Welcome to the Dedicated Grand Slam Forum!
Aug 31, 2011, 6:54 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Aug 31, 2011, 7:34 pm
#92
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 441
What's the best argument someone can make for purchasing max miles here? I'm on the fence and would appreciate hearing a good case for it. I know it's not one-reason-fits-all, but I'm planning on 1k buy, least cash outlay. If you're going for max, what's your rationale? (I don't have big travel plans in the works and wasn't planning to buy before GS. I'd love to be persuaded.)
Last edited by NewArrival; Aug 31, 2011 at 7:41 pm Reason: wording fix
Sep 1, 2011, 1:05 am
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
What's the best argument someone can make for purchasing max miles here? I'm on the fence and would appreciate hearing a good case for it. I know it's not one-reason-fits-all, but I'm planning on 1k buy, least cash outlay. If you're going for max, what's your rationale? (I don't have big travel plans in the works and wasn't planning to buy before GS. I'd love to be persuaded.)
I'm on the 1K purchase side of things.
Sep 1, 2011, 9:24 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
On our second date in 2001, we watched one of those "special" videos.
A friend of mine at NW had sent me a video of the new Detroit terminal, so we curled up and watched it.
As my brother puts it, "wrong for the world, right for each other."
Mike
A friend of mine at NW had sent me a video of the new Detroit terminal, so we curled up and watched it.
As my brother puts it, "wrong for the world, right for each other."
Mike
Sep 1, 2011, 2:04 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SLC
Posts: 392
As I wrote last year, there are at least three ways to track your costs:
As an example, my purchase of printer ink from Office Max cost $54 but I needed the ink and it was the same price at Staples, so the incremental cost was zero, as was the sunk cost.
On the other hand, for a no-drive car rental at $25, all three costs were the same.
What makes the cost-per-miles calculation troublesome is that, as you approach the higher tiers of bonuses, higher incremental and sunk costs start to look more worthwhile.
- the total outlay of cash;
- the amount you would not otherwise have spent (incremental cost); or
- the amount for which you received no value other than miles (which I'll call sunk cost).
As an example, my purchase of printer ink from Office Max cost $54 but I needed the ink and it was the same price at Staples, so the incremental cost was zero, as was the sunk cost.
On the other hand, for a no-drive car rental at $25, all three costs were the same.
What makes the cost-per-miles calculation troublesome is that, as you approach the higher tiers of bonuses, higher incremental and sunk costs start to look more worthwhile.
Sep 1, 2011, 3:33 pm
#102
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NYS
Programs: Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Posts: 1,495
I have a salaried job that is exempt from overtime pay, so I don't calculate any value for my time. If pursuing miles and bonuses causes you to take time away from paying work, it could be a concern. Ditto if it interferes with your personal and family life.
Sep 1, 2011, 3:36 pm
#103
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NYS
Programs: Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Posts: 1,495
I consider anything that I would have bought anyway to be zero. If I give up item X and buy item Y instead, I consider the price difference to be the cost. It works in reverse, too. My wife is getting cheaper flowers for her birthday this year. The difference goes in as a "negative cost."
I haven't estimated the value of transfers, but that is partly because I have a hard time using hotel points at all. In fact, the greatest single benefit of the GS last year is that it got me to take a week's vacation (which I won't be able to do this year).
Sep 1, 2011, 10:36 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DFW Metroplex
Posts: 29
. 
As far as figuring the time it takes, I consider this a hobby. It's like putting a puzzle together only you actually win a really cool prize when you are done instead of just an ugly picture of a lighthouse.