A D VA N TA G E S O F U S I N G M I L E S • Last-Minute Travel (Funerals, Random Trips, Binds) • Lower Cancelation Fees, Free for Top Elites • Flexible Routing Rules • Stopovers & Open Jaws • Premium Cabins
D I S A D VA N TA G E S O F U S I N G M I L E S • Limited Award Availability - Need to be flexible! • Mile currencies inflate faster than the US dollar • Airlines can change the rules at any time
B R I T I S H A I R WAY S < 6 5 0 M I : 4 , 5 0 0 AV I O S • SAN-LAX: $$$ Avios: 4,500 (~$65) • JFK-YYZ: $$$ Avios: 4,500 (~$65) • LHR-CDG: $$$ Avios: 4,500 (~$65) + ~$20 Taxes • Lots of places < 650 mi from AA hubs ORD, DFW, MIA • US Airways now in OneWorld! Add PHL, PHX, CLT
M E X - F R A - Z R H , Z R H - B K K - C G K , C G K - T P E - L A X L A X - P H X - M E X L U F T H A N S A 7 4 7 - 8 U P P E R D E C K S W I S S A 3 4 0 B U S I N E S S T H A I 7 7 7 B U S I N E S S E VA 7 7 7 B U S I N E S S
Y V R - M U C - F R A , F R A - B K K - H K G , B K K - H N D , N R T- I C N - J F K L U F T H A N S A A 3 3 0 F I R S T T H A I A 3 8 0 F I R S T T H A I 7 4 7 F I R S T ( T W I C E ) A S I A N A 7 4 7 F I R S T A S I A N A 7 7 7 P R I VAT E S U I T E
M I L E A G E R U N N I N G “ I T ’ S A B O U T T H E J O U R N E Y, N O T T H E D E S T I N AT I O N ” • Flights for sole purpose of earning miles & elite status • Destination & dates irrelevant • Hoping around airports, going nowhere
A A E X E C U T I V E P L AT I N U M • 100% Bonus on Redeemable Miles • Priority Everything • International First Class Lounges • 8 Systemwide Business Class Upgrade Certificates
P H I L A D E L P H I A F O R L U N C H ( C H E E S E S T E A K ) : S A N - E W R - Z F V- E W R - S A N ( 5 , 3 5 0 M I ) F O R $ 1 4 0 . 7 0 ( 2 . 6 3 C P M )
“ N E T C O S T ” A P P R O A C H T O A I R FA R E $160 Transcontinental (~7,000 mi with indirect routing) 100% Mile Bonus with United 1K: 14,000 mi earned 14,000mi X ($0.017 / mi) = $238 in Mile Value Net Cost = Paid ($160) - Mile Value ($238) Net Cost = Negative $78
S A M E - D AY C H A N G E S • Route further out of the way for more miles • Monitor F cabin loads for upgrade optimization • Increase voluntary denied boarding changes • Deliberate book days off with cheaper fares, intend to change to day before/after
F L AT- O U T B U Y I N G M I L E S • US Airways Buy Miles Promo (1.9 cents) • US Airways Share Miles Promo (1.1 cents) • American Buy Miles Promos • Buy Transferrable Currencies & Transfer (Starwood Buy Miles Promos) • United Mileage Multiplier when Flying
A C C E S S H O W ? • Membership ($$$) • International flights in premium cabins • International flights with elite status • “Club” or “Executive” CCs (high annual fee) • Amex Platinum (American, Delta, US Airways)
B U T… T H E T I M E S A R E C H A N G I N G • Award Chart Devaluations • Minimum Spend Requirements for Elite Status • Move to Fully Revenue-Based Mile Earning (Delta) • American Airlines / US Airways Merger Uncertainty
T H A N K S ! B E N H U G H E S | @ R U B I E T Y H T T P : / / T R A V E L . B E N H U G H E S . N A M E | H T T P : / / F L I G H T L E V E R A G E . C O M • FlyerTalk, MilePoint • One Mile at a Time • View from the Wing • The Points Guy • MileValue • HackMyTrip.com
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