Share Miles Split 100% Bonus until 6/30
Jun 17, 2014, 11:10 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
I've made a spreadsheet with the trips I've taken with the miles I have purchased in various programs where I compare the money spent with actual pricing for the flights I got at the time of booking (and the flights that could have been used as an alternative).
What I tend to notice is that I get less value for miles than I would have thought without that info. Because there's almost always an alternative that's better because it get's me the exact dates I want, with less stops or on a more preferred carrier/plane.
The two factors that are almost impossible to value are the flexibility of some award tickets for cancellations/changes bit also having a stopover. Sometimes that is worth a lot, and sometimes it isn't. But you normally know only after the trip if you should have bought/compared to a flexible or deeply discounted ticket. And then there flying Business/First vs Coach.....
And you are right, the personal use of the miles is a big factor as well. But what I see in general is that people tend to value their miles too high....
Plus there's the fact that by having the miles I tend to travel more, spending even more money :-). Especially due to the fact that when an error fare materializes I tend to look at that as well.
And AwardBee, that time spent searching award availability is both a blessing and a curse...
What I tend to notice is that I get less value for miles than I would have thought without that info. Because there's almost always an alternative that's better because it get's me the exact dates I want, with less stops or on a more preferred carrier/plane.
The two factors that are almost impossible to value are the flexibility of some award tickets for cancellations/changes bit also having a stopover. Sometimes that is worth a lot, and sometimes it isn't. But you normally know only after the trip if you should have bought/compared to a flexible or deeply discounted ticket. And then there flying Business/First vs Coach.....
And you are right, the personal use of the miles is a big factor as well. But what I see in general is that people tend to value their miles too high....
Plus there's the fact that by having the miles I tend to travel more, spending even more money :-). Especially due to the fact that when an error fare materializes I tend to look at that as well.
And AwardBee, that time spent searching award availability is both a blessing and a curse...
Last edited by RTW1; Jun 17, 2014 at 11:17 am
Jun 17, 2014, 12:03 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
I think of award vs paid travel as 2 different products that aren't perfect substitutes for each other. And so any valuation of miles is a rough approximation at best.
Miles will buy you trips that you wouldn't take on a paid ticket. Like visiting 2 distant continents on 1 ticket. I would never do that on paid travel. Generally wouldn't be cheap, and with that much flying in a short period of time I want to fly business class, and I can't be assured I can book J cabins on several different carriers at a reasonable price.
Miles will buy you trips that you wouldn't take on a paid ticket. Like visiting 2 distant continents on 1 ticket. I would never do that on paid travel. Generally wouldn't be cheap, and with that much flying in a short period of time I want to fly business class, and I can't be assured I can book J cabins on several different carriers at a reasonable price.
On valuation, I value them based on what I save over purchasing normal tickets . Obviously they have flexibility restrictions ( cannot change at all after departure on the ones I get ) and not useable in all cases, but where flexibilty like that is not needed, great value.
Jun 17, 2014, 2:27 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: YYC, SFO, OAK
Programs: AS MVP 75K, AA Platinum, IHG Platinum, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 734
And you are right, the personal use of the miles is a big factor as well. But what I see in general is that people tend to value their miles too high....
Plus there's the fact that by having the miles I tend to travel more, spending even more money :-). Especially due to the fact that when an error fare materializes I tend to look at that as well.
And AwardBee, that time spent searching award availability is both a blessing and a curse...
Plus there's the fact that by having the miles I tend to travel more, spending even more money :-). Especially due to the fact that when an error fare materializes I tend to look at that as well.
And AwardBee, that time spent searching award availability is both a blessing and a curse...
Don't have time to search availability? Pay a booking service to do it, only adds marginally to the overall cost.
As for whether this promo is a bargain, it might be if it can be used strategically to top up 2 or more accounts to the levels needed for an award. But I think we can all agree, it's only half as good as the last promo in April, if even that.
This may be an omen of things to come - USDM will only be around for a little while longer. By this time next year they may have folded into AA completely and these buy/share mile promos may be a thing of the past. Same goes for their extremely generous routing rules
Jun 22, 2014, 8:49 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Chicago USA
Programs: *A Junkie, SQ PPS, Skywards Gold, 2 Million Mile Flyer;*wood LT Plat, BA MM
Posts: 1,762
Ok, newbie in this forum here - I don't even know if this is the "100% Share Miles Bonus Returns"
So let me get this right, I would have to have 50,000 miles in my account for me to do this. The recipient would then get MY 50,000 miles and then a 25,000 mile bonus. Then I would get 25,000 miles as a bonus for doing it.
Am I reading this right? Anyone have an extra 50,000 miles they want to give away
So let me get this right, I would have to have 50,000 miles in my account for me to do this. The recipient would then get MY 50,000 miles and then a 25,000 mile bonus. Then I would get 25,000 miles as a bonus for doing it.
Am I reading this right? Anyone have an extra 50,000 miles they want to give away
Jun 22, 2014, 5:56 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP ; Cunard Plat
Posts: 4,211
Last edited by kudzu; Jun 22, 2014 at 6:01 pm