MileagePlus Account Balance (How many miles do you all keep in your accounts?)
May 19, 2013, 11:06 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ASE, COR, EZE, SBP, OGG, NRT, LGA, ORD, PRG
Programs: AA Concierge Key UA 1K
Posts: 147
Jun 14, 2013, 2:20 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Mileage balance
Anybody got 1M or more in balance? I think I got too much already (couple hundred K) and kind afraid of devaluation. Seems transferring bonus miles from Chase Ink and Sapphire was not the best move...
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jun 14, 2013 at 5:51 am Reason: please search for existing threads before starting new ones; thanks
Jun 14, 2013, 2:49 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Midwest, USA
Programs: UA G, Marriott PlatPrem
Posts: 218
Couple nice international F award trips should cure that, no?
Take the significant other out to a nice seafood dinner.... In Palau
Take the significant other out to a nice seafood dinner.... In Palau
Jun 14, 2013, 5:06 am
#35
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
My question was more philosophical/practical - as far as I see, it does not make much sense accumulate miles because tomorrow they might be simply gone and one does not have any recourse, right?
Jun 14, 2013, 6:51 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Personally, I don't worry too much about the dreaded "devaluation". Seriously, the *A award chart hasn't changed that much in recent years. That said, I also ONLY use my miles for F or J Award seats.
While some award levels have been inflated in recent years, the quality of J has also improved on many *A carriers. Thus, while I prefer F, I'm now comfortable saving a few miles and taking the occasional J seat on many carriers.
So, for me, the magic number of miles to maintain in my account is 640,000. Given that most any F award on *A is 160,000 RT, I can get one for myself and a traveling companion for 320,000 miles.
I like to have double that amount in case:
1. I have to use Standard versus Saver (dreadful prospect)
2. I need to book two such trips simultaneously
3. I'm undecided on routings/carriers for a vacation so I need to "double book" so that I can "trip improve" on the routings/classes as the months go by.
Less than 640,000 in my account and I get a little nervous...
While some award levels have been inflated in recent years, the quality of J has also improved on many *A carriers. Thus, while I prefer F, I'm now comfortable saving a few miles and taking the occasional J seat on many carriers.
So, for me, the magic number of miles to maintain in my account is 640,000. Given that most any F award on *A is 160,000 RT, I can get one for myself and a traveling companion for 320,000 miles.
I like to have double that amount in case:
1. I have to use Standard versus Saver (dreadful prospect)
2. I need to book two such trips simultaneously
3. I'm undecided on routings/carriers for a vacation so I need to "double book" so that I can "trip improve" on the routings/classes as the months go by.
Less than 640,000 in my account and I get a little nervous...
Jun 14, 2013, 7:35 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Usually keep between 1 and 1.5 but I was up over 2.5MM at one point last year. Plus Amex points good for about 2MM miles on DL, SQ, CX, BA, etc.
Jun 14, 2013, 7:35 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
People earn miles from credit card use and other sources, so huge balances are impressive ^ but not shocking 
.
I am usually somewhere between 500k and 700k, while burning ~250K per year on two F/C trips from the US to Southeast Asia.
SunLover
.I am usually somewhere between 500k and 700k, while burning ~250K per year on two F/C trips from the US to Southeast Asia.
SunLover
Jun 14, 2013, 12:20 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA 2MM/GS; SPG Lifetime Plat; MHC Lifetime; Tar Heel forever; and I "Dig the Pig" at Piggly Wiggly
Posts: 12,152
I currently have 1.8M miles in my account.
I burn very little for myself because I need all the EQMs I can earn to maintain 1K status. When I burn, it is for others. I have gifted about 750,000 miles to family and friends in the last 3-4 years.
I burn very little for myself because I need all the EQMs I can earn to maintain 1K status. When I burn, it is for others. I have gifted about 750,000 miles to family and friends in the last 3-4 years.
Jun 14, 2013, 3:37 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
We're on the fence. I'm spending my RDMs as soon as I get them, but my wife is banking hers. I currently have 70,000 RDMs, but I recently spent 200,000 for a European trip and 100,000 for an Hawaiian trip. So, I had about 370,000 recently. TSMRSRNE has 270,000 RDMs and (get this) only 40,000 lifetime miles! That beneficial imbalance is thanks to my finagling miles from various banks and other vendors. 
Last edited by RNE; Jun 15, 2013 at 9:51 am Reason: typo
Jun 14, 2013, 4:15 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Typically 100-200k UAMP plus 100k each in one or two credit card currencies.
I'm all in favor of churning - earn and burn, don't save up millions to watch them devalue with rate increases and copay/fuel charge increases.
I'm all in favor of churning - earn and burn, don't save up millions to watch them devalue with rate increases and copay/fuel charge increases.
Jun 14, 2013, 5:13 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
I hover in the 400-500k range with UA and in the 50-100k range on other carriers. I use miles only to pay for trips which would otherwise be expensive (e.g. in-season international and last minute trips). I wholly reject the notion that miles should be "burnt." They should be used prudently. I would never waste them on trips that can be had for little cash, on F/C, or on mail order trinkets. That said, devaluation is always a sad fact of life.
Jun 14, 2013, 6:24 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 35
600K+. Never seem to have the time to use them for myself. Only redemptions in the last couple of years have been to help out friends.
Jun 14, 2013, 9:42 pm
#45
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: PDX
Programs: UA, AS, AA, DL
Posts: 260
That is curious. Award upgrades are possibly the best $ per mile use of MP miles, followed by international C. I just booked tix to PEK in C that would have cost me over $10k. I spent 60k miles. $0.17/mile isn't the best I've done, but it isn't bad. Of course, if you don't value F or C at all, I guess it's a different decision.