How Are You Going to Use Your GS Miles?
Nov 16, 11, 1:31 pm
#62
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,246
Nov 16, 11, 2:04 pm
#63
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,247
My 2011-2012 redemptions have been AA and BA, two airlines that seem to have more open F cabins and very tight availability on J. Just did AA to PVG in F, a pretty weak soft product. Going to DEL in fall '12 in BA F. I can't complain about it and I know we'll enjoy the trip, but there was ZERO business class availability, and that's what I looked for first.
If I end up holding these US miles through mid-next-year, I'll look to redeem to Asia in J.
Nov 16, 11, 7:31 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AA Plat, Amex Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 309
. Going to DEL in fall '12 in BA F. I can't complain about it and I know we'll enjoy the trip, but there was ZERO business class availability, and that's what I looked for first.
If I end up holding these US miles through mid-next-year, I'll look to redeem to Asia in J.
If I end up holding these US miles through mid-next-year, I'll look to redeem to Asia in J.
Nov 16, 11, 7:45 pm
#65
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Use the GS miles to take some kiddos to hike the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Mind you I have been teaching these kiddos to save their money and plan carefully while I have been investing in cookies, domain names, bonsai books, stuffed animals, and throwing credit all over town. After 2 months my $2,000 invested is worth about $5,000 in tickets while their $100 invested is worth about $100.05.
Nov 16, 11, 8:35 pm
#66
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston
Programs: US, UA, CO, AA, Delta
Posts: 154
Booked 3 off-peak award seats from PHL-PAR for my father's 75th birthday, and my niece's HS graduation (my sister got the 3rd ticket)!
All for 90K miles (saved 15K miles using the US MC). Thanks GS2011!
All for 90K miles (saved 15K miles using the US MC). Thanks GS2011!
Dec 3, 11, 9:42 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: AVL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Bonvoy LT Plat, TSA vilifier extraordinaire, Once upon a time... US Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 1,271
After a week off at Thanksgiving I resumed my hunt this week. This morning I was successful in booking 2 biz class seats CLT-JFK-FRA-VCE with a return FCO-EWR-CLT. This is two years of GS points (200,000) with roughly $600 invested. The return is about $10,000 worth of tickets. I would never have booked this trip without GS.
Jan 22, 12, 10:54 am
#68
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Treasure Coast of FL (MCO/MLB/PBI)
Programs: AS MVP, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 844
Booking plans for GS miles?
Now that many of us have closed the books on the 2011 Grand Slam, I thought I'd see if anyone has some unique plans for using the miles you earned. This was my first year participating in the Grand Slam, and I'm definitely a newbie to booking awards using DM; the only experience I have was right out of college when I lived in Vegas and would save up 25,000 miles for a r/t flight back to the east coast. I now know that miles can go much further on partner airlines for complex or long-haul premium international flights, so I'm interested to hear other's thoughts on the best options out there
I took home just over 120,000 miles this year, so my account currently stands at 143,278. I am planning on keeping those until next year's GS so I can earn enough for some decent F/J international tickets for both me and my wife.
What else are people thinking?
I took home just over 120,000 miles this year, so my account currently stands at 143,278. I am planning on keeping those until next year's GS so I can earn enough for some decent F/J international tickets for both me and my wife.
What else are people thinking?
Jan 22, 12, 1:20 pm
#69
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: Delta Plat Kool-Aid Drinker, Hyatt Diamond, SPG GM, Marriott GM, Hilton GM, and Priority Club GM
Posts: 1,184
Now that many of us have closed the books on the 2011 Grand Slam, I thought I'd see if anyone has some unique plans for using the miles you earned. This was my first year participating in the Grand Slam, and I'm definitely a newbie to booking awards using DM; the only experience I have was right out of college when I lived in Vegas and would save up 25,000 miles for a r/t flight back to the east coast. I now know that miles can go much further on partner airlines for complex or long-haul premium international flights, so I'm interested to hear other's thoughts on the best options out there
I took home just over 120,000 miles this year, so my account currently stands at 143,278. I am planning on keeping those until next year's GS so I can earn enough for some decent F/J international tickets for both me and my wife.
What else are people thinking?
I took home just over 120,000 miles this year, so my account currently stands at 143,278. I am planning on keeping those until next year's GS so I can earn enough for some decent F/J international tickets for both me and my wife.
What else are people thinking?
Feb 4, 12, 5:22 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Programs: Military Space-A, UA Plat, AS MVP Gold 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,246
Booked today, for DH and myself:
SBP-SFO-EWR/JFK-BRU<stop for a month>-NBO<destination for 17 days>-ZRH-PHL-PHX-SBP in Business class for 110,000 miles each.
Very, very happy with this redemption, though it really took a lot of work to find availability.
SBP-SFO-EWR/JFK-BRU<stop for a month>-NBO<destination for 17 days>-ZRH-PHL-PHX-SBP in Business class for 110,000 miles each.
Very, very happy with this redemption, though it really took a lot of work to find availability.
Mar 18, 12, 5:07 am
#72
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
Booked last month. Earned 184K on my account for a bit under $675.
120K for F award to Asia (won't give exact routing, but highlights include FRA FCT, LX F, TG F, BKK Spa ... hoping to pull off LH F close in since schedule change might give me a freebie).
60K for 2 J awards within South Asia ... BKK to India, India to Vietnam. All in SQ J (including the 77W).
Next year, will definitely bring in another account or 2 into the game (under family's names).
120K for F award to Asia (won't give exact routing, but highlights include FRA FCT, LX F, TG F, BKK Spa ... hoping to pull off LH F close in since schedule change might give me a freebie).
60K for 2 J awards within South Asia ... BKK to India, India to Vietnam. All in SQ J (including the 77W).
Next year, will definitely bring in another account or 2 into the game (under family's names).
Jun 7, 12, 12:23 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ABQ LAX SNA ITO
Programs: AA AS DL UA US WN Choice Gold, BW Diamond, PClub Plat, HHonnors Gold, Marriott, Carlson Gold
Posts: 224
Already went to BKK on UA for only 60K in Y and I have another trip booked for BKK again in September on Thai for 80K. I usually prefer traveling in Y so I can make more frequent short trips instead of a long one in J or F (I have g/f in BKK).
