Mimi4

Hi,

I am new to the MileagePlus game and need some guidance.

I notice if I book a particular hotel through the MileagePlusX app that the cost is about $200 more for a seven-night stay than booking directly with the property. However, booking through the MileagePlusX app earns about 6000 additional miles. What is consider a decent breakpoint in making these decisions?

Thanks for any assistance.

jsloan

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

You can generally buy MileagePlus miles for about 2.5 cents each using Award Accelerator. (Sometimes it's less; 2.5c is what I've seen recently). So, 6K miles would cost about $150 using that method. I would never pay $200 for them -- plus, then if you need to make any changes, you have to go through United's contracted customer service team instead of dealing with the hotel directly.

In general, most people value MP miles somewhere between 1c and 1.5c each. If the cost were $50, I'd consider it. (The calculus changes if, and only if, you have an immediate need for the miles, in that you see a compelling award and you're a few miles short; then, the marginal value of those miles might be higher than the 1-1.5c guideline).

Hope this helps!

Mimi4

Yes, this is a great help, and definitely confirms our understanding. Glad to know we're on the right track. Thanks so much!

mahasamatman

Also note that if you book a hotel through United, you generally lose all benefits from the hotel program, like points and stay credit toward hotel status.

Mimi4

Good to know! Thanks.

darkrider

Hotels.com/Booking.com are partners with the mileage plus X app. You can access those respective apps via the Mileage plus X app and double stack benefits. Hotels.com also uses Raktuen (I prefer cash back to miles) so make sure that tradeoff works for you.