they're super-tough for four reasons:
1. Lots of companies that won't normally pay for FC on domestic flights will pay for FC on the longer transcons.
2. Even more Plats in EWR because NYC road warriors tend to be very high mileage (transcon and intl. flights).
3. Many pax to EWR are connecting to intl. flights, and have paid with miles for the BusinessFirst intl. flight, so the domestic upgrade is included.
4. More pax, who would otherwise wait for elite upgrades, are willing to pay with miles because it is a long flight, and they know that elite upgrades on transcons can be very iffy, even for Plats.

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In Economy...no one can hear you scream!

[This message has been edited by SemiElite (edited 06-01-2001).]

Since I'm not all that tall and the Silver Elite roulette game occasionally spins out out a First Class upgrade for me, I've never cashed in miles for an upgrade. We generally use FF tix for summer travel to Canadian destinations where, for some reason, the fares tend to be high but the award seats seem to be available too. Like many others here, I'm a rather active manager of the family's accounts to make sure we max out in every respect that we possibly can. For those of you who are "gifters", what a wonderful gesture that is!

Upgrade only. I think it's the best use of mileage. If it costs too much to fly somewhere, I won't go. (Although I have used miles to buy a ticket in an emergency)