Given all the devaluations happening, are there literally any sweet spots/value left?
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air avoiding the Snowflakes
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 7,167
I just used 20k miles on 2 domestic roundtrip flights in Japan for my wife and I to visit family next week -- the only thing that has seemingly not changed in the past month...f
MileagePlus is now MileageMinus...
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: FLL, MEL, SIN, WAS
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,643
MileagePlus has skydived from being historically one of the best FFPs to the bottom.
Now UA is consistent in all rankings (in the bottom half of list):
customer satisfaction
on-time record
airline meals
baggage delays (and missing)
maintenance
negative press
most Max exposure (amongst the Big3)
least partner awards
I guess UA is no longer consistently inconsistent anymore when it comes to rankings.
Now UA is consistent in all rankings (in the bottom half of list):
customer satisfaction
on-time record
airline meals
baggage delays (and missing)
maintenance
negative press
most Max exposure (amongst the Big3)
least partner awards
I guess UA is no longer consistently inconsistent anymore when it comes to rankings.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,537
Find the most aspirational trip you can take for all of your remaining miles and take that trip. Basically, clean out your account for the one thing you really want. Don't wait around for things to get better because they won't.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air avoiding the Snowflakes
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 7,167
+1 - Earn and burn! Any time I get above 500k miles I get stressed.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 733
This is the first time in a long time that I can't decide which program is worse between MileageMinus and SkyPesos. I stopped accumulating SkyPesos a long time ago (so I don't have many DL miles), but I didn't stop accumulating UA miles until about a year ago so I still sit on a pile of UA miles. I tried to burn those miles but I didn't really want to spend 400k+ miles on a single ticket because there's a floor to how low their values can go (about 1 penny/mile for domestic UA flights).
Even though I haven't found much use for UA miles this year (other than for some intra-Japan flights on NH), I've been booking award reservations using UA miles as my backup plans, taking advantage of the ease with which to cancel such reservations. However, I've almost always ended up cancelling those reservations, as I almost inevitably found better and/or cheaper alternatives.
Even though I haven't found much use for UA miles this year (other than for some intra-Japan flights on NH), I've been booking award reservations using UA miles as my backup plans, taking advantage of the ease with which to cancel such reservations. However, I've almost always ended up cancelling those reservations, as I almost inevitably found better and/or cheaper alternatives.
#9
Flyertalk Evangelist, Moderator: United Airlines MlleagePlus
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,933
I feel like the IN price points are still decent, at least compared to DL which is more or less pegged to revenue fares across the board.
That being said, having experienced DL, there is some zen to being able to redeem your miles at ~1.3cpm for basically any trip and know you're not missing out on a good deal since those don't exist
That being said, having experienced DL, there is some zen to being able to redeem your miles at ~1.3cpm for basically any trip and know you're not missing out on a good deal since those don't exist
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 57,837
My redemptions the past couple years have mostly been intra-Europe LH/LX for 8k in Y. Occasionally a domestic redemption within 7 days of departure will price out over 1.5 cpp or so but those are becoming ever more rare. I've tried to redeem for long-haul J, but the saver awards are so rare have not had success with one of those for many years. I have redeemed for long-haul JN when there's nothing else available, but the value per point has been pretty low.
UA has absolutely (and deliberately) destroyed the program's value.
UA has absolutely (and deliberately) destroyed the program's value.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 638
...
I've been booking award reservations using UA miles as my backup plans, taking advantage of the ease with which to cancel such reservations. However, I've almost always ended up cancelling those reservations, as I almost inevitably found better and/or cheaper alternatives.
I've been booking award reservations using UA miles as my backup plans, taking advantage of the ease with which to cancel such reservations. However, I've almost always ended up cancelling those reservations, as I almost inevitably found better and/or cheaper alternatives.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA GGL
Posts: 2,362
Had to find a biz ticket and paying 110K miles (used to be 80?) to AKL was a deal compared to cash for a sick relative and had to go.
Even salad on flight was inedible and no pj's as 13 hours is under the 14 limit- didn;t we used to get them on this flight?
Otherwise the benefit of booking and hold and free cancel in future is nice.
However all burned now and down to 19K miles.
Have moved to OW (BA) and hope to have GGL.
Even salad on flight was inedible and no pj's as 13 hours is under the 14 limit- didn;t we used to get them on this flight?
Otherwise the benefit of booking and hold and free cancel in future is nice.
However all burned now and down to 19K miles.
Have moved to OW (BA) and hope to have GGL.
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 60,629
I have successfully used my miles to book J seats on flights to Europe in the January-March timeframe, using mileage plus upgrades and able to score an upgrade at booking. Thats really just about it. The only other possible use I can see my for miles is if I want to go on a short fuse trip, there are some decent last minute deals on transAtlantic flights.
I suspect its only a matter of time before United removes those as well
I suspect its only a matter of time before United removes those as well
#14
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 320
Australia is still the best value by far -- 100-110 in I (used to be 70, actually....) but even at a 50% devaluation in the past decade, it's still around 6 cents a mile, which I think you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the system.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,312
I save mine for last-minute short-haul domestic flights, such as SEA->SFO. Sometimes, I get over .02/mile value on those.
I just booked some intra-Europe flights with Lifemiles. It took about half as much as MP. I have a United club card, but only charge United purchases on it.
I just booked some intra-Europe flights with Lifemiles. It took about half as much as MP. I have a United club card, but only charge United purchases on it.