Given all the devaluations happening, are there literally any sweet spots/value left?
May 7, 2024, 4:51 pm
#136
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These threads always devolve to intricate analyses of various credit card strategies, which seems to me pretty far OT. I agree with the general proposition that UA miles aren't worth what they used to be, and that for many of us, it doesn't make sense to put spend on a UA card, but I also appreciate that strategy may still make sense for others (or that they just don't care enough to put in the effort that's required to manage a portfolio of cards).
May 7, 2024, 4:55 pm
#137
Join Date: Sep 2008
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These threads always devolve to intricate analyses of various credit card strategies, which seems to me pretty far OT. I agree with the general proposition that UA miles aren't worth what they used to be, and that for many of us, it doesn't make sense to put spend on a UA card, but I also appreciate that strategy may still make sense for others (or that they just don't care enough to put in the effort that's required to manage a portfolio of cards).
I mean literally one of the primary drivers for millage program devaluations is the proliferation of credit card points and miles. I'm not sure how one could construct a rational argument that the two are not intertwined. One literally follows from the other...
Regards
May 7, 2024, 5:11 pm
#138
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
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I disagree with your valuation of 30k miles at $300. As stated in my earlier post, I have reliably been using 100k miles for a OW J trip to Sydney, so I value the 30k miles much much higher than you do. If it's $4k each way to SYD, as you say, then the miles are worth 4cpm, so $1200 each. So my dollar value of 1k over platinum is at least $1750x7, or $12,250 less positioning flight costs.
If I thought miles were worth 1cpm, I'd be sticking to my CSR/CFU cards and booking out at 1.5x through the UR portal.
If I thought miles were worth 1cpm, I'd be sticking to my CSR/CFU cards and booking out at 1.5x through the UR portal.
Still, I'm not critical of your usage plan, I'm just skeptical of the actual value of 1K. I've missed multiple PP UGs so far this year, and I really loathe flying in Y over the Pacific, so I value PPs far less than you.
May 7, 2024, 5:40 pm
#139
Join Date: Sep 2008
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With PE having upgrade priority over Y you really need to be purchasing R fares to have a good shot at upgrades.
May 7, 2024, 5:45 pm
#140
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I actually do. I only end-up with a lower fare class than R if I downgrade because advance PZ is available. Most of my international travel is for business and I don't have schedule flexibility.
May 7, 2024, 5:48 pm
#141
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May 7, 2024, 6:41 pm
#142
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Yes Polaris class can net more than 34k RDM, but that is the minority.
The contorted “I get 10% rebate on $1m of groceries” nonsense is way OT
These threads always devolve to intricate analyses of various credit card strategies, which seems to me pretty far OT. I agree with the general proposition that UA miles aren't worth what they used to be, and that for many of us, it doesn't make sense to put spend on a UA card, but I also appreciate that strategy may still make sense for others (or that they just don't care enough to put in the effort that's required to manage a portfolio of cards).
Now, those who only use debit cards…..
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 7, 2024 at 6:57 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
May 7, 2024, 7:05 pm
#143
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The has been a steady drift in topic here on credit card impacts on the award devaluation. The OP asked an interesting question, on remaining sweet spots and that is a unique topic and there has been some useful info so far. So let's refocus the thread on the original topic. The credit card churning and escalating SUBs and earning rates are clearly a contributor on this inflation / devaluation but the why has been discussed in many other threads. Let's capture the remaining sweet spots before they also disappear
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
May 9, 2024, 8:48 am
#144
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 25
The has been a steady drift in topic here on credit card impacts on the award devaluation. The OP asked an interesting question, on remaining sweet spots and that is a unique topic and there has been some useful info so far. So let's refocus the thread on the original topic. The credit card churning and escalating SUBs and earning rates are clearly a contributor on this inflation / devaluation but the why has been discussed in many other threads. Let's capture the remaining sweet spots before they also disappear
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
May 10, 2024, 6:48 am
#145
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 640
Now it's back up to 17.5k. Pricing on intra-Japan flights on NH is back to 5k (after it had gone up to 12.5k). It appears that UA is still tweaking its pricing formulae...
May 10, 2024, 10:54 am
#146
Join Date: Jul 2022
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May 13, 2024, 1:40 am
#147
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May 27, 2024, 6:42 am
#150
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MNL-xGUM-SPN coach Standard Award has gone up from 40K redeemable miles (RDM) to 60K. 
But it is still available for 22.5K MNL-NH-xNRT-UA-SPN and for 20K MNL-ROR-xGUM-SPN. The Koror, Palau (ROR) "direct" flight makes the same Saipan connection as the nonstop to Guam.
But it is still available for 22.5K MNL-NH-xNRT-UA-SPN and for 20K MNL-ROR-xGUM-SPN. The Koror, Palau (ROR) "direct" flight makes the same Saipan connection as the nonstop to Guam.
